CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – For the second week in a row, the Gophers let an underdog opponent get off to a big start on offense Saturday, and this time it cost them in a 28-24 loss to Illinois.
Purdue had steamrolled to a 31-20 halftime lead one week earlier, only to see the Gophers climb back for a 39-38 victory. Before that game, the Gophers were 0-22 in games they trailed at halftime under coach Jerry Kill.
Heading to Illinois, Gophers coaches were concerned because the Illini had a bye the previous week, giving offensive coordinator Bill Cubit an extra week to prepare. Sure enough, the Illini threw some new stuff at the Gophers and scored two touchdowns on their first three drives.
With Wes Lunt injured, Illinois made it clear it planned to use two quarterbacks. Reilly O'Toole is considered less of a running threat than Aaron Bailey, but O'Toole got the start, and Illinois came out running the read option.
"Anytime you give Bill [Cubit] time to prepare, he's always good," Kill said. "That's not the first time he's been able to do that. He does that to a lot people. Once our guys settled in, we played better."
Illinois managed one touchdown and no field goals on its final 11 offensive drives.
"We felt like we were flat [in the first quarter]," linebacker Damien Wilson said. "But we weren't in trouble because we had just done it last week, coming from behind. So we knew what we were capable of."
Fruechte has big day
Senior wide receiver Isaac Fruechte had three catches for a career-high 105 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Mitch Leidner almost hit him on another long seam route early in the fourth quarter, but Fruechte shied away from the ball at the last moment.
"To be 100 percent honest with you, I couldn't see the ball," Fruechte said. "The sun was directly in my eyes, and I couldn't see it. It's my fault. I've got to come down with it."
But Fruechte's play has been a bright spot for the team this season.
"He sets himself apart from everybody else on the team, just how hard he's been working in practice and staying healthy and running fast," Leidner said.
TD whistled back
Wilson thought he was on his way to a 60-yard touchdown after picking up a lateral from O'Toole early in the third quarter. But an official blew the play dead, calling it an incomplete pass.
The play was reviewed and ruled a fumble, but instead of a touchdown, the officials spotted the ball at the Gophers' 48-yard line. On the next play, the Gophers scored anyway when Leidner hit Fruechte for a 52-yard touchdown.
"The officials made a good call," Kill said. "They got it right. We went down and scored. I think [the mood] was positive. I don't think our kids ever thought we were going to lose the game."
Santoso's streak ends
Ryan Santoso was 7-for-7 on field-goal attempts in Big Ten play after hitting a 44-yarder in the second quarter. But Santoso missed from 40 yards with 10:13 remaining, with the Gophers trying to add to their 24-21 lead.
Santoso rediscovered his booming kickoff leg, drilling all five of his kickoffs for touchbacks. He has turned 26 of his 43 kickoffs (60 percent) into touchbacks this season.
Etc.
• Receiver Drew Wolitarsky left because of a right ankle injury after hauling down a 35-yard pass from Leidner.
• Right tackle Ben Lauer left after re-aggravating an ankle injury. Jonah Pirsig took over for him.
• Linebacker Jack Lynn suffered a shoulder injury, and Kill also noted that defensive end Alex Keith got injured during the game.
