It was the conference opener for the Badgers and College Gameday was in the building. But Wisconsin’s offense was struggling to do much of anything and all three of its running backs were hurt. Enter the Badgers’ newest folk hero, Matt Bernstein. The fullback had not eaten in 24 hours due to Yom Kippur, so he had oranges and turkey on the sidelines prior to kickoff. Then, he proceeded to feast in the Penn State defense. Bernstein rushed for a career-high 123 yards on 27 carries to help Wisconsin improve to 4-0 on the season.
The game itself was not the most exciting ever. There are only two parts people remember. First, Bernstein coming in and having a career day, including a hurdle of a defender on a 17-yard run in the third quarter. Secondly, people remember Erasmus James, who single handedly knocked two Penn State quarterbacks out of the game in the first quarter. On the second one, Penn State backup quarterback Michael Robinson had to be taken off the field in an ambulance.
After a Penn State fumble was recovered by James inside Nittany Lions territory late in the first quarter, the Badgers traveled 42 yards in eight plays to give the Badgers the 7-0 lead. The short drive was capped off by a John Stocco touchdown run of five yards.
Wisconsin was able to tack on a field goal just past the midway point of the second quarter to put Bucky in front 10-0. Then, Jim Leonhard picked off a pass and returned it deep into Penn State territory to set up another field goal for the 13-0 lead.
At halftime, it was decided that both healthy (at the start of the game) running backs Booker Stanley and Jamil Walker would be unable to give it a go in the second half. Already without starting running back Anthony Davis, the Badgers turned to Bernstein to carry the load.
On the first possession of the second half, Bernstein rushed 11 times on a 17-play drive that resulted in a field goal to put the Badgers in front 16-0. The signature moment of the drive came on a 2nd-and-10 from the Penn State 32. Bernstein took the handoff from Stocco and raced through the hole and hurdled a Nittany Lions defender at the 20 and then being brought down at the 15 for a run of 17 yards.
Penn State was able to drive and get a field goal on their ensuing drive to get on the scoreboard, but the defenses dominated the final quarter and the Badgers ended up with the 16-3 win.
This was the third time out of four games that the stingy defense had not given up a touchdown. With the three points allowed, the Bucky defense had only allowed 19 points through the first four games of the season. The defense continued to dominate, only allowing one offensive touchdown combined in wins against Illinois and at Ohio State in the next two weeks.
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