Michigan
2-3 , 1-1
Illinois
3-2 , 1-1
Illinois, Williams Deal Wolverines Homecoming Loss
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Score: Illinois 45, Michigan 20
Records: U-M (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten), Illinois (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 109,750
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 11 -- vs. Toledo (Michigan Stadium), Noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team looked in control with a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, but Illinois quarterback Juice Williams responded with a record-breaking performance, helping the Illini outscore the Wolverines 42-6 through the final three quarters of play in a 45-20 Wolverine loss on Saturday (Oct. 4) at Michigan Stadium.
Williams keyed the Illinois comeback, finishing with 431 total offensive yards -- setting a MIchigan Stadium record and tying for the most yards total offense by a Wolverine opponent in program history. Williams passed for 310 yards and rushed for 121, scoring two touchdowns each way.
Michigan moved the ball efficiently in the first quarter, converting on two of three scoring opportunities to take a 14-3 lead, but the Wolverines passed midfield just twice in the second and third quarters, moving only as far as the Illinois 37. While the U-M offense lost traction, Illinois scored on three straight possessions spanning the first and second quarters then turned it on with four touchdowns in the second half, leaving Michigan Stadium with a win for the first time since 1999.
Sophomore/freshman Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich./Adrian/Georgia Tech) was at his best early, throwing for 95 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter and finishing the game 18-for-35 with a career-best 250 passing yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Martavious Odoms (Pahokee, Fla./Pahokee) doubled his career receiving numbers with 129 yards on seven catches, including grabs of 25, 26, 27 and 30 yards. Junior/sophomore linebacker Obi Ezeh (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) anchored the defense, tying a career best with 15 tackles, including seven in the first half, while making a career-best 4.5 stops for loss and earning ABC Player of the Game honors for U-M for the second time this season.
Michigan scored on its second offensive possession when freshman Sam McGuffie (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) tiptoed into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the year, putting Michigan up 7-0. Illinois responded with a 48-yard field goal and Michigan tacked on seven more in the next series with Threet's touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Greg Mathews (Orlando, Fla./Edgewater) in the back of the end zone for the wideout's first score of the year, putting U-M up 14-3. Williams replied with a touchdown run of his own 54 seconds later, marching the Illini 67 yards down the field to cut the Wolverine lead to 14-10.
For Illinois' final score of the first half, Williams put the visitors up 17-14 on a 57-yard touchdown pass to running back Daniel Dufrene.
The Illini tacked on another seven to open the second half when Williams completed a career-long 77-yard touchdown bomb on third-and-long to wideout Jeff Cumberland, and then a Wolverine fumble at midfield led to seven more points, making it 31-14. Michigan broke its 33:55 scoreless drought on a two-yard touchdown catch junior/sophomore fullback Mark Moundros (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) on fourth down, scoring for the first time since the opening quarter and making it 31-20 after a failed point-after attempt.
Illinois put the game away with a touchdown in the next series, highlighted by a back-breaking 50-yard run for Williams that made it 38-20. After a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Illinois added a final touchdown to its total on a TD run by Williams, making it 45-20.
Michigan will take a break from the conference schedule when it hosts the Toledo Rockets next Saturday (Oct. 11) at noon at Michigan Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
ILL 0, MICH 7
MICH - McGuffie, Sam 4 yd run (Lopata, K.C. kick), 3 plays, 48 yards, TOP 0:57
ILL 3, MICH 7
ILL - Eller, Matt 48 yd field goal 7 plays, 38 yards, TOP 3:08
ILL 3, MICH 14
MICH - Mathews, Greg 11 yd pass from Threet, Steven (Lopata, K.C. kick) 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:32
ILL 10, MICH 14
ILL - Williams, Juice 6 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:54
ILL 17, MICH 14
ILL - Dufrene, Daniel 57 yd pass from Williams, Juice (Eller, Matt kick) 8 plays, 84 yards, TOP 2:53
ILL 24, MICH 14
ILL - Cumberland, J. 77 yd pass from Williams, Juice (Eller, Matt kick) 4 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:26
ILL 31, MICH 14
ILL - Ford, Jason 2 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 6 plays, 48 yards, TOP 2:50
ILL 31, MICH 20
MICH - Moundros, Mark 2 yd pass from Threet, Steven (Lopata, K.C. kickfailed) 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:29
ILL 38, MICH 20
ILL - Leshoure, Mikel 1 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 4:36
ILL 45, MICH 20
ILL - Williams, Juice 2 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 3 plays, 16 yards, TOP 1:17
