Duke Falls At Home To Illinois

Congratulatioins to Illinois. Next play.

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

Illinois 45, Duke 19: Six Critical Plays

Illinois came into Wallace Wade Stadium and handed Duke a solid beatdown 45 – 19. A football cliché says you cannot turn the ball over and win especially when you are playing the number 11 ranked team in the country. Duke turned the ball over five times along with a critical penalty on the opening drive of the second half. All credit to Illinois as they converted Duke’s mistakes into points to secure a victory in an early season non-conference test against

the Blue Devils.

Play One: With four minutes and five seconds left in the 1^st Quarter, Duke forced Illinois to punt but Que’Sean Brown muffed the punt and Illinois recovered at the Duke 18-yard line. Five plays later Illinois punched in a one-yard touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead. This play set the tone for the game. Duke miscues followed by Illinois scoring points off those miscues.

Play Two: With eight seconds remaining in the 1^st half, Darian Mensah threw a five-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Andrel Anthony. Anthony made an amazing toe touch reception in the back of the end zone, which was confirmed on replay. Todd Pelino added the extra point and Illinois’ lead was cut to 14-13 at the half.

Play Three: On Illinois’ first possession of the 2^nd half, Duke forced a three and out. However, on the 4^th down punt, Duke had two players on the field wearing jersey number eight. The five-yard penalty resulted in an Illinois’ first down. The Fighting Illini marched down the field scoring a touchdown to expand their lead to 21-13. From my perspective, which I refer to as “the view from the cheap seats” this was the worst of all Duke’s mistakes on the day.

Play Four: With eight minutes remaining in the 3^rd Quarter, quarterback Darian Mensah completed a 24-yard pass to Sahmir Hagans but Illinois safety Matthew Bailey forced a fumble, which was recovered by Illinois cornerback Kaleb Patterson. It appeared Hagans lowered his shoulder and drove into Bailey in an attempt to gain an extra yard or two when he should have ran out of bounds. Yes, hindsight is twenty-twenty.

Play Five: With four minutes remaining in 3^rd Quarter, quarterback Darian Mensah completed a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andrel Anthony on 4^th and goal. The score cut Illinois’ lead to 28-19 as Duke went for the two-point conversion which failed. Anthony’s touchdown reception capped a seven-plays, 75-yard drive.

Play Six: With ten minutes and 59 seconds remaining in the 4^th Quarter and Illinois leading 31-19, Duke was driving in Illinois territory. On second and 10 at the Illinois 29 yard-line, quarterback Darian Mensah underthrew a pass which was intercepted at the 11-yard line. For all intents and purposes, the game was over at this point.