TD with:04 left lifts No

Nov 23, 2024, 05:32 PM ET

PISCATAWAY, N.J.– Luke Altmyer discovered Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 25 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday.Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten)was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then required a timeout right before Moczulski’s effort was wide left and about 15 lawns short.After the missed out on basket was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer struck Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued throughout the field and scored unblemished in a game that featured three lead modifications in the final 3:07.”Coach called a perfect play,”Bryant stated. “A play we run all the time in our two-minute drill. I caught the ball and saw the sideline and saw nobody was over there. I had one guy to beat. I provided him a little relocation. I heard everybody dive and say,’Go out, go out, ‘however I put trust in myself and scored a goal. “Bielema returned the compliment.”Pat is so familiar with his environments,”Bielema said after Bryant completed with 7

catches for a career-high 197 backyards.

“He saw that corner and removed.” Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) quit a security on the last kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players

passed it around hoping for a miracle goal.”They made one more play than we did,”Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said.Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two goals. He put Illinois in front with a 30-yard TD run with 3:07 to go. He passed to Josh McCray on the 2-point conversion, making it 30-24. Rutgers reacted with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Athan Kaliakmanis had a 15-yard run on 4th down. He passed to running back Kyle Monangai for a 13-yard TD with

1:08 remaining.Illinois then drove 75 backyards in 8 plays for the unexpected win. “That’s big-time football, “Monangai said of the winning drive.”They made a great play at the end of the game.

I think we played our hearts out to completion, to the very end, even that last play. Illinois did the very same. They’re an excellent team. The chips fell their method today.”Editor’s Picks 2 Related Kaliakmanis was 18-for-36 for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 13 brings for 84 yards and two TDs. Monangai had a career-high 28 carries for 122 yards.Kaliakmanis found Ian Strong for a 2-yard goal in the last seconds of the first half,

and he scored on a 1-yard run to raise Rutgers to a 24-15 lead early in the fourth quarter.Illinois responded with Aidan Laughery’s 8-yard TD run, setting up the roller-coaster finish.The start of

the 2nd half was delayed because of a scrum between the groups. There were no punches tossed, and the authorities called charges on both schools.Monangai become the 3rd player in Rutgers history to rush for

3,000 backyards when he got 4 yards on a third-and-1 carry early in the second quarter.

The safeguarding conference rushing champion signs up with Ray Rice and Terrell Willis in striking the mark.The great surface keeps the Illini in line for their very first nine-win season considering that 2007 and a prominent

championship game.