University of Illinois
1-3
California
2-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Illinois | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
Furious Illini Rally Comes Up Short Against Cal
September 20, 2003 | Football
Sept 20, 2003
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Jon Beutjer set a Memorial Stadium record and a career-high passing mark, throwing for 430 yards, but it wasn't enough as the Fighting Illini fell 31-24 to California in their final non-conference game.
Trailing 21-7 at halftime, the Illini started quickly after halftime as Beutjer found wide receiver Kelvin Hayden deep down the middle for a 72-yard scoring strike on the second play of the half . The pass was the longest Illini pass since a 73-yard connection from Johnny Johnson to Jasper Strong in the 1994 Liberty Bowl. Hayden finished with 11 catches for 158 yards, both career highs.
After a California field goal made the score 31-14 with 11:07 to go, the Illini mounted a furious comeback, starting with an eight play, 80-yard drive that ended when Beutjer found running back E.B. Halsey along the sideline for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
After the Illini defense forced a Golden Bear punt, the Illini pulled to within seven on a 34-yard field goal by John Gockman.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Illini recovered an onside kick at the 50-yard line with 1:44 remaining. Facing a fourth and three, Beutjer found wide receiver Lonnie Hurst for six yards to give the Illini the ball at the eight-yard line with 17 seconds left. With no timeouts remaining, 11 seconds ticked off the clock as Beutjer's pass atttempt to Mark Kornfeld in the end zone fell incomplete. On the game's final play, Beutjer was sacked as time ran out.
Team Stats
CAL 0, ILL 7
ILL - Halsey, EB 10 yd pass from Beutjer, Jon (Gockman, John kick) 14 plays, 68 yards, TOP 5:06
CAL 7, ILL 7
CAL - Arrington, JJ 5 yd run (Fredrickson, T. kick), 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:15
CAL 14, ILL 7
CAL - McArthur, Geoff 14 yd pass from Rodgers, Aaron (Fredrickson, T. kick) 7 plays, 54 yards, TOP 2:09
CAL 21, ILL 7
CAL - Strang, Vincent 68 yd punt return (Fredrickson, T. kick)
CAL 21, ILL 14
ILL - Hayden, Kelvin 72 yd pass from Beutjer, Jon (Gockman, John kick) 1 plays, 78 yards, TOP 0:20
CAL 28, ILL 14
CAL - Echemandu, A. 5 yd run (Fredrickson, T. kick), 4 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:13
CAL 31, ILL 14
CAL - Fredrickson, T. 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:13
CAL 31, ILL 21
ILL - Halsey, EB 29 yd pass from Beutjer, Jon (Gockman, John kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:40
CAL 31, ILL 24
ILL - Gockman, John 34 yd field goal 16 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:39
