The Cougs started off the 2023 home opener against the 19th ranked Wisconsin badgers with an inspiring 31-22 win. Lead man Cameron Ward rushed for 43 yards to go along with 212 yards passing and 2 touchdowns in the upset victory.
A year ago the Cougs marched into Madison and came out with the win. Fast forward a year and the Cougs came into Saturday’s game as confident as they were a season ago.
Cam Ward drove the Cougs down the field midway through the first connecting with Kyle Williams from 4 yards out to put the Cougs up 7-0 early. The Badgers were able to add a field goal on the following drive. Cam followed that with some more scrambling magic making room for him- self to pass down field. Cougars went up 14-3 after a 1-yard pass from Ward to Victor.
The Cougs Defense clamped down in the 1st half. Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson combined for a strip and a touchdown recovery for the Cougs to give them a 24-6 lead with 2:08 remaining in the first half.
2nd half adjustments were big for the Badgers defense as they held the Cougs to only 24-yards in the first four possessions of the 2nd half. The Badgers were not allowing Cam Ward to get outside the edges which was making it tough for him to get time. The Badgers Chez Mellusi capped off a 7-play, 35 yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to pull Wisconsin within 8. The following drive Mordecai found Bell for a 16-yard touchdown strike to have a chance to tie the game. Fortunately for the Cougs, the 2-point conversion failed and they held a 24-22 lead.
This had the feel of the Ducks game at home last year, where the Cougs squandered a 2 score lead in the fourth quarter. The Cougars stripped Mellusi in the fourth and were looking to pad their lead. Ward got his mojo back and led the Cougs on a 10 play 57-yard drive to put the Cougs up 9 with 5 minutes to play. The WSU defense was able to force the Badger offense to turn the ball over on downs to seal the victory in one of the most memorable home games in Cougar history.
The Cougs are still looking to see where their future lies for next season. Down to only 2 teams in the conference, Coach Jake Dickert is certain they belong in a power 5 conference. “We go out there and do more with less than maybe anybody in the country. So why is there a situation or circumstance where we can’t continue to do this at the highest level? I mean that. Are we going on wins? Are we going on location? Are going on revenue? Market? I don’t know what it is. For us not to be where we should be — I’m not trying to give ourselves a distraction — but I’m just really proud of these guys.”
The Cougs take on Northern Colorado next week before coming home to face the 16th ranked Beavers.
