Box Score | Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)
Post-Game Notes | Post-Game Quotes | Photo Gallery
VIDEO: Coach Chow Post-Game Press Conference
VIDEO: Players Post-Game Press Conference (M. Wittek, J. Garcia-Williams)

MADISON, Wis.–Just as in its last match-up with a Big Ten opponent, the University of Hawai 'i defense put it all on the line to contain a dangerous offensive attack from Wisconsin on the road. The offense was in striking distance, but was unable to reach the scoreboard and the Badgers pulled away to a 28-0 win in the fourth quarter.

The Badgers put their power running game on display early, as the tandem of Taiwan Deal and Dare Ogunbowale tag-teamed the Rainbow Warriors, with UW running the ball on 13 of the 16 plays on the opening scoring drive—the first team to score on their opening drive against UH this season.

However, the Badgers were limited to a single score in the first period, as the 'Bows regrouped and forced consecutive punts over the next three drives, with just 30 yards allowed on the first two following the touchdown.

As the clock wound down in the first half, Wisconsin marched 73 yards on nine plays to double-up their the margin, capping off the drive with a two-yard Deal rush, pushing his individual totals to 102 yards (of his 147-yard total), his second touchdown and the Badgers advantage to 14-0 at the half. Deal is only the second rusher to go over the century mark against UH this season.

The 'Bows first reached scoring range in the third quarter, using a 51-yard flea-flicker pass from wideout Makoa Camanse-Stevens to Paul Harris, who drove down the left sideline for a first down at the Wisconsin 13-yard line. The drive came up empty after four penalties, including an overturned UW targeting call, turned against the Rainbow Warriors, forcing a career-long 49-yard field by Rigoberto Sanchez, which had the distance, but tailed just left as it approached the goalpost and fell wide for Sanchez' first career miss.

The Badgers responded, driving the ball 37 yards, but the UH defense again stepped to the challenge, forcing a 51-yard field by Rafael Gaglianone—also sailing wide left. On its next drive, UW capitalized for the first time in the second half, mixing passes and runs to go 80 yards, finishing off the series with a completion from quarterback Joel Stave to untouched tight end Austin Traylor five yards deep in the endzone, pushing UW ahead 21-0.

The 'Bows came out firing with a 60-yard drive which included four completions to Quinton Pedroza to exceed his career highs in both receptions and yards, but UH came up short on the drive, as safety Michael Caputo batted down a Max Wittek pass to Isaiah Bernard on 4th-and 3 at the UW 33-yard line.
The Badgers tacked on another score in the fourth quarter to build the lead to the final line of 28-0, extending their shutout streak out to 12 quarters.

Offensively, the 'Bows stumbled in the running game, producing 15 yards on 18 carries. However, the passing game made up the difference, with UH putting up 240 yards in the air, as Wittek completed 15-of-32 passes for 189 yards, zeroing in on Pedroza for career bests of 134 yards on 10 receptions—the most receiving yards for UH since the 2013 season.

Harris also carried the ball six times for 22 yards and made the 51-yard reception, but left the game in the second half.

The linebackers and defensive backs led the way for the Rainbow Warriors, with safety Marrell Jackson recording a career-high 10 tackles to top the defense. For the second consecutive week, linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams put up double digits, tallying 10 stops (six solo). Linebacker Benetton Fonua came away with nine total tackles, while defensive end Kennedy Tulimasealii was huge in the second half, making eight stops including a big sack in the third quarter.

The Rainbow Warriors are 2-2 for the first time since 2011 and ninth in the past 20 seasons, headed to Boise State next week to open Mountain West Conference play with the Broncos. Next week's game will air live on ESPN2 at 8:15 p.m. MT/4:15 p.m. HT.