Saturday, November 11
Champaign, Ill.
Noon
Indiana University
4-6 , 1-6
24
at
14
Illinois
2-8 , 0-7
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Indiana
0
14
3
7
24
Illinois
0
0
7
7
14
First Step: IU Keeps Bowl Hopes Alive With Illinois Win
11/11/2017 4:45:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rashard Fant wasn't about to have Indiana's bowl hopes end at Illinois.
Neither were the rest of the Hoosiers.
Fant, a fifth-year senior cornerback with a third straight bowl appearance very much on his mind, delivered an interception and key pass coverages to highlight a 24-14 victory.
That made up for a couple of dropped interceptions and might have been sparked, coach Tom Allen said, by his suggestion.
"I made him change gloves," Allen said. "He dropped two picks, fumbled a punt. I told him, take those gloves off, put new ones on. He got himself a pick, so it must have worked."
Added Fant: "I changed them, and went to an older pair. It had nothing to do with the gloves. I've got to make the play."
He made a big one with an interception in the closing minutes to help preserve the victory
"It's huge," Fant said. "It's all about finishing. We took a stride in being one of the best defenses in the Big Ten.
"I'm glad we were able to finish. We know we can do it. Now we can look for Rutgers and try and get another win."
The victory snapped a four-game IU losing streak and extended the Illini's losing streak to eight games.
It also gave Allen his first Big Ten win.
"It feels great," Allen said. "When you looked at the schedule you knew it would be tough. You have to keep battling. All those games we were right there within one play. The first of anything is always special. It's one I'll always remember."
Added receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr.: "We've been pushing all year trying to finish the game. To get it done for him is an incredible feeling. "
IU (4-6) still needs to beat Rutgers and Purdue to reach six victories and become bowl eligible for a third straight season.
"It gives us a lot of confidence," Cobbs said. "Glad we got the W. We'll prepare for Rutgers."
Allen wanted the Hoosiers to play tough, physical and relentless.
Under win-or-else pressure, they did.
Even the previously struggling running game, heeding the passionate motivation from offensive line coach Darren Hiller, delivered with 139 yards. Cole Gest led the way with 82 yards.
Still, a game the Hoosiers dominated in so many ways -- including getting eight sacks and holding the Illini to just 33 rushing yards -- became a fourth-quarter cliffhanger until IU found the finish they had previously lacked.
Specifically, fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow's 5-yard touchdown pass to Cobbs produced the clinching 10-point cushion.
Lagow started for the second straight game in place of the injured Peyton Ramsey, who dressed. He finished 32-of-48 for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
Indiana controlled the opening 25 minutes, but not the scoreboard.
With the offense generating yards, but no points, Allen decided to go for it on 4th-and-4 near midfield halfway through the second quarter. It paid off with a Lagow 8-yard completion to Devonte Williams for a first down.
That sparked the Hoosiers. They drove for a touchdown, with Morgan Ellison running in from the 3-yard line and a 7-0 lead.
IU came back a 90-yard, eight-play drive for another touchdown – this one coming on a 4-yard pass to Ian Thomas – and a 14-0 lead.
The second half opened exactly the way the Hoosiers didn't plan – giving up a 77-yard touchdown pass from Jeff George Jr. to tight end Louis Dorsey. That cut the lead in half.
IU countered with a Griffin Oakes' 28-yard field goal. That made him 13-for-14 for the season, eight consecutive makes, and gave the Hoosiers a 17-7 lead.
Illinois came back with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass -- receiver Caleb Reams broke a couple of tackles to reach the end zone -- to close within three points early in the fourth quarter.
IU clinched it with a tough-minded, clock-chewing scoring drive capped by Lagow's 5-yard TD pass to Cobbs.
IUHoosiers.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rashard Fant wasn't about to have Indiana's bowl hopes end at Illinois.
Neither were the rest of the Hoosiers.
Fant, a fifth-year senior cornerback with a third straight bowl appearance very much on his mind, delivered an interception and key pass coverages to highlight a 24-14 victory.
That made up for a couple of dropped interceptions and might have been sparked, coach Tom Allen said, by his suggestion.
"I made him change gloves," Allen said. "He dropped two picks, fumbled a punt. I told him, take those gloves off, put new ones on. He got himself a pick, so it must have worked."
