Wisconsin falls to Minnesota in regular season finale

Badgers give up late score, can’t answer
By: 
NEW Media Staff

The Wisconsin Badgers football team was outscored 10-0 in the fourth quarter and lost 23-16 to Minnesota on Nov. 26 in Madison.

The Badgers capped the regular season with a 6-6 overall record and disappointing 4-5 mark in Big Ten Conference play.

Wisconsin grabbed a 16-13 lead late in the third quarter after receiver Chimere Dike scored on a 9-yard run. Minnesota tied it with a 27-yard field goal with 7:58 to play and then won it on a 45-yard passing touchdown with 3:40 to go.

Wisconsin had a chance to win it in the final seconds. The Badgers worked the ball to the Minnesota 5-yard line, but back-to-back penalties pushed the hosts back to the 20. Two false start penalties eventually pushed Wisconsin back to the 30.

Quarterback Chase Wolf, playing for an injured Graham Mertz, only completed one pass for 5 yards in five attempts once the team got to the 5-yard line. His final incompletion came on fourth down as time expired.

Wolf completed two passes on the drive for 21 yards. Mertz was 16-of-27 passing in the contest, for 170 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

Wisconsin played the whole game without star running back Braelon Allen. Chez Mellusi led the team with 75 rushing yards on 19 attempts, while Isaac Guerendo had 40 yards on seven attempts.

Dike led the team’s receivers with 52 yards on five grabs. Dean Engram had 41 receiving yards on three catches.

Kicker Nate Van Zelst accounted for nine points for Wisconsin, making attempts from 40, 43 and 36 yards.

Linebacker Maema Njongmeta recorded a team-leading 12 tackles for the Badgers, with 2½ going for losses and also having ½ a sack. Safety Kamo’i Latu finished with seven total tackles. Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton shared the sack with Njongmeta, while linebacker Darryl Peterson and defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. also had a sack each.

Wisconsin was outgained 416-334 in the contest. Minnesota redshirt freshman quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 319 yards and two scores.