Wisconsin

Mellusi rushes for 2 TDs and Wisconsin beats South Dakota 27-13

Published

4 months ago

September 8, 2024

Mellusi rushes for 2 TDs and Wisconsin beats South Dakota 27-13

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Chez Mellusi’s grandfather died on Friday, but he didn’t tell Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell until the conclusion of Saturday’s game.

By that point, Mellusi had delivered a performance that would have made his grandfather proud.

Mellusi rushed for two touchdowns, Tyler Van Dyke threw for another and Wisconsin beat South Dakota 27-13. Mellusi told a few people earlier this week – but not many – about his grandfather’s situation.

What You Need To Know

Chez Mellusi rushed for two touchdowns, Tyler Van Dyke threw for another and Wisconsin beat South Dakota 27-13

Van Dyke completed 17 of 27 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown for the Badgers

Chez Mellusi had 16 carries for 60 yards and Cade Yacamelli rushed for a team-high 73 yards on eight attempts

Wisconsin raced to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a Mellusi 9-yard touchdown and a 50-yard scoring strike from Van Dyke to CJ Williams

“I didn’t want any sympathy,” Mellusi said. “I need to do a better job letting my guys know what I’m going through. That’s on me.”

Van Dyke completed 17 of 27 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown for the Badgers (2-0). Mellusi had 16 carries for 60 yards and Cade Yacamelli rushed for a team-high 73 yards on eight attempts.

Mellusi said that he was close to Cesare Mellusi and took the situation hard. Mellusi’s father Mario Mellusi didn’t attend Saturday’s game.

“It’s life,” Chez Mellusi said. “I know what he would’ve wanted for me is to play the best version of myself. And I have to be better. Today, I did all right. I left some things on the field, for sure.”

Fickell said that this season, in particular, Mellusi’s impact has grown within the program.

“It’s the best I’ve seen him — as a leader, as a guy that can provide some energy and provide some spark,” Fickell said. “It’s a great reminder to us, especially us that understand this landscape of college football is changing, that even the older players can truly grow.”

Cade Yacamelli rushed for a team-high 73 yards on eight attempts.

Wisconsin raced to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a Mellusi 9-yard touchdown and a 50-yard scoring strike from Van Dyke to CJ Williams.

South Dakota (1-1) cut the lead to 17-13 in the third quarter but couldn’t get any closer.

Nathanial Vakos’ 50-yard field goal made it 20-13 late in the third period. Mellusi’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7:35 remaining put the game out of reach at 27-13.

Vakos also had a 24-yard field goal in the second period.

South Dakota’s Charles Pierre Jr. rushed for 83 yards on 12 carries and Aidan Bowman completed 12 of 23 passes for 114 yards. Keyondray James-Logan scored South Dakota’s lone touchdown with a 35-yard run early in the third quarter.

South Dakota creeped into contention in the third after a muffed punt by Wisconsin’s Vinny Anthony. But the Coyotes failed to get a touchdown and settled for Leyland’s 32-yard field goal to cut Wisconsin’s lead to 17-13.

South Dakota coach Bob Nielsen said that the Coyotes couldn’t keep up with the Badgers in the fourth quarter.

“We left a lot of points on the board,” Nielsen said. “And against a team like (Wisconsin), you can’t leave points on the board. They wore us, they leaned on us a little bit. We had one drive with the three penalties, and they did a good job of scoring late in the game to make it a two-score game.”

The takeaway

Wisconsin: The Badgers had four gains of at least 22 yards in the first half, an encouraging sign after they had no plays longer than 17 yards in their season-opening 28-14 victory over Western Michigan. The biggest plays were Williams’ 50-yard touchdown and a 32-yard catch by Anthony.

South Dakota: The Coyotes lost the game but made some big plays on defense and special teams. Nyle Dickel recovered a Wisconsin muffed punt in the third quarter. Mi’Quise Grace and Mosai Newsom got one sack each against Van Dyke.

Up next

South Dakota: At Portland State on Sept. 14.

