By Woodrow Carroll
Those who wondered if University of Illinois football was for real, likely were convinced in the Fighting Illini’s 26-14 conquest of visiting Minnesota Saturday, Oct. 15. The Illini won, 26-14.
Oddsmakers had been leaning slightly towards Minnesota. They were wrong! The Illini proved to be the superior team.
With the victory, Illinois, 6-1, overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten Conference West, is officially eligible for a postseason bowl games. What remains is for Illinois to add to its victory total to ensure a higher quality bowl game
Fabrizio Pinton, the Illini’ kicker, was four of four in field goals. His 12 points was the margin of victory. The Gophers attempted no field goals
For the first time in five games at Memorial Stadium, the opposition scored a touchdown. In fact, Minnesota, 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten West, scored two touchdowns an took a brief 14-13 lead in the third quarter.
The Chase Brown story continues! Brown, from London, Ontario, played briefly for Western Michigan University then transferred to Illinois.
Against Minnesota, Brown carried 41 times for 180 yards with rushing touchdowns, although he scored on a 40-yard pass from Illini quarterback Tommy DeVito. Brown continues to lead all NCAA Division I rushers with 1,059 yards.
The conquest of Minnesota leaves Illini head coach Bret Bielema with a unblemished 9-0 record against Minnesota. Bielema’s time as head coach at Wisconsin started his run against the Gophers.
Attendance for the Illinois-Minnesota game was 45,683, a season high.
The Illini have a week to bask in their new-found glory without interruption. It’s a bye week for the Orange & Blue who will play at Nebraska (Saturday, Oct. 29.. The next home game for Illinois will be November 5 as host to Michigan State.
• Northern Illinois University defeated Eastern Michigan, 39-10, Saturday, Oct. 15 to snap a five-game losing streak in grand fashion.
Rocky Lombardi was back at quarterback for Northern Illinois and it showed. Lombardi was injured in the season-opening game with Eastern Illinois and his usual spark had been lacking.
Northern Illinois, (2-5 overall and, 1-2 the Mid-American Conference (MAC) never trailed against Eastern Michigan, 4-3, and 1-2. Lombardi, 11 of 15 passing for 115 yards was helped by the rushing of Harrison Waylee, who carried for 158 yards.
Northern Illinois, even with Lombardi back in top form, is now in a season with scaled back expectations. The key target for the Huskies is six victories and a bowl game. Despite the Huskies 2-5 record, a strong finish is possible given the perceived quality of the opposition.
The Huskies have five games remaining, all winnable, three at home.
Northern Illinois will be at Ohio, at 1.p.m. Saturday, and the host Bobcats, 4-3 and 2-1, are in the MAC East and might be the Huskies’ toughest remaining foe.