Recap: Illinois vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | October 11, 2008
Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - DeLeon Eskridge ran for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Minnesota Golden Gophers held off the Illinois Fighting Illini for a 27-20 victory in Big Ten action at Memorial Stadium.
Adam Weber also had a good game for Minnesota (6-1, 2-2 BigTen), throwing for 184 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-26 tosses. Eric Decker was his main target, as he pulled down nine balls for 86 yards and a score.
Juice Williams led the charge for Illinois (3-3, 1-2) by throwing for 462 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-41 pass attempts. He was picked off once, but did lead the team with 41 rushing yards on 18 carries. Arrelious Benn was his primary outlet with 12 catches for 181 yards, while A.J. Jenkins also cracked the century mark with three receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
On the first offensive series of the game, Minnesota put together a five-play, 60-yard drive that was capped with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Weber to Decker.
Matt Eller drilled a 33-yard field goal late in the second quarter and Illinois went to the break down 7-3.
It took Minnesota less than two minutes to strike in the second half, as Eskridge rumbled three yards for a score.
The Illini responded a few minutes later with a 28-yard field goal by Eller.
Early in the fourth quarter, Eskridge scampered 46 yards for a Gopher touchdown. The extra-point attempt was off the mark, however, and Minnesota led 20-6.
Illinois responded just over a minute later with a 54-yard scoring strike from Williams to Jenkins.
With just over five minutes left, the Gophers' defense got involved, as Simoni Lawrence returned a fumble nine yards for a touchdown.
The Illini refused to go away and countered less than a minute later with a Williams 35-yard touchdown pass to Jenkins. Illinois, though, would get no closer in the 27-20 setback.
Illinois outgained Minnesota 550-312 in total yards, but turned the ball over three times compared to just one miscue by the Gophers.