Wisconsin: Hosts No. 4 Alabama on Sept. 14.

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Wisconsin

Better Know A Badger – 2025 four-star lineman Hardy Watts

Published

6 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Better Know A Badger – 2025 four-star lineman Hardy Watts

MADISON, Wis. – It turned out that Luke Fickell had no reason to worry.

The University of Wisconsin head coach was hopeful that the results on the field wouldn’t cause members of his highly ranked third recruiting class to start rethinking their commitment or, worse yet, reopen their decision-making process entirely.

From the time the Badgers’ 2024 season ended without a bowl game for the first time in 23 years to the first day of the early signing period, Wisconsin’s staff only saw one prospect de-commit. Twenty-three kids signed paperwork to join Fickell’s program, a class that ranks 20th in the Rivals.com rankings with 10 four-star recruits from eight different states.

“To see guys not waver,” Fickell said. “That faith and belief that the games and what you see on Saturday isn’t everything. For those guys to hold with us and believe in us … relationships, trust, and belief in this process still win out.”

Adding depth to the offensive line, we look at the signing of Brookline (MA) Dexter’s Hardy Watts and how his addition improves the program.

Stats

Watts worked all over the offensive line during his high school career, but he spent this past season working primarily at right tackle. It was a position that his school needed him to play and the spot where he felt the most comfortable. It benefited him, as Watts earned all-conference recognition.

“I think I improved my chemistry and my ability to work as part of a unit, rather than making plays and flashy blocks,” Watts said. “I was learning the footwork of certain types of blocking and steps. I really refined what was already there and brought it back to working as part of a unit, making sure I am not messing up any assignments, and consistency.”

Recruiting Competition

The 17th commitment in Wisconsin’s 2025 class, Watts committed to the Badgers over a top group that included Clemson and Michigan. Watts also had two dozen offers from Power-Four schools like Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.

“There were a few schools that never stopped pursuing me,” Watts said. “They were some new schools that came forward with an offer, but I just politely declined, explained to them the situation that I was locked in and wasn’t going anywhere.”

Recruiting Story

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Dec. 24, 2024

Published

14 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Dec. 24, 2024

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 24, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

11-14-38-45-46, Mega Ball: 03, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 7-9-6

Evening: 2-0-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 9-8-7-5

Evening: 6-3-7-0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 03-04-06-07-09-10-14-16-17-18-19

Evening: 02-05-07-08-12-13-17-18-19-20-21

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

05-19-22-23-24

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

02-03-06-30-31-34, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin RB enters transfer portal. NCAA waiver gives senior another year of eligibility

Published

22 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin RB enters transfer portal. NCAA waiver gives senior another year of eligibility

MADISON – A recent court ruling has opened the door for former junior college players to gain another year of NCAA eligibility.

It appears that Tawee Walker is going to take advantage of the opportunity.

According to On3, Wisconsin’s senior running back will enter the transfer portal in search of a home for next season. The news came one day after the NCAA approved a blanket waiver granting one more year of eligibility to athletes who competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years and would have otherwise exhausted their eligibility during the 2024-25 school year.

Walker fits the bill. He played the the 2021 season at Palomar College. a junior college in San Marcos, California, before competing for Oklahoma in 2022 and ’23 and Wisconsin this season. The NCAA counts his junior college season towards his four years of college eligibility.

The waiver stems from a case brought forward by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. A Tennessee court ruled that counting the two seasons he played at a junior college toward his NCAA eligibility violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Walker, a 5-foot-9, 218-pound Las Vegas native, led the Badgers with 864 yards in 190 carries, a 4.5-yard average, and scored 10 touchdowns.

He begin the season sharing the No. 1 tailback role with Chez Mellusi and blossomed after Mellusi took what proved to be a permanent leave Oct. 3.

As Wisconsin’s primary ball carrier Walker ran for 718 yards in 152 carries, a 4.7-yard average, with nine touchdowns.

His best stretch was a three-game run against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern when he gained 418 yards in 66 carries, a 6.3-yard average, and scored six times.

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