Rutgers crushed by Wisconsin 48-10

Corey Clement ran for three scores and 115 yards in his first game in eight weeks, powering Wisconsin to a 48-10 victory on Saturday over Rutgers.

Clement had 11 carries, including a 21-yard scamper to the end zone after the junior burst through a narrow hole on the left side of the line for a 24-3 lead with 3:30 left in the second quarter.

It was a Halloween to remember for Clement following his eagerly-anticipated return from sports hernia surgery.

The Badgers (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) overwhelmed the Scarlet Knights (3-5, 1-4) in their first trip to Madison.

Under constant pressure, quarterback Chris Laviano was just 4 of 14 for 31 yards with an interception. The offense mustered a season-low 165 yards.

Rutgers' only touchdown came when freshman Blessaun Austin intercepted a poor pass by Wisconsin's Joel Stave and returned it 50 yards for a score in the third quarter.

Otherwise, it was all Wisconsin on a rainy, chilly day in Madison.

The Badgers got a lucky bounce, too.

A deep pass down the left sideline from Laviano caromed off the helmet of linebacker Joe Schobert, who was covering the receiver with his back to the quarterback. The ball landed in the hands of trailing safety Tanner McEvoy for an interception.

McEvoy, a two-way player who lines up at receiver, added a 20-yard touchdown run on a direct snap for a 48-10 lead with 9:47 left in the game.

By that time, most of the announced crowd of about 74,500 fans had left with the game well in hand.

Clement took a well-earned break, too, barely moving as he leaned back on the bench for much of the fourth quarter. His last rush was his longest of the afternoon, a 58-yard dash with about 2 minutes left in the third quarter to the Rutgers 4.

If it wasn't for the injury, Clement would probably have scored his fourth touchdown of the day on that play. Instead, safety Anthony Cioffi tracked down Clement from behind.

No matter, since backup Dare Ogunbowale ran for a 4-yard score on Wisconsin's next play for a 31-point lead.

The Badgers' highest-scoring game in Big Ten play this season came on an afternoon when their top running back returned to the lineup.

For Rutgers, it was a second straight blowout loss to a Big Ten power. Ohio State beat the Scarlet Knights 49-7 last week in Piscataway.

Rutgers played without senior Leonte Carroo, who led the conference with 346 yards receiving on 17 catches coming into the weekend.

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