Illinois suffers major letdown in loss against Minn.
CHAMPAIGN - Ron Zook preached all week that, after winning at Michigan, Illinois needed to avoid a letdown against Minnesota.
What about a meltdown?
Illinois suffered a major one on its 98th homecoming, taking all the momentum from last week's 25-point victory at Michigan and flushing it away.
The 27-20 upset certainly was a head-scratcher, considering how Illinois dominated the Gophers a year ago and how it dominated the statistics Saturday.
The loss came despite another record-setting day from junior quarterback Juice Williams, who a week after setting a Michigan Stadium record broke a Memorial Stadium one. The Illini played from behind all day against a Minnesota team they pounded 44-17 a year ago.
Minnesota, 1-11 in 2007, continued a turnaround similar to last year's Illini, improving to 6-1, 2-1 in the Big Ten.
"Everyone was expecting to get a win," said Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson, who set a career-high with 13 tackles.
That was one of many impressive statistics for Illinois, who outgained the Gophers 550 yards to 312.
All those yards failed to produce more than 20 points. Illinois missed a field goal and was stopped twice inside Minnesota's 1-yard line, including a play originally ruled a touchdown for Williams that was overturned.
"We had chances to make things happen to win, and we didn't capitalize," Zook said. "We didn't deserve to win that game."
Wide receiver Arrelious Benn caught a career-high 12 passes for 181 yards, the most since David Williams' school-record 208 in 1984. Juice Williams threw for a career-high 462 yards and ran for 41, giving him 503 all-purpose yards to break a Memorial Stadium record previously held by Jon Beutjer.
"I'd give all of that for a W," Williams said. "It hurts a lot."
Illinois (3-3, 1-2) made a furious push for one, down 20-6 and 27-13 in the fourth quarter and nearly forcing overtime. Williams found freshman A.J. Jenkins twice, first on a 54-yard strike to close within 20-13 with 10:01 remaining.
The Illini got the ball back with a chance to tie, only to watch Williams get hit from behind and fumble. Simoni Lawrence scooped it up and returned it 9 yards for a 27-13 lead.
Williams again led Illinois quickly down the field, a 3-play, 79-yard drive in 37 seconds that Jenkins ended with a 35-yard touchdown reception.
The Illini had two chances in the final 4:47. Minnesota picked Williams off to end the first drive at the Gophers' 25 after Williams was hit while throwing. The second drive ended on a Hail Mary on the final play.
Minnesota coach Tim Brewster pulled out all the stops, including a successful fake punt from his own 20-yard line in the second quarter while his team took a 7-3 halftime lead.
"There is significance here, for sure," said Brewster, the former Illini star tight end who was one alum who enjoyed his homecoming. "I played at the University of Illinois and was captain of a Rose Bowl team. It's kind of like competing against your brother; you don't want to lose."
On the other side, Illinois fans happy to take the good with Zook - and there has been plenty: recruiting success, a Rose Bowl, wins at Ohio Sate and Michigan - are learning they also have to take the bad. Strange coaching decisions in a loss at Iowa last year and now a home defeat to Minnesota.
Letdown, meltdown, the 62,870 at Memorial Stadium certainly were feeling down.
"We let ourselves down," Benn said. "We made too many mistakes."