Iowa's big plays sink Illinois

IOWA CITY — The first half on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium was essentially even.

The Iowa football team led, 17-13, but Illinois had outgained the Hawkeyes, 252-248 and had converted on four of six third-down opportunities despite an interception and a lost fumble. Going into Saturday's game, the Illini had averaged 267.2 yards per game — the entire game.

Illinois scored just three points in the second half. Two more interceptions — one of which was returned 89 yards by Hawkeyes safety Brandon Snyder in the third quarter where Illinois was at the Iowa 22 — by Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. put his team in a hole from which they could not climb out.

As encouraged as Coach Lovie Smith was by his team's performance, add to that a fake punt and an onside kick that went Iowa's way, and the big plays Iowa made were too much.

'I think you go back to (the big plays),' Smith said. 'We're driving in the third quarter with a chance to take the lead and you point to that (interception return by Snyder). Going in (with an) opportunity and momentum, to run it back for a touchdown (hurt).

'From there, we didn't respond the right way. We didn't finish the game.'

Smith's quarterback agreed.

Starting his first game of the season and fifth of his career for Illinois, George was 22 of 45 for 246 yards and three interceptions, the other two coming from Amani Hooker and Geno Stone.

George said he liked what the offense was able to do overall — and didn't think his fumble on the first play from scrimmage actually was a fumble, saying 'I definitely threw it,' — but owned up to his mistakes being a bit too much to overcome.

'I would say it was (the turnovers), definitely, especially the interception for a touchdown,' George said. 'I feel like that took some life out of us when that happened. We've got to be able to bounce back. When we get the ball into the goal line, red zone, we've got to be able to punch it in.'

Iowa 45, Illinois 16: A little exorcism, a lot of execution

The Hawkeyes allowed the Illini to rush for 200 yards on Saturday, up from their average of 106 per game coming in. Illinois runners Mike Epstein (seven carries for 83 yards) and Reggie Corbin (seven carries for 61 yards) both had big plays, with Epstein gashing Iowa for a 58-yarder and Corbin a 30-yarder. Feature back Ra'Von Bonner carried 12 times for 47 yards and had the lone touchdown.

That aspect to their game was one Smith has wanted to rely.

What allowed them to succeed in it better Saturday? The Illini played harder, he said.

'When you get the same results in the end, it's tough,' Smith said. 'I didn't think we had played as hard as we needed to the last couple weeks, but I'm not saying that today. I thought our guys battled throughout and fought hard.

'In the end, turnover ratio, it's all about that. And we turned the ball over too many times.'

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