Sama, Dupree rush for TDs as Wisconsin beats Western Illinois 36-9 in home opener

MADISON, Wis. -- — Abu Sama III and Damon Dupree ran for one score each to lead Wisconsin to a 36-9 win against Western Illinois on Saturday night. Sama ran 72 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game to put Wisconsin ahead 7-0. The score was the first of Sama's young Wisconsin career; the Iowa State transfer rushed for a career-high 107 yards on eight carries to go with one score. Wisconsin safety Carson Van Dinter got a punt block, recovery and score with 7:54 left in the first quarter to push Wisconsin's lead to 17-0. Gavin Lahm kicked 30-, 49- and 51-yard field goals for the Badgers (1-1) in their home opener. The 51-yarder, with 2:30 left in the first half, pushed Wisconsin's lead to 23-6 and was Lahm's career high. Culkin kicked field goals of 27, 27 and 34 yards for Western Illinois (1-2). Western Illinois coach Joe Davis said the Leathernecks didn't back down from obstacles posed by a Big Ten Conference opponent. “I thought our team battled very hard,” Davis said. “We certainly went into this game with this type of plan. We wanted to run the football, we did want to use the play clock and control drives and control the run defensively. The resource advantage, the size, the speed of a Power Four team is significant.” The Leathernecks had six penalties for 50 yards, including a 10-yard holding penalty that wiped out a TD at the start of the third quarter. Dupree's 28-yard touchdown run capped an eight-run, 68-yard drive — all on the ground — to extend Wisconsin's lead to 30-9 with 5:39 to go in the third. Left guard Colin Cobberly said that he was happy with the focus of the offensive line throughout the game. “I know that we wanted to impose our will in the run and show our dominance in the run game, Cobberly said. “Really, in the whole game we wanted to be physical. We obviously love that as offensive linemen.” Quarterback Colton Joseph threw his first touchdown for Wisconsin. The Old Dominion transfer went 12 of 22 for 173 yards and one score. Joseph also had four rushes for 38 yards. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said that Joseph's passing performance was impacted due to soreness from the Notre Dame game. Joseph's reps were limited in practice heading into Saturday's game. “He was a little dinged up from last weekend," Fickell said. "We knew going out tonight it was going to take him a little more time to loosen up. Throwing the ball down the field during the week was taken off his plate, so he hadn't been hit like that in awhile.” Chris Brooks Jr. caught a 53-yard TD pass from Joseph as Wisconsin pulled away 36-9 with 5:39 remaining in the game. Saturday's game was the second meeting between the two teams. Wisconsin is the only Football Bowl Subdivision opponent on Western Illinois' schedule this season. The Takeaway Western Illinois: Kennedy McGill, a Central Washington transfer, has shown potential to be a dual-threat quarterback. McGill rushed for 88 yards on 18 carries. He also had 139 yards on 13-for-22 passing for the Leathernecks Wisconsin: Special teams continued to provide a spark. The Badgers have blocked punts in two straight games. Van Ginter blocked a punt against Western Illinois, and Liam Danitz blocked a punt in Wisconsin's season-opening loss last week against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field. Up next Western Illinois: Hosts Morehead State next Saturday. Wisconsin: Hosts Eastern Michigan next Saturday. ------ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.