Ball breaks out as Wisconsin, not PSU, lands in Big Ten title game
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Wisconsin's Montee Ball runs into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown Saturday against Penn State in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 45-7 to advance to the Big Ten championship game.
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MADISON, Wis. -- Penn State's usually reliable defense did not have an answer for Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson or tailback Montee Ball.
Ball rushed for 156 yards and tied his career-high with four touchdowns and Wilson passed for 186 yards and two scores as the Badgers pounded the Nittany Lions, 45-7, before 79,708 Saturday in Camp Randall Stadium.
No. 15 Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2) not only clinched the Leaders Division title, it earned a rematch next Saturday with Michigan State (10-2, 7-1) in the Big Ten Conference's first championship game.
Penn State (9-3, 6-2) dropped to 1-2 since interim coach Tom Bradley replaced Joe Paterno.
"They just did everything right," said strong safety Drew Astorino, a fifth-year senior co-captain.
"We couldn't tackle. We weren't running to the ball. It's disappointing."
Ball, who averaged 6.2 yards per rush on 25 carries, scored on runs of 1, 2, 9 and 18 yards. Wilson, who completed 19 of 29 passes, tossed touchdown passes of 21 yards to wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and 4 yards to Nick Toon.
Ball's 34 touchdowns this season are the second most in NCAA history. And Wilson has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 36 consecutive games, tying the NCAA record.
Ball's 156 yards were the most allowed by Penn State's defense this season. Wilson added 36 yards on seven carries.
"They are a great tandem," Astorino said. "Both of them played phenomenal. They have been playing phenomenal all year. They're tough to stop."
Wisconsin, which finished the regular season with four consecutive wins, converted four Penn State turnovers -- three fumbles and an interception -- into 24 points.
It all added up to Penn State's worst loss since a 45-6 setback at Ohio State in 2000.
"It was just one of those days," said quarterback Matt McGloin, who completed 9 of 17 passes for 97 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
"Unfortunately, against a team like Wisconsin, you make mistakes like that, you're going to lose."
McGloin's 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Curtis Drake on the opening series gave Penn State a brief, 7-0 lead, but Wilson answered with his touchdown pass to Abbrederis to tie the score.
McGloin's interception on the first play of the second drive set up Ball's first touchdown, a 2-yard run, on the first play of the second quarter. That touchdown gave the Badgers the lead for good at 14-7.
First Published November 27, 2011 12:00 am
