Final
Illinois takes down No. 22 Arizona State
Sep 18, 2011 - 3:51 AM Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - A.J. Jenkins' 16-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter was the difference, as Illinois downed No. 22 Arizona State, 17-14, at Memorial Stadium.Jenkins led all receivers with 103 yards on six catches for the Illini (3-0), who continue their season-opening five-game homestand against Western Michigan next Saturday.
Nathan Scheelhaase finished 11-of-15 for 135 yards, the TD strike to Jenkins and one interception, adding 67 yards on 18 carries. Jason Ford notched a rushing score for Illinois.
Brock Osweiler threw for 256 yards and one touchdown but was picked off twice and sacked six times for the Sun Devils (2-1), who topped UC Davis and Missouri to begin the year.
Gerell Robinson posted eight catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in defeat.
Osweiler hung tough, ending a drive which bridged the third and fourth quarters by rumbling 14 yards to put Arizona State ahead 14-10 on the first play of the final period.
But Illinois was not to be denied. After its ensuing drive stalled in its own end, the defense came up with a sack and fumble, recovered by Ian Thomas at the ASU 41.
Four plays later, on a 2nd-and-10 from the Sun Devils' 16-yard line, Scheelhaase found Jenkins for the go-ahead score.
A pass interference call kept ASU's next drive alive, but it stalled shy of midfield. Illinois then failed to convert a 3rd-and-short, but the defense again came up big, forcing an Osweiler incompletion on 4th-and-10 from the visitors' 40.
Illinois then ran out most of the clock without picking up a first down.
Ford's one-yard run capped the second drive of the contest and put Illinois up 7-0, but Arizona State countered with an 80-yard drive and tied the game on a 21-yard connection from Osweiler to Robinson.
Derek Dimke connected from 20 yards out and the Illini led 10-7 after 15 minutes of play.
Scheelhaase was intercepted and fumbled once each in the second quarter, but Arizona State failed to capitalize.
ASU's Alex Garoutte missed a 32-yard attempt near the end of the half and it remained a three-point margin at the break.
Game Notes
Arizona State had won the only two prior meetings, including a 21-16 decision in Tempe in 1988...The Sun Devils racked up a 362-240 advantage in total yards...Cameron Marshall led ASU with 69 yards on 13 carries, while Ford finished with 58 yards on 21 totes for Illinois.
- ARIZONA STATE: 14
ILLINOIS: 17
Final
Sep 17 10:22 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 14
ILLINOIS: 17
End of Regulation
Sep 17 10:21 PM - 171
rootsRUWTbot Added 19 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Arizona State(22) 14, Illinois 17 4th - 3:00Sep 17 10:05 PM - 152
rootsRUWTbot Added 19 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Arizona State(22) 14, Illinois 17 4th - 4:15Sep 17 10:03 PM - 133
rootsRUWTbot Added 17 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Arizona State(22) 14, Illinois 17 4th - 6:36Sep 17 9:57 PM - 116
rootsRUWTbot Added 15 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Arizona State(22) 14, Illinois 17 4th - 8:00Sep 17 9:56 PM - Illinois Touchdown - Nathan Scheelhaase pass to A.J. Jenkins for 16 yards.
Arizona State(22) 14, Illinois 16 4th - 9:59Sep 17 9:51 PM - 101
rootsRUWTbot Added 34 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Arizona State(22) 14, Illinois 16 4th - 9:59Sep 17 9:51 PM - 67
roots - 53
roots - Arizona State Touchdown - Brock Osweiler rushed for 14 yards.
Arizona State(22) 13, Illinois 10 4th - 14:54Sep 17 9:34 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 7
ILLINOIS: 10
End of 3rd
Sep 17 9:30 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 7
ILLINOIS: 10
Halftime
Sep 17 8:31 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 7
ILLINOIS: 10
End of 1st
Sep 17 7:49 PM - Illinois Field Goal - 20-yarder by Derek Dimke.
Arizona State(22) 7, Illinois 10 1st - 3:23Sep 17 7:38 PM - Arizona State Touchdown - Brock Osweiler pass to Gerell Robinson for 21 yards.
Arizona State(22) 6, Illinois 7 1st - 7:04Sep 17 7:28 PM - Illinois Touchdown - Jason Ford rushed for 1 yard.
Arizona State(22) 0, Illinois 6 1st - 10:34Sep 17 7:18 PM - ARIZONA STATE: 0
ILLINOIS: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Sep 17 7:09 PM
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