Nov. 1, 2008

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With today's win, Illinois improves its advantage in the all-time series against Iowa to 38-29-2. This also breaks a five-game winning streak by the Hawkeyes in the series. Illinois' last win over Iowa prior to today was in 2000, a 31-0 victory in Champaign.
1. Freshman Matt Eller kicked a 46-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining to seal the victory. It marked Illinois' first game-winning field goal since Jason Reda hit a 39-yarder with six seconds left at Michigan State on Sept. 30, 2006, for a 23-20 win.

2. Eller's kick also marked Illinois' first game-winning field goal at Memorial Stadium since Oct. 22, 1991, when Chris Richardson made a 41-yarder with 36 seconds left to defeat Ohio State, 10-7.

3. Following the field goal, Illinois sealed the victory with an interception by junior Vontae Davis with nine seconds left. It was Davis' first INT of the season and sixth of his career.

4. Juice Williams improved to third on the Illinois career total offense list with his 302 yards today. He passed Jason Verduzco on the list and now has 7,513 yards for his career. Williams also moved up the single-season total offense list to seventh with 2,950 yards.

5. Williams threw his eighth pass of 50 or more yards this season and his sixth 50-plus yard touchdown with his 50-yarder to Fred Sykes in the third quarter. It was Sykes' first career touchdown.

6. That play was Williams' 19th touchdown pass of the season, which moves him to sixth on the Illinois single-season list. Williams now has 41 career TD passes.

7. Freshman Jason Ford recorded his sixth rushing touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. He leads the team in touchdowns scored this year.

8. Junior Dere Hicks scored his first career defensive touchdown on a seven-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter. Hicks recorded a sack, forced the fumble, recovered it and returned it seven yards for the score. It is the third defensive touchdown for the Illini this season.

9. Senior Will Davis recorded a sack today to give him 14.5 for his career, moving him to ninth on the Illinois career sack list.

10. Senior Derek Walker had 1.5 sacks today, moving him into a tie with Davis for ninth on the Illinois career sack list.

11. In all, Illinois had a season-high six sacks today against the Hawkeyes in addition to 10 tackles for loss. The six sacks are the most by the Orange and Blue since recording seven at Indiana on Sept. 22, 2007. The Illini defense has now recorded 30 sacks and 73 TFLs on the season.

12. Iowa running back Shonn Greene had 103 yards today, his fewest rushing yards this season. Greene entered today's game ranked third nationally and second in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 144.2 ypg.

13. Junior Donsay Hardeman recorded his first career interception with a pick in the 2nd quarter. He also tied a career high with eight tackles.

14. Senior center Ryan McDonald made his 45th consecutive start today vs. the Hawkeyes, which moves him to fifth on the Illinois top-10 list for career starts. McDonald is now tied with former offensive linemen Matt Maddox and Marques Sullivan and linebackers Kevin Hardy and Dana Howard.

15. Senior linebacker Rodney Pittman had a career-high eight tackles today while also posting a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss.

16. Sophomore Arrelious Benn caught a game-high seven passes to move him into the Illinois career receptions top-10 list at No. 10 with 107 catches.

17. Benn moves into the UI top-10 list for career receiving yardage, now with 1,512 yards. He also moves into 10th on the single-season receiving yardage list with 836 yards.