2009 Week 5

This game is televised. The Illini are on a three game winning streak. Their offense is clicking but defensively their stats are mediocre.

Reserve safety Kenny Ralph sits out this game for academic reasons.

It's a sunny day, clear and cold. Rockberger cuts through the kick formation, has one man to beat, and is tackled at the 37. Jimmy Johns takes the handoff 17 yards. Porter takes the next snap 20 yards. Illini toughen in the redzone and UAPB kicks a FG.

Illinois goes 4 and out and punts. UAPB turns the ball over as Turner gets lost in the LOS and Porter throws the pass right to Ill's 38. But Illinois goes for it on 4th and 2 at the UAPB 30 and Mario Heckel sacks QB Allen in the backfield. UAPB's drive results in another INT at the Ill 10. The Illinois drive results in an INT by Ray Frederick, but Porter fumbles a pitch attempt and Ill recovers at our 19. 35y FG, good and we're tied at 3-3.

The teams traded long plays for a 10-10 tie. Then Mackey recovered a fumble on a QB scramble, and Porter on the next play broke one 65 yards. The teams continued trading scores up to 31-24. With little time left in the half and Illinois driving, Marcus McClure pulled the ball away from the receiver on a first down completion near the goal line, and Rasheed Salas recovered to quell the threat.