Day his grandfather died, Wisconsin’s Chez Mellusi rushes for 2 TDs as Badgers beat South Dakota
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.
“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.
TOP PHOTO: Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Huber (60) congratulates running back Chez Mellusi on a touchdown against South Dakota during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)