Michigan
5-4 , 1-4
Illinois
2-6 , 1-5
Michigan Relinquishes Early Lead, Loses at Illinois on Halloween
10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Champaign, Ill. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: Illinois 38, Michigan 13
Record: U-M (5-4, 1-4 Big Ten), Illinois (2-6, 1-5 Big Ten)
Attendance: 60,119
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Nov. 7 -- vs. Purdue (Michigan Stadium), 12:01 p.m.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Illinois broke the game open following a goal-line stand in the third quarter and scored on four straight series to defeat the University of Michigan, 38-13, on Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31) at Memorial Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) completed 13-of-23 passes for 257 yards and added 24 yards on 11 carries but lost a pair of fumbles inside the Illinois' 20-yard line. Senior superback Carlos Brown (Franklin, Ga./Heard County HS) carried the ball 25 times for 94 yards and scored one touchdown, while redshirt freshman wideout Roy Roundtree (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison HS) led the receiving effort with four catches for 92 yards.
Defensively, the Wolverines were led by junior/sophomore safety Mike Williams (Santa Yuez, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS), who set his career high with 16 tackles, and junior/sophomore linebacker Kevin Leach (Kentwood, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) added 11 tackles and one sack.
Illinois struck first on the game's opening possession, scoring on a three-yard run by Arrelious Benn around the right side on third down. The 12-play scoring drive covered 82 yards and consumed the 6:06. Quarterback Juice Williams completed all three passes for 29 yards and rushed four times for 40 yards, including a 27-yard run on the game's second play.
Michigan answered with a two-yard touchdown run by Brown at 3:39 of the opening stanza. The Wolverines marched 70 yards in 13 plays and took 5:15. Forcier completed all four passes for 36 yards, including a nine-yard pass to sophomore tight end Kevin Koger (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer HS) on third-and-two to keep the drive alive. Forcier added two rushes for eight yards and Brown shouldered the load with seven carries for 26 yards.
Michigan survived a fumbled punt that Illinois' Zach Becker recovered at the Wolverines' 41-yard line. The Illini moved 20 yards in five plays, but the drive stalled at the 21-yard line and kicker Matt Eller pushed the 38-yard field goal attempt wide left, keeping the score 7-7.
Michigan gained the lead, 10-7, following a 32-yard field goal by senior kicker Jason Olesnavage (Ferndale, Mich./Ferndale HS) at 7:14 of the second quarter. The 10-play scoring drive covered 32 yards in 4:14. A key play on the drive came on a personal-foul facemask penalty on a third-down sack of Forcier.
Olesnavage converted a 42-yard field goal with 1:34 remaining in the first half to push the Wolverine lead to 13-7. U-M moved 30 yards in eight plays, but the drive stalled following a sack on third down. Michigan moved into Illinois territory on a 21-yard pass play from Forcier to junior/sophomore wide receiver Junior Hemingway (Conway, S.C./Conway HS) on the initial play.
Michigan took the opening possession of the second half and fell inches short of a touchdown and turned the ball over on downs. The Wolverines were unable to crack the zone on four straight running plays from the one-yard line as senior tailback Brandon Minor (Richmond, Va./Varina HS) -- following a review -- was ruled down short of the goal line on the fourth-down attempt. Michigan gained the first-and-goal situation at the one following a 76-yard pass from Forcier to Roundtree, who was tackled Terry Hawthorne at the one-yard line. The play was originally called a touchdown, but after official review it was overturned and Michigan was awarded a first-and-goal from the one-yard line.
The Illini grabbed the lead, 14-13, on a 70-yard run by tailback Mikel Leshoure at 8:58 of the third quarter. The 99-yard scoring drive covered six plays, with Leshoure gaining 80 yards on four carries. Juice Williams started the series with a two-yard carry and completed a 17-yard pass to Jeff Cumberland prior to the scoring run.
Illinois scored on its second straight drive and extended its lead to 21-13 on a two-yard TD pass from Williams to tight end London Davis. The four-play, 79-yard drive started with a 27-yard run by Leshoure and moved into Michigan territory on a 34-yard pass from Williams to Cumberland along the right sideline. The Illini gained a first-and-goal at the two-yard line on a pass interference penalty in the end zone.
Illinois grabbed a 28-13 lead with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Williams. The Illini's six-play scoring drive covered 45 yards following a 24-yard punt that gave them possession at Michigan's 45-yard line. The key play on the drive was a 37-yard pass from Williams to wide receiver Chris James to the four-yard line.
The Illini scored on their fourth straight possession as Matt Eller connected on a 23-yard field goal at 9:21 of the fourth quarter. The 10-play, 74-yard drive consumed 5:26 and saw Illinois convert a third-and-12 play on a 28-yard scamper by Williams. The series started following a fumble by Forcier that was forced by Clay Nurse and recovered by Corey Liuget.
For the second straight drive, Michigan drove into the red zone but was unable to capitalize, turning the ball over on downs following an incomplete pass on fourth down. The Wolverines gained Illini territory on a 66-yard pass from Forcier to Hemingway.
Senior defensive end Brandon Graham (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical HS) blocked an Illinois punt at 3:49 of the fourth to give U-M possession at Illinois 15-yard line, but Forcier fumbled on the ensuing play and the ball was recovered by Ian Thomas. The Illini added a 79-yard TD run by Jason Ford to preserve their first conference win.
Michigan returns to Ann Arbor for a showdown with Purdue next Saturday (Nov. 7). The game against the Boilermakers will kick off at 12:01 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
MICH 0, ILL 7
ILL - Benn, Arrelious 3 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 12 plays, 82 yards, TOP 6:06
MICH 7, ILL 7
MICH - Brown, Carlos 2 yd run (Olesnavage, J. kick), 13 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:15
MICH 10, ILL 7
MICH - Olesnavage, J. 29 yd field goal 10 plays, 32 yards, TOP 4:14
MICH 13, ILL 7
MICH - Olesnavage, J. 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 30 yards, TOP 3:21
MICH 13, ILL 14
ILL - Leshoure, Mikel 70 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 6 plays, 99 yards, TOP 2:47
MICH 13, ILL 21
ILL - Davis, L. 2 yd pass from Williams, Juice (Eller, Matt kick) 4 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:46
MICH 13, ILL 28
ILL - Williams, Juice 3 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:24
MICH 13, ILL 31
ILL - Eller, Matt 23 yd field goal 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 5:26
MICH 13, ILL 38
ILL - Ford, Jason 79 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 6 plays, 93 yards, TOP 1:59
