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Badgers blow out Boilermakers

Nov 6, 2011 - 12:28 AM Madison, WI (Sports Network) - Montee Ball rushed for a career-high 223 yards and three touchdowns as No. 19 Wisconsin blew out Purdue, 62-17 at Camp Randall Stadium.

Russell Wilson threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns and added 76 yards on the ground and one rushing score for the Badgers (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten).

James White picked up 50 rushing yards and two scores while Jacob Pedersen and Jared Abbrederis caught touchdown passes. Wisconsin ended the day with 605 yards of total offense and scored in double digits in each quarter.

"Just from a complete standpoint, obviously the rushing numbers were there, Montee's complete nature is his ability to be a pass protector when he needs to, his ability to catch the ball -- that you have seen in the course of the season -- and just his mentality," Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema said of his running back. "He is wired in a way right now where he expects success on every play and he is extremely physical."

Caleb TerBush completed 10-of-19 passes for 103 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Purdue (4-5, 2-3).

Kick returner Raheem Mostert was Purdue's most effective player, racking up 206 yards on five returns, while Justin Siller added a rushing score and Crosby Wright caught a touchdown pass for the Boilermakers.

The Badgers wasted no time taking the lead. Wilson led a five-play, 63 yard drive -- sparked by a 44-yard sprint by Bell on the first play from scrimmage -- down to the Purdue two before he found Pedersen for a two-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mostert brought the ball back 49 yards into Wisconsin territory at the 41. TerBush connected with a wide-open Wright down the middle for a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven.

Wisconsin regained the lead late in the first quarter and cruised from there. Starting from the 25, Wilson connected with Jeff Duckworth on a huge 66-yard completion to bring the ball to the Purdue five and three plays later, Wilson hooked up with Abbrederis on a five-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7.

The Boilermakers responded with a 25-yard field goal by Carson Wiggs to pull Purdue within four.

Early in the second quarter, Wisconsin pushed its lead to 21-10 when Ball sparked a 10-play, 76-yard drive with a 21-yard sprint on the first play and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown push.

With just over 10 1/2 minutes to go in the second frame, Purdue's defense finally stepped up and forced a fumble from Wilson, giving the Boilermakers a chance to get back into the game, but on the first play of their ensuing possession, TerBush was intercepted by Mike Taylor, giving the ball right back to Wisconsin on the 43.

From there, Wilson led a seven-play, 57-yard drive down to the Purdue six before he executed a perfect boot-leg on 2nd-and-goal and walked into the end zone untouched to give his team a comfortable 28-10 lead.

Ball capped a seven-play, 87-yard drive by plowing through the defensive line from the Purdue three with just under three minutes to go before halftime to make it 35-10.

Siller pushed his way into the end zone with 24 seconds to go before the break to make it 35-17.

Philip Welch was good from 52 yards out as time expired in the first half to give the Badgers a 38-17 advantage.

"They really impacted the game in the first half and that made it tough," Purdue head coach Danny Hope said. "We still thought we could come out in the second half and manufacture a drive. We thought we could get a big kick return from Raheem at the beginning of the second half and manufacture a drive and be two possessions down, but we didn't have a chance to compete and it didn't work that way."

After the break, Purdue turned the ball over on downs and Wisconsin got the ball on its own 35. Ball then put the offense on his back and rushed three consecutive times down to the Purdue 38 before breaking a 29-yard touchdown run for his third score of the game and a 45-17 margin.

Following a Purdue interception, Wisconsin added to its already huge lead when White walked in with a five-yard touchdown run with just four minutes gone in the third quarter to make it 52-17.

White bounced his way into the end zone again for a one-yard touchdown run with just under 13 minutes to go in the final quarter to give Wisconsin a commanding 59-17 lead.

Kyle French connected on a 29-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

Wisconsin holds a 43-14 advantage in a rivalry that began all the way back in 1892. The Badgers have won the last six meetings between the teams...Purdue has not beaten Wisconsin in Madison since 2003...The Badgers have won 15 consecutive home games, tied for the third longest streak in school history...This was Wisconsin's fourth game this season in which it has scored at least 50 points...Ball has 24 touchdowns this season, tying him for first place on the school's single season list with Brian Callhoun, who had 24 scores in 2005.