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Wisconsin Badgers: Stock Up/Down after big win at Iowa

By Dylan Piccolo

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Fullback Alec Ingold #45, offensive lineman Michael Dieter #63 and offensive lineman Tyler Beach #65 of the Wisconsin Badgers carry the Heartland Trophy off the field after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Fullback Alec Ingold #45, offensive lineman Michael Dieter #63 and offensive lineman Tyler Beach #65 of the Wisconsin Badgers carry the Heartland Trophy off the field after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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The Wisconsin Badgers avenged their Week 3 loss to BYU, with an impressive win against the dangerous Iowa Hawkeyes 28-17.

Stock Up

Alex Hornibrook

There is no question that Hornibrook has struggled to step up when his team needed him to, but on Saturday night in the ruckus Kinnick the junior quarterback stepped up. The Badgers, who were down three at the end of the third quarter, took the lead on a Hornibrook touchdown pass to AJ Taylor to cap off a 10-play, 88-yard drive where Hornibrook threw for 67 yards. Hornibrook played a fantastic game throwing in total for three touchdowns and 225 yards completing 77 percent of his passes. This is the attack that the Badgers will need to be successful in the Big Ten conference where the focus will be stopping the Wisconsin running attack.

D’Cota Dixon

Dixon single handily turned the momentum for the Badgers where Dixon forced and recovered a fumble that gave the then-struggling Badgers offense good field position which eventually led to a touchdown. It was a huge play by the senior that kept Wisconsin in the game. On the defensive side of the ball, it was business as usual for Dixon as he was tied for the team lead in tackles with six.

Ryan Connelly

The Hawkeyes received the ball to start the second half marched down to the Wisconsin two-yard line and on third-and-goal Badgers linebacker Ryan Connelly shed an offensive lineman and made a remarkable tackle that forced Iowa to kick a field goal. This was yet another play by a senior that turned the tide of the game for Wisconsin. It was big for the Badgers to get that stop and it kept them in the game. Connelly was the other Badger tied for the lead in tackles with six.

Jake Ferguson

The relationship between Ferguson and Hornibrook is growing and it’s exactly what the doctor ordered for a struggling offense. Paul Chryst did a good job of pushing the wideouts downfield in the second half so the athletic Ferguson could go up against linebackers in the mid-to-underneath routes. Ferguson finished with four receptions 58-yards and a touchdown.

Stock Down

Jonathan Taylor

Taylor is getting his numbers with four consecutive games at 100+ yards, but the yards don’t seem to be coming as easy as they did last season. Defenses are no question keying on Taylor to force Hornibrook to pass the ball, but holes aren’t being hit and the big plays aren’t developing. Taylor finished with 113 yards on 25 carries averaging 4.5 yards per carry, but it doesn’t feel like he is making those breakout plays. As Hornibrook continues to make plays down the field, look for the holes to start opening up and those big yard plays will come.

Badgers Secondary

The younger members of the Badgers secondary looked like they were outmatched especially getting beat deep on a 46 and 47-yard passes. It has definitely been a learning experience for the secondary, and there was some miscommunications on responsibilities. The Badgers secondary will be under the microscope for the rest of the season, and they will need to play a tighter game in order to keep the Badgers in the win columns.

All stats were acquired from ESPN.com

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