Illini-Bulldogs Gameday Binoculars, Part 2: Tape Review & Play-by-Play

As I couldn’t do the play-by-play of the Illinois-Fresno State game on Friday night, here it is, along with some analysis, following my review of the tape earlier this morning.

Illinois falls to Fresno State for the second straight year after a very controversial call allowed the Bulldogs to keep the ball after the Illini appeared to stop them on fourth down.

The loss puts Illinois at 6-6 for the regular season, with a trip to the Texas Bowl to play Baylor all but a given.

After a rough first quarter, the Illini played well for the most part but ultimately dug themselves too deep of a hole to pull out the comeback.

Congratulations to Illinois redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase, who broke Juice Williams’ single season record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

Scheelhaase currently has 815 rushing yards and will add to that in the bowl game, which is expected to be announced sometime in the next day or so.

1^st Quarter

Derek Dimke kicks off to the 3 to start the game. Isaiah Burse returns to the Fresno State 28.

Fresno State Ball on its own 28 with 14:45 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 28: Tracy Slocum rushes to the 34.

2^nd and 4 Fresno State from its own 34: Slocum rushes to the 35.

3^rd and 3 Fresno State from its own 35: Ryan Colburn pass complete to Vince Pascoe at the 42.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 42: Colburn pass incomplete to A.J. Johnson.

2^nd and 10 Fresno State from its own 42: A.J. Ellis tackled for a loss at the 38.

3^rd and 14 Fresno State from its own 38: Colburn pass complete to A.J. Ellis at the Illinois 44.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 44: Colburn pass complete to Jamel Hamler at the 27.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 27: Colburn pass complete to Ellis for a touchdown.

Fresno State 6, Illinois 0

Kevin Goessling’s PAT blocked by Jeff Allen.

Goessling kicks off to the 8, returned by Darius Millines to the 25.

Illinois ball on its own 25 with 11:08 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 25: Mikel Leshoure rushes to the 27.

2^nd and 8 Illinois from its own 27: Nathan Scheelhaase rushes to the 33.

3^rd and 2 Illinois from its own 33: Leshoure rushes to the 34.

4^th and 1 Illinois from its own 34: Leshoure rushes to a 36.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 36: Scheelhaase throws ball away.

2^nd and 10 Illinois from its own 36: Leshoure rushes to the 45.

3^rd and 1 Illinois from its own 45: Leshoure rushes to the 48.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 48: Scheelhaase rushes to the 49.

2^nd and 9 Illinois from its own 49: Scheelhaase sacked at the 39.

3^rd and 19 Illinois from its own 39: Scheelhaase rushes to the 40.

4^th and 18 Illinois from its own 40: Anthony Santella punts to the 15, returned to the 22.

Fresno State Ball on its own 22 with 5:46 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 22: Colburn pass complete to Jalen Saunders for a touchdown.

Fresno State 12, Illinois 0

Goessling makes PAT.

Fresno State 13, Illinois 0

Goessling kicks off to the 8, returned by Millines to the 28.

Illinois ball on its own 28 with 5:36 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 28: Jason Ford rushes to the 31.

2^nd and 7 Illinois from its own 31: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Spencer Harris.

3^rd and 7 Illinois from its own 31: Holding called on Illinois, 10 yard penalty, repeat third down.

3^rd and 17 Illinois from its own 21: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Jarred Fayson.

4^th and 17 Illinois from its own 21: Santella punts to the 40, returned to the Illinois 49.

Fresno State ball on the Illinois 49 with 4:05 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 49: Michael Harris rushes to the 44.

2^nd and 5 Fresno State from the Illinois 44: Colburn rushes to the 35.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 35: Colburn pass incomplete.

2^nd and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 35: Slocum rushes to the 32.

3^rd and 7 Fresno State from the Illinois 32: Holding called on Fresno State, 10 yard penalty, repeat third down.

3^rd and 17 Fresno State from the Illinois 42: Colburn pass complete to Hamler at the 28.

4^th and 3 Fresno State from the Illinois 28: Goessling makes field goal.

Fresno State 16, Illinois 0

Goessling kicks off to the 9, returned by Millines to the 25.

Illinois ball on its own 25 with 0:57 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 25: Leshoure rushes to the 28.

