By: Steve Reed
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Wisconsin Badgers captured the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and the trophy that came along with it.
And then they broke it.
While dancing around to celebrate his team’s 42-28 victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday, quarterback Graham Mertz dropped the football-shaped piece of Lenox crystal, leaving it shattered on the floor of the locker room after it fell off its base.
“We just wanted everybody to have a piece of that trophy,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst joked.
That would seem appropriate.
Mertz accounted for three touchdowns and Wisconsin turned four second-half interceptions, all by different players, into 21 points to turn a close game into a near-rout of the Demon Deacons. Five players scored touchdowns for the Badgers.
Mertz, a redshirt freshman, threw for 130 yards and ran for two short TDs as Wisconsin (4-3) finished a rocky 2020 season on a high note.
“Yeah, I dropped it,” Mertz said sheepishly. “That’s on me. It happened.”
The Badgers might be willing to forgive him.
With the game tied at 21 late in the third quarter, Noah Burks intercepted Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman on a pass in the flat when the intended receiver failed to turn his head around. Burks returned the ball 41 yards to set up a 14-yard scoring strike from Mertz to Mason Stokke on a wheel route, giving the Badgers their first lead.
Hartman, who had thrown only one interception all season, was picked off on the next three possessions as well.
Scott Nelson had a 60-yard interception return and Collin Wilder returned a pick 72 yards to set up short TD runs that gave the Badgers a 42-21 lead, resulting in Hartman getting benched. Jack Sanborn had 11 tackles and an interception and was named MVP of the game.
“It felt like one led to the other,” Sanborn said. “After three picks, we said, ‘Collin you have to get one’ — and then Collin went and got one.”
Sanborn said the Badgers picked up on some of Hartman’s tendencies.
“Throughout the game, similar concepts coming up,” Sanborn said. “We kind of knew where he wanted to throw the ball. He was making throws early in the game. But we got a tell on where he wanted to go with the ball.”
Hartman finished 20 of 37 passing for 318 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
“All of a sudden the dam opened the floodgates and wow, I never thought we would lose a game like that,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said.
Clawson said he felt Hartman was telegraphing his passes.
“I think he held on to targets too long and Wisconsin broke on his eyes and his arm actions,” Clawson said.
Wake Forest (4-5) outgained Wisconsin 518-266 on offense, but the Badgers had 176 return yards off interceptions.
Hartman threw three touchdown passes to Jacquarii Roberson to give the Demon Deacons a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter against the nation’s No. 1-ranked defense.
The game was played in front of no fans other than family and friends due to the coronavirus pandemic.
THE TAKEAWAY
Wake Forest: Hartman seemed to implode after playing a really nice first half. The redshirt sophomore should learn from his rough day against the Badgers.
Wisconsin: Mertz appears to have solidified his role as the team’s starting quarterback moving forward. He had struggled down the stretch with five interceptions and one touchdown in his previous four games. But it’s been hard to fully evaluate his play since he’s been missing his two top wideouts, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor.
UP NEXT
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons are slated to open their 2021 season with a Sept. 4 home game against Old Dominion.
Wisconsin: The Badgers will need to add some weapons for Mertz heading into next season. They open at home against Big Ten foe Penn State on on Sept. 4.
*Courtesy Associated Press
