Illini Extend Winning Streak To Four Games

Illini kicker Fabrizio Pinton went 3/3 on his field-goal attempts, with his 36-yard field goal with 2:49 left the difference-maker. With the win, Illinois heads into Homecoming week with a 5-1 record and sits tied atop the Big Ten West standings with a 2-1 conference mark.

Illinois outgained Iowa by nearly 90 yards -- 121 to 32 -- in the fourth quarter, holding the Hawkeyes to zero third-down conversions and forcing one turnover in the final frame to seal the win.

Chase Brown extended his 100-yard rushing streak to seven games, recording 146 yards on 31 carries. The Illini offense notched 316 total yards of offense -- 200 on the ground and 116 through the air -- in the win, while Seth Coleman recorded two of the Illini's five sacks on the night. Illinois is the lone FBS program yet to allow a touchdown at home this season.

"Since January, we kept putting things in front of them to see how they overcome it and define them," said head coach Bret Bielema. "This was about our chance to be at home, play a Big Ten West opponent, and see what we can do. I am extremely proud. This is the first time we've beat them since 2008, but it's the first time we beat Iowa and

Wisconsin since 1989. We are clearing a lot of good hurdles and going forward.

"You don't know when the moments of setbacks, obstacles, or whatever you want to call them will come. You have to trust and have faith that your response is going to be the right way, and we had a lot of guys deliver today."

The Illini got on the board on their first drive of the game, which included two fourth-down conversions. Six Brown runs continued to move Illinois down the field, while a 22-yard Brian Hightower catch put the Illini into Hawkeye territory. After getting inside the Iowa 10, Illinois took a 3-0 lead on a 27-yard Pinton field goal, the first of his career.

Iowa tied it at 3-3 before Illinois retook two drives later. After Tommy DeVito went down with an injury at the end of the first quarter, Artur Sitkowski took over under center. The Illini took advantage of a short field, with Brown taking a 15-yard carry into Iowa territory and Sitkowski connecting with Hightower on another fourth-down conversion, Illinois' third of the half. Pinton converted his second field goal of the half, this time from a career-long 37 yards, to push the Illini lead to 6-3.

The teams headed into the break knotted at 6-6. Brown headed into the break with 57 rushing yards on 13 carries, while the Illinois offense recorded 137 total yards in the opening 30 minutes. Iowa managed -10 yards on the ground in the first half.

Illinois recorded two sacks in the third quarter, both recorded by Seth Coleman, though the score remained locked at 6-6.

The Illini took the lead on a 36-yard Pinton field goal, his third of the game. Illinois moved down the field via several Brown runs, pushing him to 132 rushing yards.

A late interception from Matthew Bailey and five total sacks from the defense proved pivotal to clinch the victory.

DeVito and Sitkowski combined to go 19-30 for 116 yards, while Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras registered 170 yards and an interception while competing 50% of his 36 attempts.

The Illini return to Memorial Stadium next weekend for Homecoming and will take on Minnesota at 11 a.m. CT.