2^nd and 7 Illinois from its own 28: Scheelhaase rushes to the Fresno State 26.

Thoughts after the first quarter:

Illinois looks like it didn’t come to play. Even from the pregame footage of the teams taking the field, the Illini lacked the energy while Fresno State was pumped up for senior night. I don’t know if it is the jet lag or late game time, but Illinois needs to wake up. The defense has allowed big play after big play and the Bulldogs have scored on every possession while the offense has yet to complete a pass. Illinois can’t wait until the half to make its adjustments; it needs to get back in this game starting now if it wants any chance of a comeback.

2^nd Quarter

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 26: Scheelhaase rushes to the 14.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 14: Scheelhaase rushes to the 3.

1^st and Goal Illinois from the Fresno State 3: LeShoure tackled for a loss at the 7.

2^nd and Goal Illinois from the Fresno State 7: Scheelhaase rushes to the 2.

3^rd and Goal Illinois from the Fresno State 2: Scheelhaase rushes to the 1.

4^th and Goal Illinois from the Fresno State 1: Dimke makes field goal.

Fresno State 16, Illinois 3

Dimke kicks off to the 6, returned to the 46.

Fresno State ball on its own 46 with 11:52 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 46: Colburn pass complete to Hamler at the Illinois 37.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 37: Ellis rushes to the 32.

2^nd and 5 Fresno State from the Illinois 32: Slocum rushes to the 30.

3^rd and 3 Fresno State from the Illinois 30: Colburn rushes for no gain.

4^th and 3 Fresno State from the Illinois 30: False start called on Fresno State, 5 yard penalty, repeat fourth down.

4^th and 8 Fresno State from the Illinois 35: Goessling makes field goal.

Fresno State 19, Illinois 3

Goessling kicks off out of bounds, Illinois ball on its own 40.

Illinois ball on its own 40 with 9:10 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois on its own 40: Scheelhaase fumbles snap, falls on it at the 39.

2^nd and 11 Illinois on its own 39: Leshoure rushes to the 42.

3^rd and 8 Illinois on its own 42: Scheelhaase pass complete to A.J. Jenkins at the 35.

1^st and 10 Illinois on the Fresno State 35: Leshoure rushes 35 yards for a touchdown.

Fresno State 19, Illinois 9

Dimke makes PAT.

Fresno State 19, Illinois 10

Dimke kicks off to the 7, returned to the 19.

Fresno State ball on its own 34 with 7:25 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State on its own 19: Ellis rushes to the 24.

2^nd and 5 Fresno State on its own 24: Colburn pass complete to Hamlet at the 37.

1^st and 10 Fresno State on its own 37: Colburn pass complete to Tapa Taumoepeau at the 45.

2^nd and 2 Fresno State on its own 4: Ellis rushes to the 48.

1^st and 10 Fresno State on its own 48: Colburn throws pass away.

2^nd and 10 Fresno State on its own 48: Slocum fumbles ball, recovered by Corey Liuget at the Fresno State 46.

Illinois ball on the Fresno State 46 with 4:48 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois on the Fresno State 46: Leshoure slips down in the backfield at the 48.

2^nd and 12 Illinois on the Fresno State 48: Eddie McGee pass incomplete to Jenkins.

3^rd and 12 Illinois on the Fresno State 48: Scheelhaase sacked at the Illinois 46.

4^th and 18 Illinois on its own 46: Santella punts to the 16, returned to the 21.

Fresno State ball on its own 21 with 3:20 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State on its own 21: Ellis rushes to the 26.

2^nd and 5 Fresno State on its own 26: Ellis rushes to the 28.

3^rd and 3 Fresno State on its own 28: Colburn pass incomplete to Saunders.

4^th and 3 Fresno State on its own 28: Andrew Shapiro punts to the Illinois 38, fair catch.

Illinois ball on its own 38 with 1:51 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 38: Holding penalty on Illinois, 10 yard penalty, repeat first down.

1^st and 20 Illinois from its own 28: Scheelhaase pass complete to Fayson at the 34.

2^nd and 14 Illinois from its own 34: Scheelhaase rushes to the 46.

3^rd and 2 Illinois from its own 46: Fresno State pass interference at the Fresno State 38.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 38: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Fayson.

