That looked familiar.
Illinois once again clung to a 4th-quarter lead, and once again found away to squander it away. Purdue (3-1, 1-0 BIG) captured the Cannon and beat the Illini 13-9 (1-4, 1-2 BIG) in an ugly game in West Lafayette at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The first half featured as many punts as it did points (nine) and that only begins to tell how gritty the battle for the Cannon was on Saturday.
After a slow start, the Illini pieced together a scoring drive late in the first half led by freshman running back Josh McCray’s heavy running. Then, aided by a pass interference call on a deep throw attempt and a good balance of run and pass, the Illini opened up the second half with a 13 play drive to tie things up at 6-6. It still wasn’t pretty, but the Illini moved the ball much better after halftime.
Purdue’s offense had struggled all game long, so late in the third quarter after the Illini missed a go-ahead 54-yard field goal, head coach Jeff Brohm decided to make the quarterback switch 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 up Purdue to potentially take the lead and score the game’s first touchdown.
On third and goal, Illini junior DB Kerby Joseph intercepted an O’Connell pass in the endzone with 1:30 to go in the third quarter — reversing all momentum. McCray powered his way down the field, rushing for over 50 yards on the drive. The Illini topped off the drive with James McCourt’s third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder that gave Illinois their first lead of the game.
On the ensuing possession, Tony Adams picked off O’Connell. The senior QB was trying to get the ball to Kyle Bilodeau on a crossing route and Adams was waiting to deliver a big hit. Instead, the hit jarred the ball loose and Adams hung on for his sixth career interception.
Head coach Bret Bielema was faced with a similar situation that he controversially decided to punt last week. This time around, the Illini were up 9-6 on the 34 yard-line with 9:33 to play and once again decided to punt the football.
And just like last week, Purdue marched right down the field with a 10 play, 96 yard drive to take a 13-9 lead. O’Connell hit TJ Sheffield on a slant and the sophomore wideout took it 14-yards for the game’s first touchdown.
But unlike last week’s loss against Maryland, the Illini were able to muster up a drive. But after a 13-play drive, the Illini failed to convert on 4th-down in the red zone, and the end result is just another tally in the L column.
McCray was a bright spot for the Illini though, carrying the ball 24 times and picking up 156 yards on the ground for Illinois. It was the freshman’s first career start and first career 100-yard game, and will certainly be a building block for the Illini offense moving forward.
STAT STUFFERS
- Josh McCray (Illinois): 24 carries, 156 yards — this is McCray’s first career 100-yard game.
- Sydney Brown (Illinois): 7 tackles, one pass break up
- Blake Hayes (Illinois): 6 punts, 4 inside the 20, long of 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
SOUND SMART
- The Illini are scoreless in first quarters this season.
- This game breaks the all-time tie between these two schools, Purdue now leads the all-time series 46-45-6.
- James McCourt extended his school record of 50+ yard kicks with a 51-yarder in the second quarter.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
- Kerby Joseph with a massive pick.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Former NFL punter Pat McAfee continues to be impressed by Blake Hayes.
TWEET OF THE GAME
UP NEXT
Illinois finishes its nonconference slate next weekend against Charlotte. The Illini will host the 49ers, with kickoff set for 12:00 CT on Saturday on Big Ten Network.
