Oct. 2, 1999

Game Stats

By HANK LOWENKRON
AP Sports Writer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Antwaan Randle El ran for three touchdowns and threw a 25-yard TD pass on Indiana's first offensive play in overtime, giving the Hoosiers a dramatic 34-31 victory over Illinois.

Indiana (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten) overcame a 28-7 deficit to send the game into overtime. Illinois (3-2, 0-2) got the ball first in the extra period and settled for a 36-yard field goal by Neil Rackers after Adewale Ogunleye sacked Kurt Kittner for a 4-yard loss on third down.

Randle El, who accumulated a career-high 157 yards rushing and threw for 265, then dropped back and hit Levron Williams in the corner of the end zone.

Indiana overcame three lost fumbles, including two by Randle El, to snap a three-game losing skid. Illinois scored 18 points after recovering Indiana fumbles.

Jeremi Johnson lost the first fumble at the Illinois 47. Nine plays later, Kittner hit Michael Dean with an 8-yard TD pass.

Rackers, whose 29-yard field goal attempt was wide on the first Illinois possession, made it 10-0 early in the second quarter with a 42-yarder.

Randle El scored on runs of 1, 3 and 7 yards. His longest came when he took a high snap in the shotgun formation, bobbled the ball for a second and then raced into the end zone with 2:21 left in regulation.

Two costly penalties helped the Hoosiers.

Randle El was sacked at the Indiana 6 on third down but the Illini were flagged for a personal foul and the Hoosiers had a first down at the 1. Randle El scored on the next play.

Three plays after taking the second half kickoff, Randle El fumbled and Mike Young recovered for the Illini at the Indiana 30. Three plays gained only four yards and Rackers made it 13-7 with a 41-yard field goal.

Randle El fumbled again on the following possession when he was sacked by Jason Eberhart, who had also forced the earlier fumble. Mike O'Brien recovered for the Illini at the Indiana 23. The play came immediately after the Hoosiers had been pushed back 15 yards for a clipping penalty.

Illinois then moved 23 yards in six plays, scoring on a 1-yard run by Steve Havard on fourth down. The Illini built the lead to 21-7 with a conversion pass from Kittnert to Dean.

Indiana punted after three plays and the Illini took over on their 48. Kittner and Josh Wittman teamed on a 25-yard pass play on third down and Kittner hit Dean for 21 yards on the next play. After an incomplete pass, Antioneo Harris scored on an 11-yard run and the Illini led 28-7 with 4:58 left in the third period.

Indiana went 80 yards in eight plays to score on a 3-yard run by Randle El after being slowed by an offensive pass interference penalty. Randle El rushed for 49 yards and passed for 51 on the drive.

After moving to the Illinois 11 on its next possession, the Hoosiers were stopped on downs as Ebherhart again forced Randle El to fumble. Illinois attempted to run time off the clock but turned the ball over on a fumble by Harris with Paul Mandina recovering.

Two rushes by Randle El gained 27 yards, bringing it to the 9. Levron Williams picked up seven on first down and scored on the next play to make it 28-21 with 6:44 remaining.

Three plays netted zero yards for the Illini and Indiana took over on its 35 following a 41-yard punt by Steve Fitts. Randle El passed for 28 yards and carried for 27 as Indiana moved 65 yards in nine plays for the tying TD.