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Illinois has been very "Jekyll and
Hyde" this season, playing great defense in losses to Missouri and
UCLA but struggling to shut down the Division 1-AA Illinois State
Redbirds. Conversely, the Illini really clicked on offense against
ISU, but struggled to score points against the Tigers and the Bruins
despite out-gaining both teams significantly. The Illini were
focused on finding quality consistency for the entire 60 minutes.
For the fourth time this season in four
games, Illinois won the coin flip and elected to defer until the
second half, meaning California started the game with the ball. The
Bears were able to get only one first down before being forced to
give the ball back to the Illini. The hometown favorites promptly
went on a 13-play, six-minute touchdown drive that featured the
running of super-frosh E.B. Halsey and the four straight third-down
conversions for first down by an Illini squad that has failed to
convert such situations with regularity in the season's first three
games. Jon Beutjer found Halsey from 11 yards out and Illinois led
7-0. California bounced right back, however, with a great kick
return to near midfield, and, facing a third and 21 after a sack and
a penalty, new starter Aaron Rodgers completed a 29-yard pass to
Geoff McArthur and the Bears were in business. Three plays later
tailback J.J. Arrington ran the ball in from five yards out and the
game was tied at 7-7. Illinois marched down the field but stalled on
a drive at the 35-yard line, and John Gockman missed his second
straight field goal, this time coming up just short on a 52-yard
attempt into a slight wind. California wasted no time moving the
ball down the field once again, and the Bears found themselves with
a second and goal from the Illinois 4 as the first quarter came to
an end.
The second quarter began with the Bears
trying some trickery, going to the option, but the play backfired,
as Mount Zion's Winston Taylor forced a fumble, fellow linebacker
Antonio Mason pounced on the ball, and Illinois had the ball once
again, this time from their own 4-yard line. Three straight runs
into the line by Halsey netted a total of just two yards, and the
Illini's Steve Weatherford was forced to punt from his own end zone.
Illinois caught two big breaks as the
Bears self-destructed. First, a long pass completion was wiped out
by an illegal formation penalty (six men on the line of scrimmage
instead of the required seven). Then, after being forced to punt,
their punter pinned the Illini at their own 1-yard line, only to
have the punt erased by the same penalty as before. The second kick
was a shank, and Illinois started at the 27-yard line.
California scored a go-ahead touchdown
with 7:16 left until the half on a 14-yard pass from Rodgers to
McArthur, and it seemed the scored would be 14-7 at the break.
However, coach Tedford showed great coaching strategy by burning his
timeouts late in the half, as Illinois was content to run the ball
into the line with limited results. And when Weatherford was forced
to punt with 35 seconds left in the quarter, Cal returned the punt
68 yards for a 21-7 Golden Bear lead at the break.
The feeling in the press box about the
first half was that Illinois had finally achieved some consistency
-- they were really not good on offense, defense or on special teams
and were in many ways lucky to trail by only 14 at the break.
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article] |
Illinois started the second half with
the ball and with a bang. On the second play from scrimmage, Beutjer
executed a perfect run-play fake and found a streaking Kelvin Hayden
for a 72-yard touchdown pass. It was Illinois' longest pass from
scrimmage in over 18 years, going back the Mike White era! Illinois
was back in the game, down only 21-14 with just 20 seconds completed
in the half.
The question many fans were asking was
where was the Illinois defense from the Missouri and UCLA games? The
Illini defense did stiffen and forced Cal to punt. Again they pinned
the Illini inside their own 10. However, Beutjer found his high
school teammate Eric McGoey for a 40-yard reception, and Illinois
appeared poised to tie the game.
But Beutjer, trying to avoid a sack,
threw an interception, and Cal returned the ball to the Illinois
25-yard line. Four plays later Adivichinobe Echemandu (now that is a
mouthful!) ran the ball in from five yards out, and the Bears once
again had a two-touchdown lead, at 28-14.
The two teams traded three and out
possessions, and once again a great punt by Cal pinned Illinois
inside the 10, at their own 6-yard line. However, Illinois put
together their first sustained drive since the first drive of game
and found themselves with a fourth and two from the Cal 15 with 1:23
left in the third quarter. Illinois went for the ball, Beutjer's
pass was batted away, and the Bears took over on downs. The third
quarter ended with Illinois trailing 28-14 and Memorial Stadium
looking more like a funeral visitation than a football game. If
Illinois were to rally, the miraculous would be needed.
And rally is exactly what the Illini
did. After watching the Bears kick a field goal to extend the lead
to 31-14, Illinois promptly went on an extended touchdown drive.
Beutjer found star-in-the-making Halsey for another TD reception and
Illinois was within 10. After forcing the Bears to punt after three
plays on the next possession, Illinois drove down the field and
kicked a field goal with under two minutes to play, making the score
just 31-24. However, due to poor time management and the wasting of
all three timeouts, Illinois was forced to try an onside kick.
Try the Illini did, and guess what?
They recovered the onside kick. This almost never happens when you
need it to. Illinois looked destined to march down the field and
score a touchdown and send the game into overtime. Beutjer was able
to move the team to the Cal 8-yard line with four seconds left --
time for one more play. But it wasn't meant to be, as Beutjer was
sacked as time expired, and Illinois went to 1-3 on the season for
the second straight year.
So, where does this leave the Illini?
First, they must go 6-2 in the conference to have a winning record
and a chance at a bowl game. With trips to Michigan, Purdue and
Iowa, I don't see victories coming easy on the road. Second,
Illinois needs some luck. This year, Illinois has been just good
enough to lose. Nothing has fallen their way. Finally, coach Turner
has to convince his team the season is not lost -- even though a
majority of the fans might think otherwise.
What has to
happen next? That is easy -- a victory this Saturday against a
Wisconsin team Illinois has beaten the past two seasons. The good
news? The game is in Champaign. The bad news? Illinois might not be
good enough. Only time will tell. Hey, you want more good news?
Basketball practice starts in just 24 days!
[Greg
Taylor] |
