Badgers Struggle First. Dominate in Second.

It was the tale of two halves. One team that seemed to struggle in the first, and then dominate in the second. In many ways the Wisconsin Badgers resembled a tale by Charles Dickens on Saturday then a highly ranked football team.

The game started off well for the Badgers. They drove the ball into Purdue territory. Until senior quarterback Scott Tolzien threw an interception. The Boilermakers were unable to make anything of the turnover, but following a missed field goal they were able to take advantage.

Purdue quarterback Sean Robinson would find Antavian Edison for a 23 yard touchdown, and the Boilermakers held the lead at 7-0. The Badgers would strike in the second for their first score off of a Purdue turnover, but it would be only a field goal.

The Boilermakers would answer with their own field goal, and Bucky would strike right back with another. Going into halftime the Badgers had played by far their worst half of football of the year, and only trailed by four.

The second half would be another story though.

Purdue received the ball coming out of halftime but that would be short lived. On third and five Robinson threw an interception of his own to Culmer St. Jean, and the Badgers were in business.

The Boilermakers were able to get the Badgers in a fourth and short from the Purdue nine yard line, but the Badgers had John Clay. Clay would pick up the first down, and Scott Tolzien would find Jared Abbrederis for Wisconsin's first lead of the game. A lead they would not relinquish.

While John Clay may have picked up the pivital first down in the second quarter it would be the hero from the Iowa victory that would take over. Clay was hobbled with what appeared to be a knee injury. Putting Montee Ball back in the game, and Ball would again carry the load.

Ball would carry the ball for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Once again showing the depth of the Badger rushing attack. Ball not only took over the game; he dominated it.

The longest run for Ball actually came on a touchdown run of over fifty yards, but was called back on a holding penalty. That didn't stop Ball though. He later busted one for 31 yards that would count for the touchdown.

In a tale of two halves the Badgers were able to turn around what could have been an upset. A defense that seem like a group of deer headlights at times in the first, forced three turnovers in the second half. Turning the game around.

The offense used those turnovers the turn their game around. Outscoring the Boilermakers 28-3 in the second half. And riding Montee Ball in the running game to another key road victory.