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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — It sounded familiar.
The Illini were once again clinging to a four-quarter lead and once again found a way to squander it. Purdue (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) captured the Cannon and beat Illinois, 13-9, in a lousy game at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The first half featured as many punters as it had points (nine) and that only begins to say how tough the battle for the Cannon was on Saturday.
After a slow start, the Illini (1-4, 1-2 Big Ten) managed to score at the end of the first half, led by running back Josh McCray. Then, aided by a pass interference call on a deep throw attempt and a good balance between run and pass, the Illini opened the second half with a 13-game practice to tie things up at 6. This still wasn’t pretty, but the Illini moved the ball much better after half-time.
Purdue’s offense struggled throughout the game, so at the end of the third quarter after the Illini missed a 54-yard field goal, Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm decided to passing the quarterback from Jack Plummer to Aiden O’Connell (something Purdue does often). Two plays later, O’Connell connected with Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen for 43 yards, setting Purdue up to potentially take the lead and score the game’s first touchdown.
In third and on goal, Illini junior DB Kerby Joseph intercepted a pass from O’Connell in the end zone with 1:30 left in the third quarter – reversing all swing. McCray then pushed his way across the field, rushing more than 50 yards onto the disc. The Illini finished the run with James McCourt’s third field goal of the game, a 45-yard drive that gave Illinois their first lead of the game.
In the possession that followed, Tony Adams knocked out O’Connell. The senior QB was trying to bring the ball to Kyle Bilodeau on a crossover course and Adams was waiting to deliver a big hit. Instead, the blow rocked the ball and Adams hung on for his sixth career interception.
Bret Bielema then faced a similar situation which he controversially decided to kick last week. This time around, the Illini were leading 9-6 on the 34-yard line with 9:33 to go – and once again decided to kick the ball.
“I’m trying to win a game, not lose a game,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said after the loss.
And just like last week, Purdue walked the field on a 10-play, 96-yard practice to take a 13-9 lead. O’Connell hit TJ Sheffield down an incline and the sophomore spread took 14 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
Unlike last week’s loss to Maryland, the Illini have managed to rally a practice. But after a 13-game effort, the Illini have failed to convert to fourth in the red zone, and the end result is just another tally in the “L” column.
“It’s frustrating to play football so well and come away at the end of the day with defeat,” Bielema said.
McCray was a beacon of hope for the Illini, carrying the ball 24 times and picking up 156 rushing yards. It was the rookie’s first career start and his first 100-yard game, and it will certainly be a building block for Illini’s offense going forward.
“Josh is a very good football player who is just starting to emerge,” said Bielema.
STATISTICS
- Josh McCray (Illinois): 24 carries, 156 yards – this is McCray’s first career 100-yard game.
- Sydney Brown (Illinois): 7 tackles, one interrupted pass
- Blake Hayes (Illinois): 6 punts, 4 inside 20s, 80 yards
- George Karlaftis (Purdue): 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
- Aidan O’Connell (Purdue): 12 of 19,182 yards, 1 TD, 2 ints
- Milton Wright (Purdue): 7 catches, 88 yards
INTELLIGENT SOUND
- The Illini are scoreless in the first quarter this season.
- This game breaks the all-time bond between these two schools, Purdue now leads the all-time series 46-45-6.
- James McCourt extended his school record of more than 50 yard kicks with a 51-yard player in the second quarter.
YOU MUST SEE THIS
Kerby Joseph with a huge choice.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Former NFL punter Pat McAfee continues to be impressed with Blake Hayes.
GAME TWEET
HE SAID IT
“Fourth and one, we would have gone.” – Bielema on his punt decision in 4th and 2nd from Purdue’s 34-yard line.
FOLLOWING
Illinois ends its non-conference list next weekend against Charlotte. The Illini will host the 49ers, with a kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT Saturday on Big Ten Network.
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