Oct. 14, 2006

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois outgained Ohio, 397 yards to 238 yards, but the Bobcats handed the Illini their second consecutive crushing loss at home with field goal in the waning seconds of the game.

Ohio's Matt Lasher kicked a 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to give Ohio a 20-17 victory over Illinois on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

With the game tied at 17, the Illini (2-5) started a drive with a little under 2 minutes remaining, only to have the Bobcats recover a fumble on the Illinois 16 with a minute left to set up the winning field goal.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams threw for 186 yards and two touchdows, and led his team in rushing with 96 yards, but it wasn't enough. Turnovers played a key role in the defeat, as the Orange and Blue put the ball on the ground six times, losing possession on four of them. Williams was intercepted once.

Ohio's Kalvin McRae carried the ball 25 times for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both in the second quarter.

McRae's first run into the end zone was from 2 yards out and the second came less than 5 minutes later from 17 yards out. In the third quarter, Lasher made a 32-yard field goal for Ohio (4-3).

Lasher also was a big factor as a punter, pinning the Illini inside their 5 twice in fourth quarter.

In the closing moments of the first half, Williams connected with tight end Jeff Cumberland for a 15-yard scoring pass to pull the Illini within four at the break. Williams found Frank Lenti Jr. on a 44-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 17 with 10 minutes remaining.