Illinois Fighting Illini vs Northwestern Wildcats Match Player Stats On Nov 29, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 29, 2014

Illinois 47, Northwestern 33: Reilly OกฏToole threw a season-high three touchdown passes and rushed for a career-best 147 yards as the Fighting Illini held off the host Wildcats to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2011.

OกฏToole completed 17-of-28 for 147 yards and Illinois (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten) totaled 291 yards on the ground. Josh Ferguson also ran for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the second from 46 away with 12:39 left for a 40-25 lead before linebacker Mason Monheim sealed it with a 49-yard interception return for a score with 4:58 to go.

Justin Jackson rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns to lead Northwestern (5-7, 3-5), which turned the ball over five times. Wildcats quarterback Zack Oliver replaced starter Trevor Siemian (knee injury) and went 23-of-38 through the air for 221 yards with a TD and three interceptions.

OกฏTooleกฏs 10-yard touchdown pass to Malik Turner capped an 11-play drive and Ferguson ran for a 1-yard score after an Illinois interception for a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Solomon Vaultกฏs 89-yard kickoff return brought Northwestern within 12, but OกฏToole connected with Mike Dudek for a 14-yard scoring strike with 47 seconds left in the first half for a 26-7 lead.

The Illini led 33-10 after OกฏTooleกฏs 9-yard TD pass to Martize Barr midway through the third quarter before Jackson ran 5 yards for score to bring the Wildcats closer. Jackson rushed 35 yards for a TD on fourth down 55 seconds into the fourth and a two-point conversion pulled Northwestern within 33-25.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dudek caught his sixth touchdown pass, matching David Williamsกฏ school record for a freshman, while increasing his Illini freshman-record totals for receptions (69) and receiving yards (965).. กญ Northwestern was without its leading pass catcher WR Kyle Prater due to a lacerated kidney, according to the Chicago Tribune. กญ Earnest Thomas III and Eaton Spence also recorded interceptions for Illinois, which finished with three in the game after managing only four in the first 11 games.