Badgers’ win string extended
Step aside, Boise State and Brigham Young. Wisconsin now has the country’s longest active winning streak. The Badgers’ dramatic 20-13 triumph over UNLV on Saturday was their 11th straight victory, dating to last season.
Boise State had won 14 consecutive games before losing 24-10 to Washington on Saturday, and BYU had won 11 in a row before falling 27-17 to UCLA.
No. 5 Wisconsin improved to 22-1 in its last 23 regular-season nonconference games, including wins in its last 14. The Badgers’ loss during that stretch was a 23-5 home setback to the Rebels on Sept. 13, 2003.
• BIG CROWD — A sellout crowd of 38,250 attended Saturday’s game at Sam Boyd Stadium. It was the third-largest home crowd in UNLV history and the fourth sellout at Sam Boyd. Wisconsin was the Rebels’ opponent in all four sellouts, with UNLV losing 27-7 in 2002 and 52-17 in 1996. The Rebels beat the Badgers 17-7 in 1986 in front of a packed house.
• LATE MOVES — In two game-time decisions made by UNLV coach Mike Sanford, senior Mil’von James started at cornerback over junior Geoffrey Howard and senior Tony Cade started at safety over freshman Shane Horton.
James made a key play at the start of the second quarter when he tackled Wisconsin holder Ken DeBauche on the Badgers’ only extra-point kick attempt. DeBauche bobbled the snap, and James drilled him to keep the Rebels ahead 7-6.
Howard also made a big play late in the game when he deflected a Wisconsin pass on third-and-1 at the UNLV 39, but the Badgers converted on fourth down on what turned out to be their game-winning drive.
• FOURTH-DOWN DECISIONS — The Rebels had a 7-6 lead and faced third-and-1 at the Wisconsin 18 midway through the second quarter, but quarterback Travis Dixon was stopped on consecutive plays, first on a sneak, then on an option to the right side.
The Badgers also failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at the UNLV 30 early in the third quarter when tailback P.J. Hill took a pitch and was taken down by the Rebels’ K.C. Asiodu and Beau Bell.
• SLOWING THE BADGERS — In the last 14 quarters of play between Wisconsin and UNLV, the Badgers have scored only three offensive touchdowns. The Rebels outscored Wisconsin 26-23 in their previous two meetings combined.
• KNOWING BOTH SIDES — Wisconsin interim wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander coached wide receivers and quarterbacks at UNLV for three years (2000 to 2002) in his second stint with the Rebels. Alexander also coached receivers at UNLV in 1998 before spending the next 15 months as an offensive assistant with the San Diego Chargers.
• FOR OPENERS — The Rebels fell to 25-15 in home openers after winning their last two and three of four.