Quick hits Illinois 20, Maryland 17
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Quick hits Illinois 20, Maryland 17
Oct. 31—What happened
Ethan Moczulski easily made a 26-yard field goal as time expired to give Illinois a 20-17 win against Maryland on Saturday afternoon at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md. Moczulski had that opportunity because an Illini run game that lay dormant for three quarters found new life in the final 15 minutes. Javari Barnett's burst of speed for a 64-yard touchdown was the highlight, but Jordan Anderson operated as the closer with six carries for 35 yards on the game-winning drive.
Advertisement
What it means
Saturday's down-to-the-wire win was Illinois' third straight after a "sky is falling" home loss to Purdue on Oct. 3. That streak notably includes a pair of wins outside Champaign, with last week's upset win against Oregon sandwiched between overtime win at Michigan State and the road takedown of the Terrapins. Where this third win differs is Katin Houser was back at starting quarterback after breaking his throwing hand against the Spartans and needing just two-plus weeks to recover.
What's next
Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) will get a game under the lights when it hosts Nebraska for a scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday at Gies Memorial Stadium. It's the first night game for the Illini since their season opener against UAB. Illinois coach Bret Bielema didn't spill the full secret, but said there were some special uniform options coming against the Cornhuskers. It's the first of consecutive Friday night primetime games for Illinois on Fox, with another coming Nov. 13 at UCLA.
Advertisement
What was said
"The way this team has persevered. Nothing has really come easy. I told those guys in the locker room afterward I've been doing this 18 years, and one of the things I've always kind of appreciated is when you're a good football team maybe a certain phase doesn't play all that great, but you're able to still win the football game. I really felt that one was ours to go get — especially coming out of the locker room at halftime." — Bielema after his team's three-point win.
