Wisconsin Badgers
2-0
Akron
1-1
Badgers zip past Akron in home opener
September 10, 2016 | Football
Wisconsin improves to 2-0 with 54-10 victory at Camp Randall
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Corey Clement is proving he can carry a full workload for No. 10 Wisconsin, and the passing game is starting to round into form, too.
Clement ran for two scores, Jazz Peavy caught two more, and Wisconsin stuffed Akron's spread offense in a 54-10 win on Saturday.
The Badgers (2-0) didn't slack off in their 2016 debut at Camp Randall Stadium, a week after outmuscling SEC power LSU 16-14 in the season opener.
"We want to do that every week no matter (where) we're ranked," Clement said. "We have to approach every game as if we're not in the rankings at all."
Bart Houston was 15 of 22 for 231 yards, showing chemistry with Peavy against the porous Zips (1-1). Peavy finished with seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs.
Wisconsin had 294 yards rushing and 292 yards through the air. It was its first game with more than 290 in each category since at least 1996.
On defense, Wisconsin had a safety, and the secondary accounted for two second-quarter turnovers. The Badgers led 30-10 at halftime.
"We had a plan and it would have taken a few other things for us being able to do," Akron coach Terry Bowden said. "But they were dominant enough in the trenches on both sides of the ball and we couldn't quite get it done."
An ankle injury that left Clement on the sideline for the second half was one of the only blemishes for Wisconsin. The senior rushed for 111 yards on 21 carries before departing late in the second quarter.
Clement said he could have returned if he was needed.
"We were able to be a little overprotective maybe," Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.
Akron's only touchdown came on JoJo Natson's 55-yard punt return in the second.
Backups got valuable playing time late in the game for Wisconsin, including freshman Bradrick Shaw. The running back had nine carries for 74 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown run.
The Badgers look to extend their home winning streak against non-conference foes to 37 when they host Georgia State on Sept. 17.
Team Stats
AKRON 0, WIS 7
WIS - Clement, Corey 4 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 13 plays, 83 yards, TOP 6:55
AKRON 0, WIS 9
WIS - Team 1 yd safety
AKRON 0, WIS 16
WIS - Clement, Corey 1 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:32
AKRON 0, WIS 23
WIS - Peavy, Jazz 13 yd pass from Houston, Bart (Gaglianone, R. kick) 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:12
AKRON 7, WIS 23
AKRON - NATSON, JoJo 55 yd punt return (O'LEARY, Tom kick)
AKRON 7, WIS 30
WIS - Peavy, Jazz 34 yd pass from Houston, Bart (Gaglianone, R. kick) 3 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:57
AKRON 10, WIS 30
AKRON - O'LEARY, Tom 32 yd field goal 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:10
AKRON 10, WIS 33
WIS - Gaglianone, R. 33 yd field goal 12 plays, 57 yards, TOP 6:44
AKRON 10, WIS 40
WIS - Ingold, Alec 6 yd pass from Hornibrook, A. (Gaglianone, R. kick) 8 plays, 83 yards, TOP 4:22
AKRON 10, WIS 47
WIS - Ramesh, Austin 1 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:27
AKRON 10, WIS 54
WIS - Shaw, Bradrick 35 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 3 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:23
