Moczulski makes game-winning field goal to beat Maryland
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Moczulski makes game-winning field goal to beat Maryland
Oct. 31—COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Ethan Moczulski made a 26-yard field goal as time expired to give Illinois a 20-17 victory against Maryland on Saturday afternoon at SECU Stadium.
Illinois regained possession with 5 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in a 17-17 game and drove 67 yards on 13 plays to set up Moczulski's game-winning field goal. Those 13 plays included a heady moment from veteran running back Jordan Anderson, who had a free path to the end zone but took a knee to keep the clock running.
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Saturday's win makes three in a row for Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten). The Illini will be back in action next Friday against Nebraska at Gies Memorial Stadium.
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Back in the driver's seat?
6 plays, 19 yards, 2:57
After a 50-yard punt from Lars Rau pushed Maryland back inside the 20-yard line, the Terps couldn't muster enough offensively to get in position to break the current tie here at SECU Stadium. An 11-yard completion to Chris Durr Jr. (another too easy catch) helped Maryland avoid a three-and-out, but the Terps still had to punt. Now, Illinois has a chance to win the game.
Illinois 17, Maryland 17
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Tough time for a three-and-out
3 plays, 7 yards, 1:34
The follow-up to a monster touchdown run by Javari Barnett being answered by three points by Maryland probably shouldn't be a three-and-out. Not in a tie game in the fourth quarter. But that's all Illinois could manage before Lars Rau was needed for his fifth punt of the game.
Illinois 17, Maryland 17
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Back to all square
8 plays, 47 yards, 4:34
The Illinois defense bent, but didn't fully break despite a drive that included a pair of chunk plays for Maryland. Dorian Fleming hauled in a 19-yard pass and Iverson Howard rushed for a 14-yard gain, but the Terrapins had to settle for a 46-yard field goal by Sean O'Haire.
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Illinois 17, Maryland 17
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Big-time play by Barnett
4 plays, 87 yards, 1:24
Javari Barnett basically doubled Illinois' rushing total in one, fell swoop to start the fourth quarter. The freshman running back got a good push from the offensive line — and a hole to run through — but he finished the play by breaking a couple light tackle attempts and putting on a burst of speed for a 64-yard touchdown run.
Illinois 17, Maryland 14
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Field position battle underway
3 plays, 1 yard, 1:54
The game has basically stalled out. Maryland's drive runs aground near midfield. Bryce McFerson pins Illinois deep. The Illini can't escape the shadow of the end zone and punt it back. Then it happens again.
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Maryland 14, Illinois 10
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Another Illini three-and-out
3 plays, 3 yards, 0:56
Illinois' averaged distance to go on third down is 7.9 yards after the Illini faced a third-and-7 and failed to convert. A run game averaging 2.6 yards per carry when you take out Katin Houser's two scrambles is a primary culprit for all those third-and-long situations.
Maryland 14, Illinois 10
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Coffin corner
7 plays, 32 yards, 3:43
The Terps' drive stalled just past midfield after Matthew Bailey secured a tackle for loss on first down before Malik Washington didn't get much back on second down with a short completion and then threw an incompletion on third down. The fourth down result, though, was positive for Maryland, as punter Bryce McFerson pinned Illinois at the 5-yard line.
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Maryland 14, Illinois 10
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Can you win games with field goals?
9 plays, 49 yards, 3:21
Collin Dixon and Hudson Clement both made tough catches to keep Illinois' first drive of the second half alive. Dixon also had an unfortunate drop, and other than a 10-yard rush by Aidan Laughery the run game, as a whole, remained mostly ineffective. That meant calling on Ethan Moczulski to kick a 40-yard field goal and then another from 45 yards after a penalty. Both were good.
Maryland 14, Illinois 10
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Restarting with a score
7 plays, 65 yards, 3:43
The Terps' first possession of the second half didn't start on a great note for Illinois, with kicker Ethan Moczulski forced to make what was probably a touchdown-saving tackle. As it turns out, though, more of a touchdown-delaying tackle. Maryland had little trouble moving the ball, with Malik Washington completing all five of his pass attempts to set up DeJuan Williams' 18-yard touchdown run (which he held on to this time).
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Maryland 14, Illinois 7
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All square at SECU Stadium
11 plays, 80 yards, 5:04
Just four of the Illini's 11 plays on their final drive of the first half (presumably) was a run play. The best of the bunch? A 13-yard scramble by Katin Houser. A week after dominating the line of scrimmage and posting 225 rushing yards, Illinois is at 11 carries for 50 yards. But the Illini did find the end zone thanks to Houser in the passing game, culminating in an 11-yard strike to Brayden Trimble in the end zone.
Illinois 7, Maryland 7
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Punting battle commence
3 plays, -4 yards, 1:12
Will Holmes sniffed out a potential Maryland trick play (or just a terrible run play) to stuff the Terps on first down. Pat Farrell batted down a Malik Washington pass on second down. Third down wasn't any better for Maryland, and the Terps had to punt.
