Key mistakes at the right time can ruin a game for any team, even if it’s the better squad.
But Wisconsin avoided this usual fate in its first game of the season.

To state it more accurately, NIU was unable to turn the Badger miscues into game changing opportunities, as the Huskies lost 28-20 in their season opener.

Twice, NIU (0-1) lined up at the Wisconsin 15 yard line with a fresh set of downs. Twice, the Huskies had to settle for field goals.

“That’s something we have to get better at,” NIU head coach Jerry Kill said. “We have to get that ball into the end zone.”

Although NIU was unable to hit paydirt, it did cause problems for Wisconsin (1-0). The Badgers hindered themselves with four penalties for 45 yards in the first half.

Twice, Wisconsin extended the sticks on itself: once because of a false start and a second time because of a holding call. Both times the Badgers were unable to get a first down and were forced to punt.

Wisconsin also gave NIU extra offensive opportunities during the first half. The Badger defense stopped the Huskies twice on third down. But, NIU received a fresh set of downs because of a personal foul and pass interference, respectively.

“I don’t know what people will grade, but 90 to 95 percent of the snaps were very, very positive; but that five to 10 percent that were negative could put us in a situation that we were there in the fourth quarter,” said Bret Bielema, Wisconsin head coach. “Fortunately we were able to win and we will move ourselves forward.”

Before Wisconsin could move forward, however, it had to finish business against NIU. The Huskies controlled the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points on 10:55 of possession.

“As the game wore on, it’s just like anything; once you get a little confidence, things start to happen, and I think we were trying to find some confidence for a long time,” Kill said. “Once we got going I think our kids picked it up.”

Unable to take advantage of Wisconsin’s earlier mistakes, NIU was forced to make a play. The situation: fourth-and-three with 1:13 remaining in the game.

Huskie quarterback, Chandler Harnish, said he should have called a second time out before the snap, as he was executing a new play. But with limited time and one time out left, Harnish felt he had to push forward.

“We had every Wisconsin Badger fan against us,” Harnish said. “It was the loudest I’ve ever heard it.”

The result for NIU was an incomplete pass to fullback, Kyle Skarb.

The play turned into a mistake. But the biggest mistake for the Huskies was the inability to take advantage of Wisconsin’s miscues.

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