Loss is a kick in the head
Illinois’ big start goes for naught after Iowa’s KO return sparks rally
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Illinois was looking good after marching for a touchdown on its first drive and kicking a field goal on its second.
But then the Illini kicked off to Iowa’s Charlie Jones, and the game turned.
Jones took the ball near the front right corner of the end zone and ran through a hole on the left side, going 100 yards for a touchdown and sparking the No. 17 Hawkeyes’ rally for a 33-23 victory Saturday.
“I knew I had a great block to the left, so I just cut inside,” Jones said. “Then I saw guys blocking downfield. So it was just me and some grass. Guys were just working along the way.”
Jones said it was a designed return the Hawkeyes (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) had worked on the past week.
“It was great blocking, just like we drew it up, just like we saw on film,” he said.
“Thank goodness we practiced that,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “When you get a play like that, boy, it helps.”
It helped the Hawkeyes stay in the Big Ten West race heading into the final weekend of the season. Iowa is tied with Wisconsin atop the standings, but the Badgers hold the tiebreaker because they beat the Hawkeyes 27-7 on Oct. 30. Iowa plays at Nebraska on Friday; Wisconsin plays at Minnesota on Saturday.
Iowa extended its winning streak against the Illini to eight games. The Hawkeyes have won 13 of the last 14 in the series. Illinois played without head coach Bret Bielema, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
“I’m disappointed because I wanted to give him the game ball,” assistant head coach George McDonald said. “There’s a lot of people in there who are hurting because we wanted to get this done. We had chances to get it done, and we didn’t. So we’ve got to get better.”
Illinois’ Brandon Peters threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Ford to end a 12-play, 75-yard opening drive that took 6:23. But the Illini (4-7, 3-5) had just nine yards on 10 plays in their next three possessions. James McCourt had three field goals.
Iowa wide receiver Arland Bruce IV had a two-yard run for a touchdown, and Caleb Shudak kicked four field goals, including a 51-yarder in the second quarter. Linebacker Jack Campbell’s 32-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:36 to play closed the Hawkeyes’ scoring.
Iowa leads the nation with 21 interceptions and is third with 26 takeaways. The team is plus-18 in turnover margin in its nine victories and minus-6 in its two losses.
Illinois outgained Iowa 312-255, but the Hawkeyes had enough offense for the win.
“The real common bond there is we find a way to win,” Ferentz said. “It’s still what the game’s about.”
Tyler Goodson ran for 132 yards for the Hawkeyes. Quarterback Alex Padilla, making his second start, was just 6-for-17 for 83 yards.
Peters, who threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Williams in the closing seconds, was 16-for-36 for 248 yards. Chase Brown, who was averaging 106.4 rushing yards per game, was held to 42 yards on 13 carries.