A stunning last-second touchdown catch from receiver Pat Bryant on a career day bails out the Illini
It took No. 24 Illinois well over three quarters of play to get out of its own way against Rutgers on Saturday, but just when the Illini were nearly out of time to straighten up and fly right, they caught a weirdly favorable wind – and an enormous break – to pull out a 38-31 win at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.
On fourth-and-13 at the Rutgers 40, Illinois lined up kicker Ethan Moczulski to attempt a 58-yarder into the wind – the equivalent of a full-court desperation heave. But the Illini seemed to have no choice. It marked the fifth game-winning drive Altmyer has led in this charmed Illini season and sent the Scarlet Knights home with a defeat that had victory written all over it until the very last moment.
For all Illinois' heroics, it was a shame they were needed at all. The Illini had 11 penalties for 93 yards and more puzzling decisions – and that includes the coaching staff – than you can shake a clipboard at.
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