The Wisconsin Badgers have pretty much had their way with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in this afternoon's battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, and they have made it a truly historic afternoon for running back Montee Ball.

After stopping the Gophers on downs at midfield, the Badgers marched into the end zone in just seven plays, all of them runs. Ball got six of the seven carries, and gained 36 yards, including the final three to put himself into the end zone and give the Badgers a 42-13 lead.

The touchdown was the 27th for Ball on the season, which is a new single-season Big Ten Conference record. It was also his third on the afternoon, having gotten one through the air and two on the ground.

The Axe will stay with Wisconsin for another year, it would appear, as Wisconsin leads Minnesota 42-13 with just a shade over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of play at TCF Bank Stadium.