In a heart-stopping finish that will be etched in the memories of Illini fans for years to come, No. 24 Illinois pulled off a scintillating 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday. Quarterback Luke Altmyer found wide receiver Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown with a mere 4 seconds left on the clock, capping a wild final sequence that saw three lead changes in the last 3:07 of the game.
The Illini appeared to be staring down the barrel of defeat when they sent out long kicker Ethan Moczulski for a desperation 58-yard field goal attempt with 14 seconds remaining, trailing 31-30. But in a twist of fate, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano decided to call a timeout just before Moczulski’s kick sailed wide left and fell short by about 15 yards.
Given an unexpected reprieve, Illinois coach Bret Bielema made the gutsy call to send his offense back out onto the field. Altmyer, who finished 12-of-26 for 249 yards and two touchdowns, then delivered the game-winning dagger. He hit Bryant on an in-cut route on the left side at the 22-yard line, and the speedy wideout did the rest, racing untouched across the field and into the end zone as the Illini bench erupted in euphoria.
Chaotic Conclusion Caps Roller-Coaster Game
The stunning touchdown was a fitting end to a back-and-forth affair that saw momentum swings throughout. Altmyer had initially put Illinois ahead 30-24 with a dazzling 30-yard touchdown run of his own with 3:07 to play. On the ensuing 2-point try, he found running back Josh McCray to make it a 6-point Illini lead.
But Rutgers refused to go quietly. The Scarlet Knights responded with an impressive 10-play, 65-yard drive, converting a crucial 4th down along the way thanks to a 15-yard scamper by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. The freshmen signal caller, who threw for 174 yards and 2 TDs while rushing for 84 yards and 2 more scores, then hit running back Kyle Monangai for a 13-yard touchdown strike. Rutgers led 31-30 with 1:08 on the clock.
That set the stage for Illinois’ improbable 8-play, 75-yard game-winning drive. Bryant was the star, hauling in 7 catches for a whopping 197 yards on the day. Monangai was a workhorse for Rutgers, toting the rock a career-high 28 times for 122 yards and surpassing 3,000 career rushing yards in the process – just the third Scarlet Knight to reach that milestone.
Second Half Start Delayed by Skirmish
The second half kickoff was pushed back due to a scuffle between the two teams as they headed to the locker rooms. Cooler heads eventually prevailed, with officials assessing penalties on both squads before allowing play to resume.
Illini Keep Hopes of 9-Win Season Alive
For Illinois, the thrilling triumph keeps alive the tantalizing possibility of the program’s first 9-win season since 2007. At 8-3 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play, a victory in their regular season finale would put the Illini in prime position for a prestigious bowl invitation – a remarkable turnaround for a team that had won just 8 games total over the previous three seasons.
This team just keeps finding ways to get it done. We’ve had some close ones, some crazy finishes, but the resiliency and belief these guys have is special. It’s a huge win for this program.
– Illinois Coach Bret Bielema
As for Rutgers, the heartbreaking defeat drops them to 6-5 on the year and 3-5 in conference play. Coach Schiano’s squad will now need to regroup quickly with a short week ahead before their season finale showdown. A win there would still give the Scarlet Knights a shot at a winning record and a solid bowl bid in Schiano’s third year back at the helm.
