Late Touchdown Dooms Illinois In 15-13 Loss To Iowa
The Illinois football team was in control for three-and-a-half quarters.
And then the defense folded late in the fourth quarter.
The Iowa Hawkeyes scored on a 30-yard touchdown run by Kaleb Johnson with 4 minutes, 43 seconds remaining to cap a 15-13 victory at Kinnick Stadium.
"Very disappointed," Illini coach Bret Bielema said. "Not being able to pull that off and play like that for just short of four quarters the way we did. I liked our prep over the course of the week and our intensity. I kept preaching to these guys all week and showing different examples that every play is gonna matter."
The Illini lost despite another strong effort from receiver Isaiah Williams, who caught eight passes for 105 yards. Running back Reggie Love III had 64 yards on 18 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run that put the Illini ahead 10-9 late in the third quarter.
The Illini appeared in good shape for an upset of the No. 16 Hawkeyes when Caleb Griffin made a 29-yard field to make it 13-9 with 14:56 remaining in the game before faltering late.
"I think it's like every other week," Illini linebacker Dylan Rosiek said. "Taking an L hurts, but you gotta pick yourself back up. You gotta dust yourself off. You gotta look at what could have been done better. We gotta execute, and that's what we're gonna do."
The Illini still remain one win shy of becoming bowl eligible. They have one chance left in Saturday's season-finale against Northwestern at home.
"We have to take the L on the chin tonight," Love III said. "Tomorrow, we'll wake up and go learn from this experience. Then, move on, put this game to bed, and move on because there's still a lot to play for."
Shandel Richardson is the publisher for Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com.