Spirited Illini Battle Wisconsin but Come
Up Short, 24-10
By Jeff Mayfield
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[October 30, 2017]
Earlier this season the young Fighting
Illini actually looked younger and more inexperienced in their
performance than they actually were. Teams that fans hoped Illinois
could beat or at least be competitive with exposed the Illini’s
weaknesses in a multitude of ways. The lack of experience is one of
the reasons Illinois finds itself mired in a 6-game losing streak.
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And after remembering last year’s game
with Wisconsin, a 48-3 thrashing at the hands of the Badgers, not
many were too hopeful at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. However,
that’s why they play the games. I don’t think there were many people
in the stands Saturday who dared think that the Illini would be
competitive, but competitive they were.
It all started with Illinois’ defense. Perhaps the best place to
start as a team, and the best starting place to rebuild the Illini
program. Remember that Wisconsin was averaging 247 rushing yards per
contest coming into this battle. But the upstart Illini defense held
Bucky to only 186 rushing yards for the game! Now part of that is
that Freshman Badger super star running back Jonathan Taylor injured
a leg and did not play in the 2nd half, but that’s not the whole
story.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Oct/30/images/ads/current/chicagost_sda_FFARM_2017.png) Illinois’ young defensive gridders were moving to the football all
afternoon. Their overall pursuit of whoever had the football was the
best this reporter has seen this season. They forced the Badgers to
punt more times than they dreamed coming into the game and just
frustrated Bucky most of the day. In fact, Badger coach Bucky Dent
stormed and stomped near the benches expressing his frustration and
his displeasure to his players that the Illini were giving them
fits!
Had Illinois’ offense done a little more, or even just a little
something they could’ve given ol’ Bucky a decent Halloween scare.
Once again, the youthful Illini just made too many mistakes and kept
shooting themselves in the foot. A penalty for having too many men
on the field denied Illinois of thwarting Wisconsin for a third
straight offensive possession to start the game. The Badgers in
turn, marched down the field and scored a touchdown. In the second
quarter, Illinois intercepted a pass and returned it to the Badger
45 yard-line but the offense couldn’t move the football and were
forced to punt. That was the reoccurring theme for the Illini the
rest of the afternoon. [to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Illinois looked like they would only be trailing Wisconsin 14-3
at the break, but their prevent defense let them down and forced
a 52-yard field goal attempt. With as cold as it was and the
football disguised as a brick in the frigid conditions, I was
not too worried about the attempt. Illinois froze the kicker 3
times by calling all 3 of their time outs, but Lovie ended up
freezing me more than the kicker who drilled the kick between
the posts for a 17-3 lead.
Illinois seemed undaunted and their mental attitude and body
language was a huge positive all game long. Anyway, they marched
down the field and settled for a field goal attempt of their own
to get the score back to within two touchdowns. Illinois’ very
reliable kicker missed and the game see sawed most of the rest
of the way.
Yes Wisconsin scored late in the 4th quarter on a trick play and
Illinois scored with less than a minute to go on a Kendrick
Foster touchdown, but the Badgers were never very nervous and
ended up prevailing 24-10. But there were lots of positive signs
in this one at least defensively:
Better overall defense
Better pursuit of the football
Better tackling
Better pressure on the QB at times
Better pass coverage
The reality is that the Illini still have a ways to go to become
respectable, but Saturday was a good start. Hopefully, it will
vault them to a streak-snapping win at Purdue next week. I know
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a Big Ten football
program. I also know like the fans that I can’t wait till the
Illini are battling for Big Ten championships again.
Saturday was a step in the right direction! [By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jeffqmay@gmail.com.
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