Replay reversals destroy Illini's momentum
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Not-so-instant replays had a huge impact on the scoreboard in No. 22 Illinois' 38-24 loss at No. 12 Penn State on Saturday night.
While the first one went Illinois' way when a review gave Arrelious Benn a 33-yard touchdown catch - his right foot was deemed to be just inside the end zone sideline - the next one took away a huge momentum change from the visitors.
On the first play from scrimmage after Benn's score gave Illinois a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter, middle linebacker Brit Miller forced quarterback Daryll Clark into a fumble that Rodney Pittman recovered at Penn State's 19-yard line.
Officials overturned the takeaway, though, when Clark's knee was found to be down before the ball came out.
Juice's vicissitudes: After a lackluster performance two weeks ago against Louisiana-Lafayette, junior quarterback Juice Williams came out sharp against Penn State.
Rifling perfect spirals right where they needed to be, Williams hit all 4 of his first-quarter passes for 68 yards to direct Illinois to a 14-7 lead.
But Williams' fortunes reversed when the teams flipped directions at the quarter.
He went 3 of 8 for 14 yards and 1 interception in the second quarter as he and his receivers struggled mightily with their timing.
Williams underthrew Arrelious Benn for his sixth interception of the season, but he also threw behind Fred Sykes and Chris Duvalt.
Meanwhile, Penn State sniffed out every time the Illini tried to set up a screen. One went for minus-3 to Dan Dufrene, while Williams wisely threw away another attempt that would have lost big yardage.
With those second-quarter struggles in mind, Illinois all but abandoned the pass until falling behind by 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Williams finished 13 of 24 for 183 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Youth served: Illinois filled up almost 25 percent of its 70-man travel roster with true freshmen.
Among the 17 youngsters was right tackle Jeff Allen, the Chicago King product making his first start.
Though Penn State boasts some of the nation's finest defensive ends, Allen played the whole game without allowing a sack or committing a penalty.
Injury watch: Starting running back Dan Dufrene suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder when he was slammed down in the fourth quarter.
Dufrene, who fumbled on the play to cap his 14-carry, 96-yard day, wasn't sure if he'd need further tests in Champaign.
Receiver Arrelious Benn was shaken up on his second touchdown catch, but didn't miss any series.
"My helmet just slid down into my forehead and I got a little dizzy," Benn said.