Oct. 1, 2011
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Site: Champaign, Ill. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: 24/22 Illinois 38, Northwestern 35
Records: NU (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten), Illinois (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Oct. 8 vs. Michigan Ryan Field Evanston 6 p.m. CT BTN
Tickets: Call 1-888-GO-PURPLE
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois scored the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the contest Saturday to defeat Northwestern, 38-35, following a pair of fourth-quarter comebacks from each team in a wild Big Ten opener.
Illinois came back from 18 points down midway through the third quarter to take a 31-28 lead with 6:53 remaining in the game. A late Illini fumble gave NU the opportunity to re-gain the lead, 35-31, on a 6-yard Jacob Schmidt scamper with 1:15 to play, but the home team drove 69 yards in 1:02 to get the final score.
Senior Dan Persa made his first start of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon rupture against Iowa in 2010, recording a career-high four passing touchdowns to move into a tie for 10th on Northwestern's career list. He was hurt later in the game and did not play on NU's final three drives.
Senior receiver Jeremy Ebert also had a big day with three TD catches to move into third all-time at NU with 15.
Northwestern notched three TFL's on the game's first series -- including sacks on second and third down -- but the Illini offense managed to sustain a drive its next time on the field. Illinois moved the ball inside the Northwestern 5-yard line, aided by back-to-back Wildcat penalties. But on second down, great secondary coverage by NU forced an ill-advised pass by Nathan Scheelhaase that was intercepted by Brian Peters, Peters' eighth career interception and third against Illinois.
But Illinois took advantage of good starting field position on its next drive, getting on the scoreboard first when Scheelhaase hit A.J. Jenkins on a crossing pattern for a 14-yard scoring play with 2:28 to go in the first quarter.
Northwestern responded by going to work against the nation's fifth-best rushing defense, picking up 48 ground yards on its ensuing drive to get inside the red zone. Persa then finished the deal when his play-action fake set up an easy six-yard touchdown pass to senior Drake Dunsmore. It was Dunsmore ninth career receiving score.
The Wildcats' defense stepped up in the second quarter, getting a big sack on a third-and-6 play by redshirt freshman Collin Ellis in his debut for NU. Senior Vince Browne then set the Illini back with Northwestern's fourth sack of the game on the ensuing first down, setting up the third Illinois punt of the game.
NU's pressure paid off on the next Illini possession when a muffed pitch by Scheelhaase was recovered by defensive end Tyler Scott, allowing the 'Cats to take over at the home team's 36-yard line. A 19-yard screen pass to Schmidt and an 11-yard Mike Trumpy scamper put the ball inside the five. Persa then tossed his second touchdown pass of the game when he found Ebert sprinting to the corner of the end zone to put NU ahead, 14-7, with 2:08 left before half.
Illinois nearly tied the score when wide receiver Spencer Harris made a diving catch on a Scheelhaase pass in the end zone, but Harris was flagged for offensive pass interference to negate the score. Illinois' Derek Dimke eventually drilled a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the half to set the score at 14-10 entering the break.
Persa and the Wildcats came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. Northwestern picked up two first downs before Persa found Ebert cutting down the seam for a 39-yard touchdown and a 21-10 NU advantage.
Following an Illinois three-and-out, Persa kept momentum in NU's favor on the next drive, keeping the series alive on fourth-and-four by scrambling and finding a wide-open Schmidt on the sideline. On a veritable replay of Persa's first touchdown to Ebert, the two connected once again to give the 'Cats an 18-point lead.
Illinois' big-play ability on offense quickly narrowed its deficit, however, as Scheelhaase twice found A.J. Jenkins for scores on plays of 33 and 50 yards. The Illini attempted a two-point conversion following the second touchdown and failed, leaving NU with a 28-23 lead with nearly a full quarter to play.
A 65-yard punt by Brandon Williams following NU's next possession pinned the home team on its own 5-yard line, but Illinois then sustained a drive deep into NU territory and down to the one. Donovonn Young punched it into the end zone from there and a successful two-point conversion try restored a 31-28 lead for Illinois and set up the game's final dramatics.
Next Saturday, Northwestern returns to Ryan Field to play the first of three consecutive night games. The 'Cats host fellow Legends Division member Michigan at 6 p.m. in a game that Big Ten Network will carry live to a national audience. Call the Northwestern ticket office at 1-888-GO-PURPLE to speak with a ticket representative about how to purchase tickets for Saturday's contest.
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