The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

Illini get wind knocked out of them by Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. — With a shade more than a minute remaining and the game largely out of hand, Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase tried to catch his breath Saturday — and couldn’t.

The redshirt freshman had just endured a hard tackle courtesy of Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones, knocking the wind out of him. After lying on the ground for a few seconds, Scheelhaase was helped off the field by trainers.

“All of a sudden I was trying to breathe, and I just couldn’t catch my breath,” Scheelhaase said. “He was able to get me around the waist and slam me to the ground.”

The Spartans dominated a second half in which they literally and figuratively knocked the wind out of the visiting Illini, winning their homecoming game, 26-6.

Four turnovers by the Illini offense and a 48-yard touchdown pass by Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins to receiver B.J. Cunningham in the third quarter would end Illinois’ bid at an upset despite a 6-3 halftime lead.

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“Big plays take the wind out of you more than anything,” Illinois head coach Ron Zook said.

Michigan State didn’t lead until the 8:26 mark in the third quarter, when Cousins found an unmanned Cunningham racing past the Illini secondary to take a 13-6 lead.

“It was a combination of all 11 guys not doing what they were supposed to do,” Zook said of the play.

Despite holding the Michigan State offense to 77 total yards in the first half, Illinois was outgained 217 yards to 132 in the second half. Illinois dropped its second conference game of the season while Michigan State improved to 7-0 for the first time since 1966.

“We didn’t play well enough to win,” Illinois head coach Ron Zook said. “To me, it’s the best team we’ve played to date.”

Illinois wasn’t able to overcome two costly interceptions by Scheelhaase in the second half, as well as a fumble by junior receiver A.J. Jenkins after a 39-yard reception.

“I thought we put ourselves in a position where we were able to compete with them, but we just didn’t capitalize at the right times,” Scheelhaase said.

The Illini lost despite limiting one of the nation’s top rushing teams. After totaling just four yards on the ground in the first half, Michigan State finished with 93 rushing yards on 31 carries — well below its average of 225 yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry.

“In the second half, we asked an awful lot of them, and they weren’t able to produce as much as we would have liked to, but I still think overall we played well overall,” Zook said of the Illini defense.

Scheelhaase completed 15 of 27 passes for 141 yards and three interceptions, finishing without a touchdown for the first time this season.

“It was not one of his better games, but you’ll go through that with a first-year player,” Zook said.

Junior running back Mikel Leshoure failed to top the 100-yard rushing mark for the second time this season, gaining 83 yards on 23 carries. The Illini totaled 114 yards on the ground.

“The first half we ran the ball pretty good,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “Just at times, we weren’t consistent. We need to get better overall.”

The Spartan defense held the Illini out of the end zone all day, holding Illinois to two first-half field goals.

“There was nobody on offense who played well enough to win today,” Petrino said. “We need to get more points and we need to play better.”

At the season’s midpoint, Illinois stands at 3-3 on the season. The three teams who have defeated Illinois — Missouri, Ohio State and Michigan State — are a combined 19-1 on the season, with the only blemish coming from then-No.1 Ohio State’s loss at Wisconsin on Saturday night.

“We’ve lost to three pretty good football teams,” Zook said. “We think we can compete with anybody left on our schedule. We’re going to have to go do it.”

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