The 22nd-ranked UW-Wisconsin football team faced #11 Nebraska at home on Saturday and things hardly looked good after the Cornhuskers converted three lost fumbles into a 17-3 lead.
But Melvin Gordon III went absolutely ballistic after that, rushing for a D1 FBS record 408 yards in just three quarters of work. He racked up four touchdowns and averaged 16.3 yards over his 25 carries, helping the Badgers to 56 unanswered points in a 59-24 triumph. It was Wisconsin’s fifth straight win.
“Obviously, it was the farthest thing from our minds with the way we started that game,” senior tight end Sam Arneson, a Merrill native and MHS grad, said. “It was just mistakes we made, not so much what they did. It said a lot about our team the way we pulled together and stuck to the game plan. It was a great team win.”
The offensive line and Arneson blew holes open all day against the 19th-ranked rushing defense to the point it was ranked 64th at the end of the day at 168.6 ypg. Wisconsin finished with 581 yards on the ground.
“Melvin…what can you say?” Arneson said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Our O line did a great job and he didn’t need much. He was on a mission to prove what kind of player he is. That’s a performance you’re not going to see ever again, or not for a long time, at least.”
The Badgers are ranked fourth in rushing defense at 101.4 ypg.
The game had been billed as a showdown between Heisman Trophy candidates Gordon and Nebraska senior Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah was limited to 69 yards on 18 carries, at 3.8 ypc.
The victory boosted Wisconsin to 5-1 in the Big 10 and in the driver’s seat ahead of a trio of 4-2 teams in #21 Nebraska, HM Minnesota and HM Iowa in the West. The Badgers picked up to 14th in the AP poll and 15th in the USA coaches poll.
“It was a blast, one of the best games I’ve been a part of,” Arneson said. “Now we’ve got to take care of business. Since we lost to Northwestern game (20-14 on the road Oct. 4) it’s been the playoffs, just one game at a time. We’re really peaking at the right time and we’re hoping to play our best at Iowa City. It’s a very tough place to play. They’re kind of in the same place as us.”
Arneson leaped sky-high to snare a five-yard touchdown for his only catch of the day. Wisconsin’s Joel Stave finished with 46 passing yards, completing 7-of-11 attempts..
“It was exciting,” Arneson said. “It put us ahead for the first time on the night. Joel (Stave) put up a good ball and I had to go get it. It was pretty special and something I’ll never forget.”
As they are every game, Sam’s parents, Dave and Marge, and extended family attended the game.
“For some reason Melvin got mad and was really determined to prove himself,” Dave said. “His acceleration is off the charts. The kids really like blocking for him. He’s a humble young man. I hope he runs himself into the Heisman.”
Father Dave weighed in on Sam’s performance.
“Sam was having a blast,” Dave said. “He played well. He does a nice job of understanding where the block has to bee and how long he has to hold it. He knows the fine line between blocking and being called for a hold.
“On his TD catch, he had to go up and get it. He loves scoring at home. It was a special, special day. Two more game like that and we’ll be in Indianapolis (for the Big 10 championship game).”