Luke Altmyer caught the snap and looked to his left for Casey Washington who darted down the sideline, crossing over into Maryland territory. Washington caught the 29-yard pass over the head of Corey Coley Jr., giving Illinois just enough yardage to enter field goal range for the game-winning kick.
The former 5-1 Maryland Terrapins hosted the 2-4 Illinois Fighting Illini in College Park on Saturday, losing 24-27 to bring an end to Maryland’s homecoming week.
Illinois entered the matchup coming off of a 7-20 loss against Nebraska. Maryland was also seeking redemption, entering week six with a 37-17 loss against Ohio State.
“I’m disappointed in the things we didn’t do, not as much as what Illinois did,” head coach Mike Locksley said during his post-game press conference.
With Maryland unable to make anything of its first drive, Illinois made sure to pull ahead early. In seven snaps, wide receiver Pat Bryant separated from defensive back Ja’Quan Sheppard for a 44-yard touchdown reception.
Illinois led 7-0 just seven minutes into the first quarter.
On his next drive, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer threw an interception to DB Glendon Miller who was tackled with the ball at half field. Maryland took advantage of the turnover, with QB Taulia Tagovailoa eventually throwing a four-yard pass to linebacker Sean Greeley who was put in at fullback to score his second touchdown of the season.
Both teams entered the second quarter tied 7-7.
WR Jeshaun Jones upped the momentum for Maryland on its second drive of the next quarter, catching a 24-yard reception to just barely cross over into Illinois territory. Seven plays later, WR Kaden Prather caught a 27-yard pass in the endzone that marked his fifth touchdown as a Terrapin.
On its next drive, Maryland entered field goal range with just under two minutes left in the first half, but Prather fumbled the ball at Illinois’ 27-yard line to give the Terps their first lost fumble of the season.
Illinois used that turnover to tie with Maryland before time expired. Going for a touchdown on fourth and one, running back Kaden Feagin rushed for two yards to bring the score to 14-14 at halftime.
“The turnover before the half when you have the chance to go up 21-7– we always fight to get that two score swing between the halves,” Locksley said. “We gave up a touchdown which then allowed them to have the two score swing.”
After six-straight rush attempts to start the third quarter, Illinois was able to take the lead over Maryland once again. Altmyer threw a 15-yard pass to Isaiah Williams who advanced 11 yards into the endzone.
Williams entered the game as Illinois’ greatest offensive threat, sitting at second in the Big Ten for total receiving yards with 503 across six games.
After an Illinois field goal that put the Terps down by 10, Maryland responded with a touchdown just as the clock hit zero to end the period. RB Antwain Littleton II rushed for four yards to make the score 21-24.
Maryland punted the ball away on its first two drives of the final quarter, but Roman Hemby proved to be the difference maker on the third possession. Catching an 18-yard reception and then rushing for 17 yards on back-to-back plays, Maryland landed just outside the red zone in two snaps.
“This is the turning point for the rest of the season,” Hemby said post-game. “I feel like we got to get back to the drawing board and put some things together so we can finish the season on a high note.”
But unable to find the endzone, kicker Jack Howes took the field to tie the game 24-24 with a career-long 48-yard field goal.
Illinois received the ball with a minute-and-a-half left in the game. After a 29-yard reception from Casey Washington, a series of rush attempts landed the Illini on Maryland’s 25-yard line with a fourth-down.
Kicker Caleb Griffin took the field, making a 43-yard field goal as the clock hit zero to give Illinois the 27-24 victory over Maryland.
“We gotta get back to work,” linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II said post-game. “Good thing with us, time is on our side with this bye week, so we have to be looking to get right.”
Maryland enters its bye week 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten.
