Citadel doesn't go down easy

MADISON, Wis. -- Given the fact that he outweighed all but two of the defensive starters he was facing, it wasn't a surprise to see Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill rumble for a school record-tying 5 touchdowns.

The surprise was that The Citadel offense managed to keep up with the Badgers for a half.

The Bulldogs gave the seventh-ranked Badgers a scare of Appalachian proportions in the first half before Wisconsin pulled away to a 45-31 victory.

For Hill, the 227-pound bulldozer who was the Big Ten freshman of the year last season, it was a chance to emerge as a leader.

"Coach is always telling me the weight is on my shoulders," Hill said. "I'll take it, when I see the opportunity to get a few yards or score a touchdown."

Wisconsin (3-0) extended the nation's longest winning streak to 12 games and never trailed.

But for a while, it looked like they were in danger of becoming the second Big Ten powerhouse to be upset by a team from what used to be known as Division I-AA this season.

The Citadel (2-1), a member of the Championship Subdivision, matched Wisconsin touchdown-for-touchdown and went into halftime tied at 21-21.

"Their eyes weren't big," Bulldogs coach Kevin Higgins said. "They believed they could win this football game."

Hill scored his fourth touchdown on the first drive in the second half to give Wisconsin a 28-21 lead.

After that, the Bulldogs' offense ran out of answers.