Oct 20, 2001

Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes

By JASON STRAIT
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Kurt Kittner passed for 401 yards and four touchdowns as Illinois overcame a second-half comeback by Wisconsin to beat the Badgers 42-35 on Saturday.

With the game tied in the fourth quarter, Kittner threw a 22-yard pass to Brandon Lloyd in the corner of the end zone for the winning score. Lloyd leaped over a defender to make the catch, coming down with one foot in the end zone before being shoved out of bounds.

Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) controlled most of the game, leading Wisconsin (4-4, 2-2) at halftime 22-7.

After Illinois' John Gockman kicked a 43-yard field goal early in the third quarter, the Badgers stormed back to score touchdowns on four straight possessions.

Wisconsin running back Anthony Davis started the scoring string with a 2-yard touchdown run. Davis, the leading rusher in the conference, finished with 116 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns.

After an Illinois field goal, Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi hit Lee Evans to make the score 28-21.

Illinois turned the ball over on its next possession on a Kittner interception, and Davis ran it in from 17 yards to tie the game.

The Illini then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Badgers recovered, giving Wisconsin the ball deep in Illinois territory.

Sorgi found Evans again in the end zone to put the Badgers up 35-28.

Illinois scored on its next possession to tie the game, then went ahead for good on the touchdown pass from Kittner to Lloyd.

Lloyd finished the game with eight catches for 129 yards.

Kittner's four touchdown passes gave him 57 for his career at Illinois, breaking the school record of 55 set by Jack Trudeau.

The senior quarterback finished 24-of-45 for 401 yards with one interception.

Illinois also tied a school record by kicking five goals. Gockman also connected from 48, and Peter Christofilakos made attempts from 33, 22 and 36 yards.

Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger, who scored the Badgers' first touchdown, left the game in the first half with an injured groin. He was replaced by Sorgi, who led the second-half comeback for the Badgers.

Wisconsin scored on its first possession, the only points of the first half for the Badgers. After completing a 16-yard pass to receiver Evans, Bollinger scored untouched on a 25-yard run after stumbling to start the play. He managed to regain his balance and run through an Illinois defense that was caught off-guard.

Lee, one of two Wisconsin receivers to catch a pass in the game, had nine catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

Illinois receiver Aaron Moorehead, who entered the game with a total of four catches for 44 yards, had five receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown.