By Woodrow Carroll
When a team falls behind 28-0, which is what the University of Illinois football team did against Michigan Saturday in Champaign, a comeback victory is asking a great deal. The Fighting Illini did stage a spirited rally to close to within three points, but Michigan settled down for a 42-25 victory.
Michigan was ahead, 28-0, in the waning seconds of the first half and conceded a touchdown just before the halftime break to make the score 28-7.
However, what Illinois did in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter did concern the Wolverines.
Illinois, 2-4 and 0-3 Big Ten Conference, outscored Michigan, 5-1 and 2-1, by 10-0 in the third quarter to pull within 28-17. When Illinois’ Dre Brown of DeKalb scored early in the fourth quarter followed by a successful two-point conversion, the score was 28-25, Michigan.
Maybe Michigan was looking ahead to upcoming games with Penn State and Notre Dame. The Illinois charge awoke the Wolverines who made two touchdowns in a three-minute span midpoint of the fourth quarter to end the Illini comeback.
One of the reasons Michigan grabbed a big early lead was the play of Marmion Academy product, Jordan Glasgow. The youngest of three football-loving brothers, Glasgow collected 11 tackles, a fumble recovery, and blocked a punt that set up Michigan’s third touchdown.
Glasgow has two older brothers in the National Football League (NFL). Graham Glasgow plays for the Detroit Lions and Ryan Glasgow is on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jordan Glasgow is truly the little brother because both Graham and Ryan, Marmion graduates, exceed 300 pounds and Jordan is listed at 230 pounds.
Jordan’s position is called the viper, a deep set linebacker that allows him to get into pass coverage as well as operate as the traditional linebacker.
Despite the feel good comeback by Illinois, the defeat was the fourth straight for the Illini. Life will get no easier for Illinois. Saturday at 11 a.m. Illinois will play host to undefeated Wisconsin, 6-0, with a 35-14 victory over Michigan, the only defeat suffered by the Wolverines this season.
• What do you make of Northern Illinois’ 39-36 victory over host Ohio Saturday in the Mid-American Conference (MAC)?
On the road and trailing 21-10, the Northern Illinois pulled out victory over Ohio on a last-second field goal by John Richardson. The Northern Illinois victory ended a four-game losing streak and kept alive the prospect of a bowl invitation for the Huskies.
Northern Illinois, 2-4 and 1-1 in the MAC, will play at Miami of Ohio Saturday at 1:30 p.m..
Suddenly, Northern Illinois’ reaching six victories and making it to a bowl game does not appear out of the question. The Huskies are a slight favorite over Miami and a home game with winless Akron will follow. The real challenge will come when Northern Illinois plays MAC West rivals Central Michigan, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan to close out the season.
• P.J. Fleck the Big Ten Coach of the Year? Fleck, the Kaneland High School and Northern Illinois product, has his Minnesota Gophers with a 6-0 record and a road game at Rutgers Saturday and a beatable Maryland at home the following week, Fleck’s charges could be 8-0 when playing host to Penn State November 9. Dream big if you will!
• For Northwestern, 1-4 and 0-3, the dream has turned into a nightmare. The Wildcats will welcome potent Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Buckeyes have moved into the top four of all the major polls. Not just a victory, but, a solid victory is what Ohio State will be shooting for to impress the pollsters and Northwestern will be the target.