Derrick Henry, Tide rush past the Badgers

Derrick Henry is leading No. 3 Alabama in rushing again, this time as the featured back.

After being the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher last season while backing up a second-round NFL draft pick, Henry took over as the No. 1 guy Saturday night.

He ran for 147 yards with three touchdowns in a season-opening 35-17 victory over No. 20 Wisconsin in the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium.

Jake Coker got the starting nod at quarterback for Alabama, and was 15 for 21 passing for 213 yards. His 17-yard touchdown to Robert Foster in the second quarter broke a 7-7 tie and put the Tide ahead to stay in the NFL stadium where they had wanted to end last season.

Henry’s 13 carries included a 37-yard touchdown run on Alabama’s second drive, then scores of 56 and two yards in the third quarter.

On the 56-yarder, Henry took a handoff from Coker, shot through an opening on the left side of the line with only one defender, even swiping a hand on him before outracing everyone to the end zone.

Kenyan Drake added a 43-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Cooper Bateman, the second Alabama quarterback, completed seven of eight passes for 51 yards.

Wisconsin’s new starting running back Corey Clement struggled mightily, with 16 yards in eight carries — only one after halftime before leaving the game because of a left groin injury. He had averaged seven yards per carry with seven 100-yard games his first two seasons, even while starting only once.

The Badgers were held to 40 yards rushing, their lowest total since 19 against Michigan State on Oct. 27, 2012, and had only 268 total yards in former offensive coordinator Paul Chryst’s first game as head coach.

They had averaged 264 yards per game on the ground over the previous five seasons.

Joel Stave, in his 29th start as Wisconsin’s quarterback, was 26 for 39 passing for 228 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.