Illinois defense leads the way to football success

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By Woodrow Carroll

Other college football poll voters: When looking at the college football polls once past the top 25, there are a number of teams on the fringe, which have pulled in a few votes, but, are well short of a spot in the top 25. One team waiting in the wings is Illinois, although the Illini were No. 24 in the Associated Press (AP) poll.

More than one poll had Illinois, 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference West, picking up points. In fact, one writer made Illinois No. 21 which may be a bit excessive. Illinois’ getting any votes in the polls has been unheard of in recent seasons for the Orange & Blue. However, victories over Wisconsin and Iowa, in back-to-back weeks will do that.

The Fighting Illini defeated Iowa, 9-6, in Champaign, Saturday, Oct. 8. There was significance in the victory. No touchdowns were scored, only five field goals. Regular Illinois kicker, Caleb Griffin, was injured. Walk-on Fabrizio Pinton made three field goals, 37, 27, and 36 yards, the latter to break a tie at six with 2:46 remaining in regulation. Starting Illinois quarterback Tommy DiVito re-injured an ankle in the second quarter and left the game. Backup Art Sitkowski took over and was 13 of 19 passing for 74 yards.

The low-scoring game was not unexpected given the defensive prowess shown by Illinois this season. In four of Illinois’ games this year, the opposition has failed to score a touchdown.

Another defensive gem likely will be Minnesota, 4-1 and 1-1, at Illinois, 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. They are the top two teams in points allowed in NCAA Division I football. Illinois, with 8.0 points allowed is first, followed by Minnesota, 8.8 points allowed; Iowa third, 9.8; Georgia fourth, 10.8; Michigan fifth, 11.3. Minnesota, led by head coach P.J. Fleck, graduate of and player at Kaneland High School and Northern Illinois University, is similar to Illinois, in being on the cusp of breaking into the top 25. The Gophers, who had a bye Saturday, Oct. 8, opened the season with four victories, then fell to Purdue.

Chase Brown: The Illinois junior running back picked up 146 yards against Iowa. Brown has topped 100 yards rushing in each of six games. He is leading Division I in season rushing with 879 yards gained.

Interesting figure: The crowd for the Illinois-Iowa game was 44,910, the largest attendance for a game in Memorial Stadium in Champaign since November 2016 when 47,144 saw Illini beat Michigan State, 31-27, in what was Lovie Smith’s first season as Illinois head coach.

• The Northern Illinois University picture only gets worse. The Huskies were defeated, 52-32, by visiting Toledo Saturday in DeKalb. It was Homecoming for Northern Illinois and the home team gave the alumni little to cheer. It was 45-7 Rockets after three quarters and the two teams went easy on one another the final 15 minutes. The loss to Toledo lowered the NIU overall record to 1-5 and 0-2 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). A repeat of a MAC championship will not happen.

Next up for the Huskies is a game at Eastern Michigan, 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Because six victories are needed for a bowl game, there is little room for error if Northern Illinois is to play beyond the end of the regular season. The Huskies have six games remaining in the regular season.

• Northern Illinois and Northwestern have followed a similar path this season. Each has lost five straight since opening the season with a victory.

Both teams were roughed up last weekend.

Northwestern, 1-5, 1-2 in the Big Ten West, fell, 42-7, to visiting Wisconsin. Much as was the case with Northern Illinois’ game with Toledo, the Wisconsin-Northwestern game was over early in the fourth quarter. Northwestern trailed, 35-0, before scoring a meaningless touchdown with 12 minutes to go in the game.

Northwestern, following a bye Saturday, Oct. 15 will play at Maryland the following weekend.

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