Nov. 17, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Northwestern began the day with bowl aspirations, but the Wildcats' postseason chances took a big hit Saturday with a 41-22 loss at 20th-ranked Illinois.
With the defeat, the 'Cats fall to 6-6 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten. After Saturday's action, eight Big Ten teams wound up with seven or more victories and those eight must be chosen first for any Big Ten-affiliated bowl.
Led by Illinois quarterback Juice Williams, the Illini will likely land in a New Year's Day game, perhaps the Capital One Bowl.
Williams ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 220 yards and another score.
Northwestern started the day needing a victory to strengthen its postseason chances as 10 Big Ten teams began the day with six or more wins.
The Wildcats, though, could not slow down the Illini offense, which piled up 541 yards. Illinois scored on each of its first two possessions and capitalized on mistakes that plagued Northwestern in the first half.
Wildcat quarterback C.J. Bachér was intercepted by safety K. Mitchell with nobody else within 10 yards of him on their first possession. Illinois went 71 yards the other way, capped by a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
The next Northwestern drive was undone by a false start penalty that turned a third-and-1 situation into a third-and-6, which the Wildcats couldn't convert.
Again, Illinois responded with a touchdown, this time a sneak by Williams.
Northwestern, which was ranked fifth nationally in fewest penalties per game, had seven penalties for 57 yards by halftime, and had the ball on offense eight minutes less than the Illini.
When Illinois scored on its opening possession of the second half -- a one-handed 42 yard TD catch by tight end Jeff Cumberland -- the score was 28-7.
Bachér completed 29 of 49 passes for 310 yards and touchdowns with two interceptions. With his 310 yards, he broke Brett Basanez's 2005 single-season mark for passing yardage and finished his first full season as a starter with 3,656 yards, 34 more than Basanez's former record.
Northwestern's most effective weapon Saturday might have been punter Stefan Demos, who pinned Illinois deep several times with low, rugby-style punts that rolled with precision toward the Illinois end zone.
The Wildcat defense never capitalized on the work of the freshman punter, though. Illinois scored on drives of 97, 94 and 84 yards.
Mendenhall, the Big Ten's leading rusher, finished with 124 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns. Cumberland was Williams' favorite target, catching four balls for 131 yards and a score.
Northwestern's Eric Peterman totaled 10 receptions for 120 yards and finished the season with a team-best 66 catches. Running back Tyrell Sutton had another solid day running and receiving, totaling 139 all-purpose yards (71 rushing, 68 receiving).