Kinnick Diaries: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Week 12 Live Blog
After a 22-0 shutout win over an improved Rutgers team, the Iowa Hawkeyes (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) return home to Kinnick for Senior Day where they can clinch the Big Ten West crown.
Iowa sophomore quarterback Deacon Hill is coming off his finest game of the season. The 6-foot-3, 258 pound quarterback completed 20-of-31 passes for 223 yards with a 10-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Kaleb Brown.
The Hawkeyes welcome in Illinois (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) for this Senior Day date. The Illini enter after a pair of nail-biting wins over Minnesota, 27-26, and Indiana in overtime, 48-45.
The Hawkeyes got the unfortunate news that star cornerback Cooper DeJean has been lost for the season earlier this week. How does Iowa’s defense respond to losing its best player?
Follow along with us as we provide live updates and reaction. Don’t forget to refresh the page as live updates and analysis rolls in from us here at Hawkeyes Wire for Iowa’s Senior Day and home finale against Illinois.
John Paddock gets the start for the Illini
NEWS: #illini will start QB John Paddock at Iowa
READ: https://t.co/bT9SHZlNKR pic.twitter.com/3oeKS6yRUc
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 18, 2023
3-and-out to start for the Hawkeyes
Leshon Williams was stuffed in the backfield on a 3rd and one rush. This Illinois front is going to be a tough task for the Hawkeyes. Great punt by Taylor at least!
That's the 20th punt of the season inside the 13-yard line for Tory Taylor.
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) November 18, 2023
SAFETY!
EVERYBODY DO THE SAFETY DANCE!
The best offense for Iowa there. A fantastic Tory Taylor punt leads to a Joe Evans sack in the end zone to earn the two points for the Hawkeyes early!
Iowa's decision to punt on 4th-and-1 at its own 47 was brilliant, the Hawkeyes force a safety, and Iowa is off the races with a 2-0 lead.
— Mike Hlas (@Hlas) November 18, 2023
Iowa missed field goal
A missed chance at points for the Hawkeyes. After Deacon Hill nearly threw an interception, Drew Stevens missed a 53-yard field goal. Still 2-0 Hawkeyes with 8:40 left in the first quarter.
Still 2-0 after Stevens’ FG misses wide right. Some glimpses of success from the offense only to stall. Worse her, Illinois will get the ball with good field position.
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) November 18, 2023
Illinois field goal
We have points. Unfortunately, it’s Illinois that has taken the lead. A big 31-yard gain to Isaiah Williams put the Illini in good field position. Caleb Griffin nailed a 52-yarder to make it a 3-2 Illinois lead with just over three minutes left in the first.
From 52 yards! It's good 🙌 @IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/lgAGzDVRZV
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 18, 2023
3-2 at the end of the first. Time to wave one last time
It’s time for the last Hawkeye Wave of the season. Illinois leads 3-2.
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) November 18, 2023
TOUCHDOWN HAWKEYES!
BIG drive for Deacon Hill and the Hawkeyes responding to the Illinois field goal! That was probably Hill’s best drive as a Hawkeye. Addison Ostrenga scored his second touchdown of the year to put Iowa up 9-3 with 10:20 left in the first half.
TOUCHDOWN IOWA.
Deacon Hill zipped that ball to Addison Ostrenga.
Hill's cooking (10-of-12, 95 yards).
14 plays, 75 yards, 7:59.
Iowa 9, Illinois 3, 10:20 2nd.
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) November 18, 2023
Illinois touchdown
Is an offensive shootout starting to brew? Illinois responds back with a touchdown of their own, Reggie Love capitalizing on a great drive by quarterback John Paddock. Illinois has retaken the lead 10-9 with 6:53 left in the first half.
REGGIE LOVE ‼️@IlliniFootball gets 6 and takes the lead. 👀
📺: FS1/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/tOoGEadUQK
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 18, 2023
Halftime in Iowa
Halftime here in Iowa City, Iowa trails 10-9. Illinois nearly extended their lead late in the quarter, but missed a 52-yard field goal. The Illini will get the ball first in the second half.
Halftime in Kinnick.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/eN99fmVcBR
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 18, 2023
Second half begins
Second half here we go! Illinois will start with the ball.
A game of punts
If you were worried that we may see some offense in this second half, these teams have traded punts to start the third quarter.
Update: The two teams traded punts again. Five minutes left in the third quarter.
Sebastian Castro saves a touchdown!
What a play! This was one of the most frustrating drives of the year, Illinois was bailed out by multiple penalties. Seriously, Quinn Schulte was penalized for sacking the qb.
Iowa’s Quinn Schulte is called for roughing the passer on this hit of Illinois’ John Paddock.
The personal foul penalty gives the Illini a first down.
I mean…I just… pic.twitter.com/uJLeIYkYgG
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 18, 2023
Great stop by Castro on third down, but these were three points gifted to Illinois by the refs.
Iowa unable to respond
Ugh. A Leshon Williams two-yard rush followed by two Deacon Hill incompletions. He had a receiver on third down but just sailed it. Hawkeyes still down 13-9 in the fourth.
This is the equivalent of Death by a thousand paper cuts.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 18, 2023
Good stop by Iowa defense
Great stop by the Hawkeyes defense to force the punt. Iowa will start from their own seven yard line with 11 minutes left to play.
Naturally, Iowa punted it right back but the defense forced another punt.
TOUCHDOWN HAWKEYES!
TOUCHDOWN IOWA! ITS KALEB JOHNSON! Iowa takes a 15-13 lead with 4:43 left to play after the extra point was blocked.
Iowa stops Illinois on fourth down!
Joe Evans have day, have a career son! One of the most underrated Hawkeyes in program history gets it done again, breaking up a pass on fourth down. Iowa takes over up by two with 3:40 left looking to try and chew some clock.
Kaleb Johnson seals it!
That will do it! Big run on third down by Kaleb Johnson will ice this for the Hawkeyes. Iowa wins 15-13 and have clinched the Big Ten West Division title! Kirk Ferentz is the last champion of the West Division, and has done it in the most West Division way, the most Iowa way possible. What a finish!
