3. Illinois was filled with dumb decisions and missed opportunities
This was an extremely sloppy game by the Illinois football team, but we still had opportunities to turn the tide with some potential turnovers.
Those turnovers didn’t happen, though. Everything went wrong for the Illini, and half the time, it was our fault. The dumb penalties are what frustrated me the most.
Illinois had the ball down in Washington territory. Josh Kreutz then gets a personal foul penalty. Thankfully, the ref called a pass interference on the next play.
Luke Altmyer had Illinois moving again. We needed points. Brandon Henderson comes over and pushes a Washington defensive player in the back and draws a personal foul penalty. That resulted in 3rd and 20, and Altmyer forced a pass, which was intercepted.
Illinois had a chance to recover a muffed punt, too. This would have changed everything for the Illini, but Jaheim Clarke had the ball go right through his arms, and the Huskies recovered.
James Kreutz had an opportunity to really give Illinois a boost. While the Illini were up 17-14 and Washington was driving, Kreutz had a ball right in his arms for an interception that might have gone for a touchdown. Instead, it bounces off his chest, and the next play, Washington throws a touchdown.
Illinois can’t get out of our own way. We are our biggest weakness, and the errors are too high, and the opportunities are squandered.