First note: a close lot is available for 25 dollars..keep that in mind for future use. I badly overpaid by getting the prepaid parking on Stub hub BUT I did save a great deal on my ticket prices (club seats..took the wife who can’t walk far)
I had almost passed on this game to watch Illinois State (who was ranked in FCS) battle Missouri State (also ranked). That was 24-0 Bears at the half and ended 41-7; the Redbirds laid a massive egg. So glad I did not pass on the Purdue game to watch that.
So, what game did I watch? Well, Purdue came in with only 1 win (vs an FCS team) and had lots 66-7 to ND (at home no less) and 52-6 to Wisconsin. So, no problem right? The Illini were favored by 21.
Starting out: Purdue started with a good drive but failed on 4’th and 1 (screen pass?) and the Illini cashed it in. 3-0 quickly. Another stop, another drive and it was 10-0.
Purdue did break a long play but had to settle for a field goal; 10-3. Another Illini drive; 17-3 and then the Illini kick off was caught by the wind, bounced between two Purdue players and was recovered. The Illini cash in, AGAIN and now it is 24-3 going into the half.
One storm cloud: Purdue had 137 rushing yards in the half.
Second half: drive and the Illini kicker just crushes a 49 yard field goal into the wind. It is 27-3 and the stadium settles in for the execution.
Purdue had other ideas.
Their quarterback (not the regular starter, who was out) hits a long bomb for a TD: 27-10.
Then on the next possession, the Illini quarterback got sacked, fumbled and a scoop and score makes it 27-17 and now the stadium gets nervous.
The Illini drive but fail on 4’th down. Purdue hits a big flea flicker to inside the Illini 10 but a penalty pushes them back. They are held to a field goal and not it is 27-20
Now to the 4’th quarter and the Illini, lead by quarterback keepers and scrambles drive and appear to take control 34-20.
Not so fast: the Boilermakers chop up the Illini defense and score a TD..go for 2 and make it. Now: 34-28.
No worries: the Illini drive and score..again! A 2 point conversion is good but is nullified by a penalty. They go for 2 again (5 minutes are left; I understand the decision) and fail. So: 40-28 with 5 minutes to go…
You know the drill: Purdue burns quite a bit of clock and are inside the Illini 20 at the 2 minute warning. And yep..the score and kick the point: 40-35 with 1:46 to go.
Onside kick, right? The Illini fail to cover it and Purdue is in business…again.
Then the Boilermakers score and go for 2 with 46 seconds left. They make it and now it is 43-40, Boilers.
But the Illini have passed very well and have a cannon-legged kicker. Sure enough: drive to get the typing field goal, though the Illini benefited from a “no fumble” call that stood upon review.
So, it is 43-43 and going into overtime.
It takes the Illini one pass play to score and they are up 50-43. Now it is Purdue’s turn: it takes them 2 plays to score and now it is 50-49..and they go for 2. But the Illini run a cleverly disguised blitz to pressure the quarterback, and the inexperienced QB does not see the wide open hot receiver to the right.
Sack and the game is over.
This is the sort of game that had both teams making key mistakes..but was also one of the ages. And hand it to the Boilermakers: they didn’t quit when they were down 27-3 in the 3’rd or down 40-28 with 2 minutes to go.
So, where do we go from here?
The Illini have 1 very tough game left (Oregon) and 5 (more or less) toss up games left. I’d say that the Michigan game leans to Michigan (*everyone* has run on us all season) and the Northwestern game leans slightly to Northwestern, the Michigan St. game and the Rutgers game leans toward the Illini, and the Minnesota game is a genuine “who the heck knows” toss up. So, I expect 2-3 more victories this season (7-5 to 8-4) though…given how badly this defense got torched ….this being the final win of the season is not out of the question. I guess 9-3 isn’t out of the question either, but I highly doubt it.
Other notes:
No. 1 Texas beat Oklahoma 34-3 and is deserving of its no. 1 ranking. ND beat Stanford 49-7 and is solidly near the top of the second 10, where they belong. Navy is ranked in the AP poll (sentimental?) Navy’s schedule is really too weak to warrant that ranking and tough games vs ND and Tulane remain, along with toss up type games against USF and a very tough Army team.
But..all of my teams are ranked in the AP poll and all but Navy are ranked in the coaches poll.
I’d rather not talk about Illinois State right now.
Life of an old goat 