It seems impossible, but Illinois hit the trifecta of worst-case scenarios in the first half of today’s game with Missouri.
1) Juice Williams gets knocked out of the game: Williams got sandwiched with a pair of helmet-to-helmet blows and left with 10:15 left in the second quarter. He walked to the locker room, towel over his head, with 4:55 left in the half.
2) Terrible turnover margin…again: Redshirt freshman Eddie McGee entered for Williams and fumbled the ball three times. He lost two of them, the first for a 100-yard return for a score and the second set up a Mizzou TD with :20 left in the half. Oh, and Chris Duvalt fumbled the ensuing kickoff with 13 seconds left and Mizzou turned it into a FG at the buzzer.
3) No running game: The Big Ten’s defending rushing champs rushed 5 times for zero yards in the first quarter and 11 times for 36 yards in the second quarter. Juco transfer Dan Dufrene was the only bright light with a 17-yard sprint on his first FBS carry.
LW
