35-0 sure looks pretty on the scoreboard, but who said it was easy?

Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, the Wisconsin Badgers dispatched the Oregon State Beavers by that score, prolonging the frenzy that struck Madison in late June once a certain transfer quarterback announced his decision to play for UW. Russell Wilson was once again brilliant against the Beavers, completing 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns.

Montee Ball continued his stellar beginning to the 2011 season as well, gaining 118 yards on 18 carries (6.6 yards per) and adding two rushing touchdowns. Nick Toon joined the party as well, equaling his career-high with seven catches that went for 69 yards and one touchdown.

Oh, and the defense pitched a shutout.

Oregon State, saddled by injury (freshman running back sensation Malcolm Agnew didn’t make the trip to Madison after suffering a hamstring injury in week 1) and the lack of a concrete solution at quarterback (the Beavers alternated Sean Mannion and Ryan Katz for much of the game – sometimes even in the middle of series), certainly made it look easy for Wisconsin.

But the truth is, the Badgers not only endured, but thrived in a game where injury struck and a supposedly inferior Beavers squad made it very tough on the UW offense in the early going. Wisconsin gained four first downs in the opening quarter, but the Badgers gained just three rushing yards on 10 carries and led only 7-0. Wilson was 6-for-7 in that quarter, though clearly the running game had yet to be opened up.

UW’s offense picked up in the second quarter, as the Badgers entered halftime leading 21-0 with 209 yards of total offense. But by that point, top cornerback Devin Smith had injured his left foot and Pat Muldoon suffered a right shoulder injury. Both players did not return, and Smith was later seen on crutches with a thick wrap extending from his foot all the way up to his knee. Head coach Bret Bielema said after the game that x-rays on Smith were negative, though there is no timetable for his return. No update was given on Muldoon.

Despite the defense already playing without starting outside linebacker Kevin Claxton (fractured wrist), Smith’s injury was initially the most concerning given how well UW’s defense was handling OSU. The Beavers converted just two first downs in the first quarter, and Smith had one of the Badgers’ six pass breakups in the first 12 minutes – an absolutely absurd number. Along with other top cornerback Antonio Fenelus, Smith made Wisconsin’s secondary the early story of the game.

“[The cornerbacks] make my job easier on the back end,” free safety Aaron Henry said. “I didn’t have too many tackles that I was in on because guys were making the tackle.”

But with how well Smith’s replacement, Marcus Cromartie, played, most of the concern was quickly alleviated. Cromartie, a redshirt junior, finished third on the team with seven tackles and picked up where Smith left off with stellar pass coverage. At halftime, OSU’s top three receivers had combined for just seven catches and 81 yards.

“[Cromartie] did a great job going in there and replacing Devin Smith,” Fenelus said. “We always tell Cro he’s one play away, and [Saturday], obviously, he kept showing up and he had a great game.”

Cromartie entered the game Saturday listed as Smith’s backup on the Badgers’ depth chart, though he knew there was a specific role he would fill against the Beavers.

“I had a big role for the nickel this game, and then Devin went down,” Cromartie said. “[Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Chris] Ash has this ‘next man’ mentality kind of deal, and he coached me every day like I’m a one. So I went in there prepared.”

As ready as he was for Oregon State, Cromartie’s every down reps that came following Smith’s injury were the ultimate preparation. With Smith’s status unknown for the near future, Cromartie is in line to gain significant playing time that will decide how well UW’s defense can hold up without Smith. Behind him, two freshmen cornerbacks, Darius Hillary and Peniel Jean, make up essentially the rest of the team’s depth.

As long as the veterans like Fenelus and himself stay on the field, Cromartie is confident in the cornerbacks the Badgers will put on the field.

“All the corners, we all push each other to be the best players we can,” Cromartie said. “I felt like when it came to fall camp, nobody knew who was going to be a one or a two; we just competed as if we were the backups.”

Mike is a senior majoring in journalism. Like how the Badgers responded Saturday? Let him know on Twitter @mikefiammetta and be sure to follow @bheraldsports for all the latest Badgers news. You can also listen to Mike on WSUM 91.7 FM’s Student Section, Mondays from 4-6 p.m. CT.