Wisconsin football team routs New Mexico State

Badgers have nearly 600 yards of offense
By: 
NEW Media Staff

The Wisconsin Badgers football team bounced back from a loss with a 66-7 rout of New Mexico State on Sept. 17 in Madison.

It was a slow start for the Badgers, who led just 7-0 after a quarter. Wisconsin scored three touchdowns in the first four minutes of the second quarter and finished the quarter with 28 points. Wisconsin added 21 more points in the third quarter and added a ninth touchdown and field goal in the final quarter.

Wisconsin outgained New Mexico State 595-242. The Badgers passed for 335 yards and had just four passes fall incomplete.

Graham Mertz threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He threw two touchdowns to Skyler Bell and a score to Keontez Lewis. Mertz was intercepted once and sacked once.

Backup quarterback Myles Burkett completed four of his five passes for 84 yards.

Bell finished with four receptions for 108 yards. Dean Engram had three grabs for 63 yards, and Clay Cundiff had two catches for 57 yards.

Running back Braelon Allen scored three touchdowns in the game, but only finished with 86 rushing yards. Isaac Guerendo scored two touchdowns and tallied 77 rushing yards, while Chez Mellusi had a touchdown run and 71 rushing yards.

Outside linebacker C.J. Goetz led the Badgers’ defense with six total tackles, including 1½ tackles for losses. Inside linebackers Jake Chaney and Maema Njongmeta and cornerback Ricardo Hallman each intercepted a pass. Nick Herbig had the lone sack.

Wisconsin’s Nate Van Zelst kicked a 27-yard field goal for the final points in the contest.

It was the first time Wisconsin topped 60 points in a game since 2019 and most points since 2014.

Wisconsin opens up Big Ten Conference play on Sept. 24 on the road against Ohio State. The Buckeyes improved to 3-0 on the season after a 77-21 win over Toledo on Sept. 17. Wisconsin has not beaten Ohio State since 2010, with eight straight losses since.