Rapid reaction: Illinois rides Chase Brown, defense to second big upset of the season
Two weeks after a stunning victory over a ranked Penn State team in Beaver Stadium, Illinois has gone on the road and done it again.
Illinois posted its second win over a ranked opponent in 3 weeks, defeating Minnesota 14-6 at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday. The victory keeps bowl eligibility hopes alive for the Fighting Illini, which improved to 4-6 with the victory.
Bret Bielema’s formula in Minneapolis was similar to the one in State College just 2 weeks ago: A heavy dose of Chase Brown offensively and shutting down the run on defense. It worked.
Brown rushed for 148 yards on 32 carries in the victory, accounting for nearly all of Illinois’ 186 yards of production on the ground. Isaiah Williams scored the lone rushing touchdown, giving the Illini an early 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run in the opening quarter.
That score was set up by a Tarique Barnes interception on Minnesota’s initial drive.
Illinois bolstered its lead to 14-0 on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters to Tip Reiman on the first play of the 2nd quarter. It was Reiman’s first touchdown reception of the season, and ultimately was enough to give the Illini the lead for good.
Minnesota didn’t show any life until the 4th quarter, scoring on a 1-yard bootleg from Tanner Morgan. The Golden Gophers would have an opportunity to tie the game on the final drive, but Morgan tossed his second interception of the afternoon to end it.
Kerby Joseph hauled in the game-sealing pick for the Fighting Illini.
For the game, Peters needed to throw the ball just 9 times, completing 7 passes for 80 yards. Illinois did not have any turnovers and racked up just 265 yards of total offense in the victory.
Defensively, Illinois completely shut down Minnesota’s rushing attack. The Gophers were held to just 89 yards on 35 carries, an ugly 2.5 yards per carry average. Ky Thomas was the leading back with 60 yards on 16 carries.
Morgan completed 15-of-27 passes for 180 yards.
Illinois continues to prove its a tough out in the B1G West. The Illini now have wins over two ranked opponents (at the time of game) and took down Nebraska in the season opener. With Brown running as well as he has the past few weeks, it’s given Illinois a good chance to win games.
Bielema’s bunch still needs two victories — against Iowa and Northwestern — to get to bowl eligibility.
Minnesota is still in the hunt for the B1G West, but Saturday’s loss was a gut-punch to a team riding a 4-game winning streak.