CLUTCH KICK BY WALK-ON
Pinton boots winning field goal as Illini record rare win over Hawkeyes
CHAMPAIGN — Backup kicker Fabrizio Pinton, a walk-on, hit a 36-yard field goal with 2:46 to go and Matthew Bailey made a late interception to lift Illinois to a 9-6 victory over Iowa on Saturday night, its first over the Hawkeyes since 2008.
Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is off to its best start since a 6-0 mark in 2011.
Iowa (3-3, 1-2) looked like it might escape Champaign with a dramatic win, but Riley Moss’ 82-yard fumble return for a touchdown was overturned after review when the officials determined that Illinois backup quarterback Art Sitkowski’s wrist was down before he lost the ball.
Pinton was called into action due to an injury for starter Caleb Griffin and went 3-for-3 on the night, including makes from 37 and 27 yards.
Sitkowski went 13-for-19 for 74 yards passing and an interception after Illinois starter Tommy DeVito left the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be a lower left leg injury.
DeVito was 6-for-11 for 42 yards before the injury.
Iowa struggled to move the ball as Spencer Petras completed 18 of 36 passes for 170 yards and an interception.
A field goal was once again the difference for the Illini, who beat Iowa in 2008 on Matt Eller’s 46-yard field goal with 24 seconds to go.
Kaleb Johnson, Leshon Williams and Petras pieced together first-down runs on an Iowa drive to start the fourth before an eight-yard tackle for loss by Tarique Barnes and Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton forced Iowa’s fourth consecutive punt.
Sitkowski tallied 10 completions for 16 yards before he eventually connected with Brian Hightower on a 34-yard strike to move into Iowa territory early in the fourth. The Hawkeyes defense had yet to allow a gain that large through five games.
Illinois didn’t turn it into points though as Sitkwoski was intercepted by Quinn Schulte at the one-yard line a few players later.
Chase Brown tallied more than 100 yards rushing for the seventh time this season for the Fighting Illini, more than any other running back in school history. He finished with 146 yards on 31 carries after entering the week leading the country in yards rushing.
Pinton capped a 17-play, 66-yard drive to open the scoring with a 27-yard field goal and he added a 37-yard field goal at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter.
Iowa kicker Drew Stevens equalized from 32 yards later in the quarter before Pinton nudged Illinois back ahead.