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Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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Nothing doing for the Illini
3 plays, 0 yards, 2:22
Remember when Lars Rau had just 10 punts in Illinois' first six games? The Illini junior has been much busier post-bye week. First came eight punts against Oregon, and Rau has already been called on three times in the first half today, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. His latest came after another three-and-out by an Illinois offense that, once again, can't move the ball effectively on the ground.
Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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Chased him down
4 plays, 3 yards, 1:32
Malik Washington has been able to scramble his way out of trouble for most of the first half. Just not with Will Holmes and Daniel Brown bearing down on him. The Maryland quarterback was sacked for the first time by Holmes and Brown in a third-and-long situation, and the 11-yard loss led to a Terps punt.
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Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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Another almost touchdown
10 plays, 48 yards, 4:31
Collin Dixon and Katin Houser are even. The last Illinois drive, Houser underthrew Dixon on what could have (would have?) been a lengthy touchdown pass. Dixon returned the favor on this drive, dropping a third-and-long pass in the end zone. Houser managed to split a soft double team on Dixon with a high-arching ball, but the Illini's top receiver couldn't haul it in. Ethan Moczulski's ensuing 52-yard field goal was no good, short and left.
Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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Poor decision making
11 plays, 57 yards, 4:54
Malik Washington can be dangerous on the move. The Maryland quarterback is mobile and has a solid arm. A combination that screams "playmaker." Decision making, however, is a question mark. At least it was when, scrambling, he opted to try to connect with what he thought was an open enough receiver. Illinois free safety jumped at the floated pass and hauled it in for a much-needed takeaway.
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Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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Missed opportunity
5 plays, 32 yards, 1:57
The story: This could have been a scoring drive for Illinois. Collin Dixon had Maryland defensive back Amari Jackson beat down the sideline, but an underthrown ball from Katin Houser allowed Jackson to close enough to tackle Dixon as soon as he hauled in a 34-yard reception. So instead of Houser hitting Dixon in stride for a score, Illinois ultimately had to turn to Lars Rau to punt again.
Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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Field position battle won
6 plays, 49 yards, 3:26
Forcing Illinois to go three-and-out backed up at the 1-yard line meant even with a solid punt from Lars Rau the Terrapins got the ball in Illini territory at the 49. Then chunk plays from Malik Washington — hitting Chris Durr Jr. on a screen pass for 16 yards and then scrambling for 21 more himself — set up the touchdown, which was an 8-yard rush from Washington.
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Maryland 7, Illinois 0
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A semi-expected three-and-out
3 plays, 5 yards, 0:57
Backed up to its own 1-yard line, Illinois was in a pickle. A jam. Some might call it "not ideal." Because it wasn't. Three plays later, Lars Rau was called on to punt.
Illinois 0, Maryland 0
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Rough start, Part II
3 plays, 11 yards, 1:43
Maryland returned Katin Houser's interception to the 12-yard line, setting up a terrific opportunity for its offense. The Terrapins, instead, gave the ball right back, as running back DeJuan Williams fumbled at the 1-yard line trying to reach for the end zone, and Illinois cornerback Jakwon Morris recovered the loose ball.
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Illinois 0, Maryland 0
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Rough start
4 plays, 14 yards, 1:49
Katin Houser made a surprisingly quick comeback after breaking his throwing hand at Michigan State, outpacing even Illinois coach Bret Bielema's projected timetable of 4-6 weeks by cutting the end of that span in half. Houser started today's game and completed his first two passes. The first went to Hudson Clement for a first down. The second went to Maryland defensive back Messiah Delhomme for an interception.
Illinois 0, Maryland 0
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Good morning from College Park, Md., where Illinois is looking to turn its midseason bounce back into a three-game winning streak. Standing in the Illini's way? A Maryland team that fired coach Mike Locksley during its bye week.
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Could that change create just enough chaos the Terrapins snap their 12-game Big Ten losing streak?
That we'll find out this afternoon at SECU Stadium where vestiges of Maryland's past — a list of nine ACC championships, the most recent in 2001 — far outnumber anything from the Terps' current conference affiliation.
Illinois, meanwhile, is in the midst of a two-game winning streak after freshman quarterback Michael Clayton II led the Illini to an overtime victory at Michigan State and the run game and defense paved the way for a home win against Oregon.
Can Illinois make it three wins in a row?
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It's kind of a pivotal question with games against Nebraska, UCLA, Iowa and Northwestern remaining. A win today at Maryland gets Illinois to 5-3 overall and means the Illini only have to win one more game to secure a third straight bowl berth — something that hasn't happened since John Mackovic prowled the sideline at Memorial Stadium.
So, yeah, today's game in the DMV is kind of important.
