Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

That's another win for the Fighting Illini as this time they take down #5 Wisconsin Badgers 31-26. I liked how J Leman said it best in an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this morning "I had my big-boy pads because Coach Zook challenged me,'' linebacker J Leman said. "I think we got them out of their game plan.'' The Illini took a 17-0 lead and never looked back, although the stinkin Badgers would make it close several times, the defense made the plays when needed and the offense did their thing.




Rashard ran for 160 yards and 2 Td's, while Juice ran for over 90 and passed for 121 yards and one TD ( a little shovel pass forward to Rashard). Arrelius Benn again showed signs of brilliance making spectacular catches and breaking tackles before getting hurt late in the 4th quarter (5 catches for 51 yards). Juice went down late in the 4th after Rejus, and Eddie McGee came in and sealed the deal by handing the ball off to Rashard or keeping it himself sealing the win with a 5-yard TD Run with 5:28 seconds left in the game. The defense held the Badgers to a late touchdown and on the ensuing kickoff was able to handle the onside kick and run out the clock.

My game ball would go to Rashard because not only did he have 160 yards rushing on 19 carries, but also 33 yards receiving on 4 catches and three total touchdowns. He was able to break numerous tackles. The best run was in the second half, if I remember correctly, he ran left was basically stopped behind the line of scrimmage broke the tackle and cut back right for a gain of like 15 yards or so. It was just simply ridiculous.

Other notes on the game: This is the first time the Illini have been 3-0 in the Big 10 since 1990 and first victory over a top #5 team since 1989. In Ron Zook's first 2 seasons, the Illini only won 4 games TOTAl, now they have 5 wins this season! The defense has some fine tuning to do. They win the war, but lose some huge battles. Late in the game they were starting to get to the QB Donavan and made two big interceptions; one by Mitchell and the other by Vontae Davis who outjumped the taller Wisconsin defender. They have seem susceptible to the big play downfield, especially on 3rd and long. They have shut the run down, allowing Wisconsin RB P.J. Hill to just 83 yards on 21 carries, and Hill has been one of the Big 10's top backs this year, def behind Rashard. On offense Juice made some great plays with his feet, and was quietly effective with the passing, completing 12 of 19 passes (63%). When Rejus went down, it hurt because the other receivers need to work on getting open and actually catching the ball, Hudson dropped a pass that probably should have been caught. Fullback Russ Weil made a SPECTACULAR grab for 31 yards, wrestling the ball away from the Wisconsin defender and setting up a touchdown-he has been great for the Illini without receiving a whole lot of attention. Jason Reda stayed perfect with a 50 yard field goal and making all his PAT kicks.

If the Illini keep playing like they have, are capable of, and make the right adjustments there is no reason they should go to Columbus and think of a Big 10 championship (while focusing on the rest of the games which they should win and are very winnable). The Ohio St. and Michigan games are the biggest tests left for the Illini, granted that they don't look past the other teams.