Let's Talk About the Illini: Homecoming Joy

Classic Illinois. 

A few weeks after everything and everyone involved basically looked dead and buried , the Illinois football program rises from the grave. Very festive if you think about the holiday happening this weekend.

After over 1,000 days, Illinois has won a home Big Ten game. Happy Homecoming indeed.

How though? What did we learn? Well, not much has changed.

The illini’s defense isn’t great (they gave up over 400 total yards). Riley O’toole isn’t the quarterback of the future (he only threw for 118 passing yards). In general, Illinois is who we thought they were.

What the difference between this win and the three Big Ten loses they have this season, is they took the 1-2 punch from a team and held it close enough to take it in the end.  

All season Illinois has struggled in the second and third quarter against Big Ten teams. Nebraska scored 24 of their 48 points in the second quarter. Wisconsin scored 17 of their 38 in the second quarter. Purdue scored  only 10 pointsin the second, but added on 14 more in the third. Each of those quarters seemed to be the difference in those games.

Saturday, the Illini quickly went up 14-0 in the first quarter. Those 14 points battened down the preverbal hatches for the soon to come Minnesota hurricane. In the second quarter, as I waited for doom, the Gophers headed into halftime with a field goal. 

However a 21 point third quarter was the right hook everyone was waiting for.

The first score occurred in classic Illinois fashion. A turnover by Illinois one play and  a 52 yard touchdown pass to Issac Fruechte from Mitch Leidner the next. 14-10 with hop fading. 

The difference in this game ended up being Illinois’ response to the first blow. A 9 play 75 yard drive capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Josh Ferguson to be exact. 21-10

Minnesota would score touchdowns on their next two drives and go up for the first time in the game. 24-21. Sweet.  The Illini stayed strong though and were always within striking distance. 

V’angelo Bentley made a key scoop in grab that helped Illinois gain the lead back.  28-24. The dead were rising, but not out of the coffin yet.

The second part that makes and breaks this game, the next drive. If Minnesota can drive and put some points up, the game is different. The Illini now put the game again on an Offense that hadn’t scored since making it 21-10.

The defense though came to play. A 3 and out helped the illini waste some time and eventually get the win.

So the defense wasn’t spectacular, but they held their first Big Ten Oppenent to under 200 yards rushing  and forced 3 turnovers. The offense didn’t blow anyone out of the water, but they stayed in the game and made key drives during and after Minnesota’s knock out punch. Illinois got a lot of breaks with a missed fourth quarter field goal and, once again, those three turnovers. 

This Illinois team didn’t make the world realize they just had some bad weeks, instead they just proved to themselves they can compete in a struggling power conference.

Which, after all, is all Illinois fans have been hoping for anyway.