2^nd and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 38: Scheelhaase pass complete to Jenkins at the 26.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 26: Scheelhaase sacked at the 32.

2^nd and 16 Illinois from the Fresno State 32: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Jenkins.

3^rd and 16 Illinois from the Fresno State 32: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Jenkins.

4^th and 16 Illinois from the Fresno State 32: Dimke misses field goal.

Fresno State ball on its own 32 with 0:47 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 32: Ellis tackled at the 28.

2^nd and 14 Fresno State from its own 28: Colburn takes a knee.

Thoughts at the half:

That missed field goal really took some wind out of Illinois’ sails after a pretty decent drive. Kicker Derek Dimke has made two kicks longer than that 49 yarder, and Fresno State’s kicker nailed a 52 yarder going the other direction, so it is possible that the kick was into the wind. The good news for the Illini is that after a first quarter during which the defense give up 16 unanswered points, they held the Bulldogs to 3 points the second quarter and scored 10 of their own. The Illini need to continue to wear down the Bulldogs in the second half and get one or two more big runs like the one Leshoure scored on from 35 yards out.

3^rd Quarter

Goessling kicks off into the endzone to start the half, Millines returns kick to the 8.

Illinois ball on its own 8 with 14:57 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 8: Leshoure rushes to the 12.

2^nd and 6 Illinois from its own 12: Scheelhaase rushes to the 19.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 19: Scheelhaase rushes to the 31.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 31: Leshoure rushes to the 34.

2^nd and 7 Illinois from its own 34: McGee pass complete to Jenkins at the 43.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 43: Scheelhaase rushes to the 45.

2^nd and 8 Illinois from its own 45: Ford rushes to the Fresno State 46.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 46: Leshoure rushes to the 43.

2^nd and 7 Illinois from the Fresno State 43: Scheelhaase rushes to the 42.

3^rd and 6 Illinois from the Fresno State 42: Scheelhaase pass complete to Jenkins at the 31.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 31: Scheelhaase rushes to the 27.

2^nd and 6 Illinois from the Fresno State 27: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Jenkins.

3^rd and 6 Illinois from the Fresno State 27: Scheelhaase rushes to the 20.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 20: Leshoure rushes for no gain.

2^nd and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 20: Scheelhaase pass complete to Jenkins at the 18.

3^rd and 8 Illinois from the Fresno State 18: Scheelhaase pass complete to Jenkins for a touchdown.

Fresno State 19, Illinois 16

Dimke makes PAT.

Fresno State 19, Illinois 17

Dimke kicks off to the 10, returned to the 37.

Fresno State ball on its own 37 with 6:56 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 37: Colburn pass complete to Rashad Evans at the Illinois 42.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 42: Ellis rushes to the 37.

2^nd and 3 Fresno State from the Illinois 37: Colburn pass complete to Evans at the 21.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 21: Colburn pass complete to Evans for a touchdown.

Fresno State 25, Illinois 17

Two point conversion attempt fails.

Goessling kicks off to the 6, Millines returns kick to the 13.

Illinois ball on its own 13 with 5:11 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 13: Ford rushes to the 19.

2^nd and 4 Illinois from its own 19: Leshoure rushes to the 24.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 24: Scheelhaase rushes to the 28.

2^nd and 6 Illinois from its own 28: Scheelhaase rushes to the 29.

3^rd and 5 Illinois from its own 29: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Fayson.

4^th and 5 Illinois from its own 29: Santella punts to the 29, no return.

Fresno State ball on its own 29 with 2:45 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 29: Colburn pass complete to Johnson at the 44.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 44: Ellis rushes to the 50.

2^nd and 4 Fresno State from the 50: Colburn tackeled for a loss at the 48.

3^rd and 6 Fresno State from its own 48: Colburn throws pass away.

4^th and 6 Fresno State from its own 48: Shapiro punts to the 25, fair catch.

Illinois ball on its own 25 with 0:43 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 25: Leshoure rushes to the Fresno State 25.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 25: Ford rushes to the 21.

Thoughts after the third quarter:

Illinois again lost all momentum in the game when, after mounting a 92-yard scoring drive that took over half the quarter, it allowed the Bulldogs to score in four plays and extend the lead to eight. Scheelhaase has struggled all game with his passing, and the Illini players are constantly slipping in the backfield on the Fresno State turf. If Illinois can score on this drive and stop Fresno State, it has the potential to run the clock down and try to win the game with a field goal.

