University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Drop Homecoming Contest to Illinois
11/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota dropped its Homecoming game to Illinois by a score of 44-17 on Saturday evening at the HHH Metrodome. The Golden Gophers fall to 1-9 overall and 0-6 in Big Ten play. Illinois improved to 7-3 and its Big Ten slate to 4-2.
Illinois built a 34-10 halftime lead, scoring on six of its seven possession and using a no-huddle offense to tally points on four scoring drives in less than two minutes.
The Illinois defense grabbed the momentum on the game’s very first play from scrimmage. Adam Weber dropped back to pass, looking for Ernie Wheelwright on the left sideline but Vontae Davis defended the play perfectly and came up with the interception.
Illinois took over on its own 44-yard line and on the second play of the drive, Isiah “Juice” Williams ran an option right and was tackled by Garrett Brown. The football squirted loose and the Gophers recovered, but the play was reviewed and reversed. Illinois retained possession and scored their first touchdown of the evening on a 47-yard pass from Williams to Jacob Willis.
Minnesota moved the ball into Illinois’ territory on the ensuing possession, picking up three first downs. Weber found Eric Decker on a 23-yard reception to give the Gophers’ a first-and-10 at the Illinois 38. The drive stalled and after Weber was sacked for a 7-yard loss on third down, Minnesota was forced to punt.
Justin Kucek’s 33-yard punt pinned Illinois back at its own 12-yard line. The Gophers held firm for the first two plays of the drive but couldn’t stop Williams on a third-and-5. Williams rushed for 11 yards to keep the drive going. He would later connect with back-up tight end Jeff Cumberland on a 22-yard touchdown pass. The first quarter ended with Illinois leading 14-0.
Gopher senior cornerback Desi Steib collected his first career interception and halted an Illinois drive on the second play of the second quarter. The Gophers would capitalize and put their first points on the board with a 36-yard field goal by Joel Monroe.
Junior Rashard Mendenhall, who ranked 12th in the nation in rushing entering the game, quickly recaptured the momentum for Illinois on its next possession, taking a handoff and darting 64 yards to paydirt to put the Blue and Illinois ahead by a 21-3 count.
Harold Howell gave the Gophers great field possession on the kickoff, returning the ball 51 yards, a career-best, to the Illinois 48-yard line. Weber connected with Decker on a 33-yard pass to set up a 15-yard scoring strike to Wheelwright. With the touchdown, his ninth of the season, Wheelwright is now tied for third in receiving touchdowns in a season and at 26 for his career, is second only to Gopher career TD receptions recordholder Ron Johnson’s (1999-01) total of 31. Wheelwright finished the game with a career-high nine receptions for 123 yards.
Illinois would rattle off 23 unanswered points to take a 44-10 lead until Weber scrambled for a 29-yard touchdown scamper with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was Weber’s fifth rushing score of the season.
Mendenhall led the Illinois ground attack with 201 yards on 17 carries. Williams added 133. Illinois did not punt a single time in the game.
Minnesota travels to Iowa next Saturday, Nov. 17, for the Gophers’ final road game of the season.
Illinois built a 34-10 halftime lead, scoring on six of its seven possession and using a no-huddle offense to tally points on four scoring drives in less than two minutes.
The Illinois defense grabbed the momentum on the game’s very first play from scrimmage. Adam Weber dropped back to pass, looking for Ernie Wheelwright on the left sideline but Vontae Davis defended the play perfectly and came up with the interception.
Illinois took over on its own 44-yard line and on the second play of the drive, Isiah “Juice” Williams ran an option right and was tackled by Garrett Brown. The football squirted loose and the Gophers recovered, but the play was reviewed and reversed. Illinois retained possession and scored their first touchdown of the evening on a 47-yard pass from Williams to Jacob Willis.
Minnesota moved the ball into Illinois’ territory on the ensuing possession, picking up three first downs. Weber found Eric Decker on a 23-yard reception to give the Gophers’ a first-and-10 at the Illinois 38. The drive stalled and after Weber was sacked for a 7-yard loss on third down, Minnesota was forced to punt.
Justin Kucek’s 33-yard punt pinned Illinois back at its own 12-yard line. The Gophers held firm for the first two plays of the drive but couldn’t stop Williams on a third-and-5. Williams rushed for 11 yards to keep the drive going. He would later connect with back-up tight end Jeff Cumberland on a 22-yard touchdown pass. The first quarter ended with Illinois leading 14-0.
Gopher senior cornerback Desi Steib collected his first career interception and halted an Illinois drive on the second play of the second quarter. The Gophers would capitalize and put their first points on the board with a 36-yard field goal by Joel Monroe.
Junior Rashard Mendenhall, who ranked 12th in the nation in rushing entering the game, quickly recaptured the momentum for Illinois on its next possession, taking a handoff and darting 64 yards to paydirt to put the Blue and Illinois ahead by a 21-3 count.
Harold Howell gave the Gophers great field possession on the kickoff, returning the ball 51 yards, a career-best, to the Illinois 48-yard line. Weber connected with Decker on a 33-yard pass to set up a 15-yard scoring strike to Wheelwright. With the touchdown, his ninth of the season, Wheelwright is now tied for third in receiving touchdowns in a season and at 26 for his career, is second only to Gopher career TD receptions recordholder Ron Johnson’s (1999-01) total of 31. Wheelwright finished the game with a career-high nine receptions for 123 yards.
Illinois would rattle off 23 unanswered points to take a 44-10 lead until Weber scrambled for a 29-yard touchdown scamper with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was Weber’s fifth rushing score of the season.
Mendenhall led the Illinois ground attack with 201 yards on 17 carries. Williams added 133. Illinois did not punt a single time in the game.
Minnesota travels to Iowa next Saturday, Nov. 17, for the Gophers’ final road game of the season.
Players Mentioned
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