Oct. 7, 2006
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -
Illinois (2-4, 1-2) jumped out to a 25-7 lead early in the second quarter behind freshman quarterback Isiah "Juice" Williams, who threw two touchdowns to Kyle Hudson in the first quarter, but Indiana came all the way back, winning the game on a 33-yard Austin Starr field goal as time expired. The win was the first in Big Ten road competition for the Hoosiers under second-year Coach Terry Hoeppner.
Starr missed an earlier fourth-quarter attempt from 43 yards that would have given Indiana the lead, but came back to nail the winner. The Hoosiers ruined Illinois' homecoming a week after the Illini did the same thing at Michigan State. Illinois broke a 10-game Big Ten losing streak with a 23-20 victory over Michigan State on a late field goal.
Williams finished with 190 yards passing and 53 rushing. and Pierre Thomas had 22 carries for 126 yards and a score for the Illini.
Kellen Lewis threw for 240 yards for Indiana and a led a 65-yard drive that set up the winning kick. The freshman quarterback also ran for a touchdown.
Marcus Thigpen started the second half by taking the kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown for Indiana (3-3, 1-1). It was Thigpen's third kickoff return for a touchdown this season and gave Indiana a 28-25 lead. Thigpen also ran for 91 yards.
Josiah Sears ran for two TDs in the second quarter for Indiana, which trailed 25-21 at half.
Receiver DaJaun Warren found a wide open Jody Ellis in the corner of the end zone for 27 yards to give the Illini a 32-31 lead with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Fighting Illini (2-4) take a week off from Big Ten play; they take on Ohio University at Memorial Stadium in Champaign next Saturday in a 6 p.m. contest.
