Nov. 16--CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois wide receiver Mikey Dudek said the team called Saturday's game against Iowa a must-win.
The Illini will have to underline and bold that term as now they must win their final two games to achieve bowl eligibility after dropping a 30-14 debacle to Iowa.
"We really are going to have to turn the page and forget about this game," Dudek said.
Illini fans should be eager to forget this setback, yet it will be hard to shake some memorably horrific plays. Other than Dudek's two 31-yard touchdown receptions, there was little to feel optimistic about.
In a game that looked for much of it like a match between two futile offenses, the Hawkeyes broke free for four unanswered touchdowns, including three in the final 18 minutes.
The Illini defense that stopped three fourth-down attempts, including one on the goal line, clearly wore down. The offense stalled in quarterback Wes Lunt's return from injury. Receivers dropped passes. Penalties piled up.
"It just slipped way out of our hands," coach Tim Beckman said.
More was expected from Lunt despite this being his first game back from a leg fracture that forced him to miss the last five weeks. He completed 14 of 25 passes for just 102 yards and a touchdown.
"I thought he'd be rusty," offensive coordinator Bill Cubit said.
An offensive line without two starters -- left tackle Simon Cvijanovic and right guard Teddy Karras were both out with injuries -- didn't help matters.
The offense went three-and-out six times on 11 possessions. The Illini were outgained on the ground 304-88 and 587-235 in total yards.
Eight penalties for 59 yards -- two of which were for illegal formations -- hemmed in the Illini as well.
"We just didn't make any plays," Cubit said.
Backup Reilly O'Toole relieved Lunt late in the fourth quarter and he steered the Illini to a touchdown on their final possession. He connected with Dudek for the freshman receiver's second touchdown to complete a 12-play 89-yard drive.
The Illini had opportunities throughout the game, trailing only 9-7 at halftime and 16-7 after the third quarter.
Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock connected with tight end Ray Hamilton for two touchdowns and ran in for another from 6 yards out. Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard hit Damond Powell for a 19-yard touchdown to provide the Hawkeyes with a 30-7 fourth-quarter lead.
The Hawkeyes led 2-0 in the first quarter after Lunt was called for a safety because of an intentional grounding call out of the end zone.
"We were smacking each other for three quarters, and it just fell apart at the end," Beckman said. "But we did not finish the way I want to finish."
Illinois clearly didn't do enough the previous three quarters either.
sryan@tribpub.com
Twitter @sryantribune
