MADISON, Wis. — No. 22 Wisconsin rediscovered its swagger on the ground against Hawaii.
The defense looks as if it’s already in midseason form.
Taiwan Deal ran for 147 yards and two scores, and the Badgers held a nonconference opponent without a touchdown for the third straight game in a 28-0 victory Saturday night.
Linebacker Joe Schobert had two sacks. Wisconsin (3-1) held Hawaii (2-2) to 15 yards rushing in the first night game at Camp Randall Stadium in three years.
“Some things we can build on. But looking forward to getting better with this group,” coach Paul Chryst said in typically low-key fashion.
The running game was anything but in churning out 326 yards.
Deal had a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs in the first half. With Big Ten play looming, Deal’s day was a promising sign for a Wisconsin team that will be without injured starting tailback Corey Clement for at least a month.
It was a throwback Saturday with the way the Badgers were pushing people around. An offensive line beset by injuries and inexperience opened up holes for Deal, a redshirt freshman who ended the night with 26 carries.
“It was a lot of fun. It’s Wisconsin football,” fullback Derek Watt said.
The Rainbow Warriors’ best scoring chance came in the third quarter in a drive to the 1. Penalties pushed Hawaii back 30 yards, and Rigoberto Sanchez missed a 49-yard field goal.
They were foiled in part all night by their own blunders, including 11 penalties for 100 yards.
“That’s what I told the players I was most disappointed in. We play with toughness. We play with class,” coach Norm Chow said. “We have to be disciplined.”
Max Wittek finished 15 of 32 for 189 yards. He was sacked three times.