4^th Quarter

2^nd and 6 Illinois from the Fresno State 21: Scheelhaase rushes for a touchdown.

Fresno State 25, Illinois 23

Two point conversion fails.

Dimke kicks off to the 6, returned to the Illinois 45.

Fresno State ball on the Illinois 45 with 14:55 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 45: Colburn pass complete to Hamler at the 35.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 35: Colburn pass complete to Jenkins for a loss at the 36.

2^nd and 11 Fresno State from the Illinois 36: Colburn pass incomplete.

3^rd and 11 Fresno State from the Illinois 36: Colburn pass incomplete.

4^th and 11 Fresno State from the Illinois 36: Shapiro punts to the 10, fair catch.

Illinois ball on its own 10 with 13:22 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 10: Leshoure rushes to the 13.

2^nd and 7 Illinois from its own 13: Leshoure rushes to the 23.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 23: Scheelhaase pass incomplete.

2^nd and 10 Illinois from its own 23: Ford rushes to the 48.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 48: Ford rushes to the 49.

2^nd and 9 Illinois from its own 49: Leshoure rushes to the Fresno State 37.

1^st and 10 Illinois from the Fresno State 37: False Start on Illinois, 5 yard penalty, repeat down.

1^st and 15 Illinois from the Fresno State 42: Scheelhaase pass thrown away.

2^nd and 15 Illinois from the Fresno State 42: Scheelhaase tackled at the 43.

3^rd and 16 Illinois from the Fresno State 43: Scheelhaase pass incomplete to Spencer Harris.

4^th and 16 Illinois from the Fresno State 43: Santella punts to the 10.

Fresno State ball on its own 10 with 9:31 remaining.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 10: Ellis tackled at the 9.

2^nd and 11 Fresno State from its own 9: Ellis tackled at the 7.

3^rd and 13 Fresno State from its own 7: Colburn pass incomplete. Penalty on Illinois, hitting a defenseless player, 15 yards, automatic first down.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 22: Ellis rushes to the 26.

2^nd and 6 Fresno State from its own 26: Colburn sacked at the 22.

3^rd and 10 Fresno State from its own 22: Colburn pass complete to Hamler at the 37.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 37: Colburn pass complete to Austin Raphael at the 41.

2^nd and 6 Fresno State from its own 41: Ellis rushes to the 45.

3^rd and 2 Fresno State from its own 45: Penalty on Fresno State, false start, 5 yard penalty, repeat down.

3^rd and 7 Fresno State from its own 40: Colburn pass complete to Hamler at the 46.

4^th and 1 Fresno State from its own 46: Ellis rushes to the 47. Ball Spot challenged by Illinois, decision upheld.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from its own 47: Ellis rushes to the 50.

2^nd and 7 Fresno State from its own 50: Ellis rushes to the Illinois 42.

1^st and 10 Fresno State from the Illinois 42: Ellis rushes to the 40.

2^nd and 8 Fresno State from the Illinois 40: Ellis rushes to the 37.

3^rd and 5 Fresno State from the Illinois 37: Ellis rushes to the 35.

4^th and 3 Fresno State from the Illinois 35: Shapiro punts to the Illinois 9, fair catch.

Illinois ball on its own 9 with 0:18 remaining.

1^st and 10 Illinois from its own 9: McGee pass incomplete.

2^nd and 10 Illinois from its own 9: McGee sacked at the 4.

End Of Game.

Final Score: Fresno State 25, Illinois 23

Despite holding its opponent to only 9 points in three quarters, the Illini were unable to overcome a 16-0 deficit in the first quarter and complete their comeback. Illinois was hurt by a terrible first down call on Fresno State’s final drive that allowed the Bulldogs to run the clock down to 18 seconds. Even worse than the loss, linebacker Ian Thomas was carted off the field during the last defensive series with a serious leg injury. Thomas’ leg was caught under him as he made a tackle and was bent in a very bad way, possibly breaking it. Thomas was the team’s 4th leading tackler and is now likely out for the Illini’s bowl game. Check back later for a complete recap of the game and some things to look forward to in the postseason.