Added Fant: "I changed them, and went to an older pair. It had nothing to do with the gloves. I've got to make the play."
He made a big one with an interception in the closing minutes to help preserve the victory
"It's huge," Fant said. "It's all about finishing. We took a stride in being one of the best defenses in the Big Ten.
"I'm glad we were able to finish. We know we can do it. Now we can look for Rutgers and try and get another win."
The victory snapped a four-game IU losing streak and extended the Illini's losing streak to eight games.
It also gave Allen his first Big Ten win.
"It feels great," Allen said. "When you looked at the schedule you knew it would be tough. You have to keep battling. All those games we were right there within one play. The first of anything is always special. It's one I'll always remember."
Added receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr.: "We've been pushing all year trying to finish the game. To get it done for him is an incredible feeling. "
IU (4-6) still needs to beat Rutgers and Purdue to reach six victories and become bowl eligible for a third straight season.
"It gives us a lot of confidence," Cobbs said. "Glad we got the W. We'll prepare for Rutgers."
Allen wanted the Hoosiers to play tough, physical and relentless.
Under win-or-else pressure, they did.
Even the previously struggling running game, heeding the passionate motivation from offensive line coach Darren Hiller, delivered with 139 yards. Cole Gest led the way with 82 yards.
Still, a game the Hoosiers dominated in so many ways -- including getting eight sacks and holding the Illini to just 33 rushing yards -- became a fourth-quarter cliffhanger until IU found the finish they had previously lacked.
Specifically, fifth-year senior quarterback Richard Lagow's 5-yard touchdown pass to Cobbs produced the clinching 10-point cushion.
Lagow started for the second straight game in place of the injured Peyton Ramsey, who dressed. He finished 32-of-48 for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
Indiana controlled the opening 25 minutes, but not the scoreboard.
With the offense generating yards, but no points, Allen decided to go for it on 4th-and-4 near midfield halfway through the second quarter. It paid off with a Lagow 8-yard completion to Devonte Williams for a first down.
That sparked the Hoosiers. They drove for a touchdown, with Morgan Ellison running in from the 3-yard line and a 7-0 lead.
IU came back a 90-yard, eight-play drive for another touchdown – this one coming on a 4-yard pass to Ian Thomas – and a 14-0 lead.
The second half opened exactly the way the Hoosiers didn't plan – giving up a 77-yard touchdown pass from Jeff George Jr. to tight end Louis Dorsey. That cut the lead in half.
IU countered with a Griffin Oakes' 28-yard field goal. That made him 13-for-14 for the season, eight consecutive makes, and gave the Hoosiers a 17-7 lead.
Illinois came back with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass -- receiver Caleb Reams broke a couple of tackles to reach the end zone -- to close within three points early in the fourth quarter.
IU clinched it with a tough-minded, clock-chewing scoring drive capped by Lagow's 5-yard TD pass to Cobbs.
Team Stats
IND
ILL
Total Yards
428
294
Pass Yards
289
261
Rushing Yards
139
33
Penalty Yards
49
73
1st Downs
22
10
3rd Downs
5
2
4th Downs
3
0
TOP
34:25
25:35
2nd Quarter
IND 7, ILL 0
IND - Ellison, Morgan 2 yd run (Oakes, Griffin kick), 10 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:59
IND 14, ILL 0
IND - Thomas, Ian 4 yd pass from Lagow, Richard (Oakes, Griffin kick) 8 plays, 90 yards, TOP 2:16
3rd Quarter
IND 14, ILL 7
ILL - Dorsey,Louis 77 yd pass from George, Jr., J. (McLaughlin,C. kick) 1 plays, 77 yards, TOP 0:18
IND 17, ILL 7
IND - Oakes, Griffin 28 yd field goal 9 plays, 68 yards, TOP 1:51
4th Quarter
IND 17, ILL 14
ILL - Reams,Caleb 14 yd pass from George, Jr., J. (McLaughlin,C. kick) 6 plays, 74 yards, TOP 1:54
IND 24, ILL 14
IND - Cobbs, Simmie 5 yd pass from Lagow, Richard (Oakes, Griffin kick) 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:52
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
32
TD
2
YDS
289
INT
1
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
K
/ Football
QB
/ Football
TE
/ FootballFB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 4 (Illinois)
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