Williams' interceptions costly for Illini
MADISON, Wis. - In his first collegiate start, way back on Sept. 23, 2006, Juice Williams threw 3 interceptions in a home loss to Iowa.
In his 30th career start Saturday afternoon against Wisconsin, the junior from Chicago finally threw 3 interceptions again in Illinois' 27-17 loss at Camp Randall Stadium.
Two of Williams' misfires stopped Illinois drives inside the Wisconsin 30-yard line - and both were returned inside Illinois' 40-yard line to set up tiebreaking field goals.
One week after delivering the best pass-efficiency rating of his career (221.2 to take sixth place on Illinois' all-time chart), Williams had an efficiency rating of 113.01 that was, by far, his worst of the year against a brand-name opponent.
He finished 17 of 32 for 221 yards, 2 touchdowns and the 3 interceptions. He also managed just 4 net rushing yards as Wisconsin spied him wherever he went.
"Obviously Juice didn't play very well," said coach Ron Zook. "As a coach, that's (something) you constantly try to guard against. He had a couple big games and he wasn't very well.
"You can't throw 3 picks and be a good quarterback. And he knows that. I'm not saying anything that he (doesn't) know."
Illinois had its lowest total-offense output (309 yards) since last Oct. 20 when it managed just 253 yards in a 27-17 home loss to Michigan.
Defense not exempt: While Illinois' defense gave up fewer than 340 yards for the sixth time in seven games, the Brit Miller-led unit came in for its share of criticism, too.
Wisconsin produced two huge pass plays in the second half to help spin a 17-10 lead into a 27-17 loss.
The first came with 7:26 left in the third quarter. Wisconsin faced a third-and-17 situation, so Illinois opted for its "dime" package that features three linemen and six defensive backs.
While the Illini blitzed in vain, quarterback Dustin Sherer hit David Gilreath on a relatively short post over the middle.
Safety Donsay Hardeman took a bad angle toward Gilreath and never touched him, then dime back Nate Bussey tried an arm tackle at the first-down marker that Gilreath busted right through and kept going for a 49-yard score.
"We had 'em right where you want 'em," said co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch. "You've just got to make that tackle and we didn't. But it wasn't just him. We made a lot of errors."
Another came with Wisconsin up 20-17 with time winding down in the fourth quarter.
From its own 35, tight end Garrett Graham got behind Miller in man coverage and took a pass 45 yards.
That got Wisconsin to the Illinois 20, from where it took six plays for Sherer to hit Gilreath for the clinching 8-yard score.
"I guessed wrong on a play and they get a big pass over my head," Miller said. "Their offensive coordinator did a great job of knowing what to expect."
"Illegal formation": Illinois committed 8 penalties that cost it 47 yards on Saturday - and they always seemed to put a crimp into promising drives.
The offensive line was the culprit on seven of the infractions, including two illegal formation calls when senior left tackle Xavier Fulton had his outside foot too far off the line of scrimmage.
"In years past, they warned you," said Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. "But now they're calling it. Our tackles have to make the adjustment. They've got to make sure they're up on the ball.
"Those type of penalties are drive-killing penalties. We're too inconsistent on offense to overcome drive-killing penalties like that."
Fulton also committed two of the team's three false starts (senior guard Eric Block had the third on fourth-and-1 on Illinois' final drive) and freshman right tackle Jeff Allen committed a holding penalty.
Benn silenced: After piling up 29 catches for 543 yards in Illinois' first four Big Ten games, Arrelious Benn caught a grand total of 2 passes for 47 yards.
He had a third called back on a penalty that would have resulted in a first down inside the Wisconsin 15. But he didn't catch anything in the second half and finished well short of extending his school record with a fifth consecutive 100-yard day.
"I really don't know," Benn said politely when asked why he had only two balls thrown his way in the second half.
By the numbers: Senior middle linebacker Brit Miller set a career-high with 16 tackles and 3 pass breakups. He had 12 of his tackles by halftime.
Junior defensive end Doug Pilcher had a career-high 1.5 sacks and also posted 2 tackles for loss.
Injury list: Illinois freshman defensive tackle Corey Liuget limped off early with a sprained left ankle.
Wisconsin all-American tight end Travis Beckum injured his left ankle when running back John Clay rolled up on it while being tackled in the third quarter.