MADISON, Wis. – With 1:28 on the clock Saturday, Camp Randall was literally rocking. Wisconsin had just overcome an 18-point deficit and Illinois had the ball on its own 17-yard line. Throughout the contest, silence in the stadium meant success for the visiting Illini, and now the stands shook as a packed house jumped and cheered its comeback kids.

Three times this season, Illinois had come within inches of winning, but let leads slip away into disheartening losses.

When the final drive died at the Illinois 40-yard line on Saturday, the team suffered the same fate, dropping a 30-24 loss to No. 17 Wisconsin.

“Once again, we played well enough to win,” head coach Ron Zook said. “But did we make mistakes? Yes we did.”

As has become standard this season, Illinois’ defense came out strong, and the underclassmen found quick success, but it was not enough to hold onto the lead.

The Illini opened scoring with a 41-yard interception return by freshman safety Trevon Bellamy. It was Bellamy’s first career interception, and Illinois’ first for a touchdown since 2004.

“Kevin Mitchell came in and had a huge block which allowed me to get the distance,” Bellamy said. “It was extremely exciting, but our goal was to win the game.”

Wisconsin went scoreless in the first quarter and the Illini defense held the Badgers to a 21-yard field goal early in the second. Illinois’ offense then padded the lead with two Pierre Thomas touchdowns, bringing the score to 21-3 before Wisconsin’s first touchdown. Illinois answered with a 20-yard field goal as the second quarter wound down, and for the fifth time this season, went into halftime on top.

“We came out of the tunnel excited, ready to finish the game,” Illinois quarterback Juice Williams said.

“We had a feeling of victory, that’s what we wanted,” he added.

The first-half success, however, would not be repeated. Illinois’ defense allowed 20 points in the last 30 minutes, while the offense could not cross the 50-yard line.

“Wisconsin threw the ball a little more; they were making plays when they had to,” Illinois defensive tackle Chris Norwell said.

But the last-minute loss was not the only familiar feeling for Illinois. Illinois’ top tackler, J Leman, once again quietly led the defense, collecting 13 tackles.

As has been the case throughout the season, he was followed by 10 more defenders securing multiple tackles each.

The defense had held Wisconsin to just 99 yards rushing – almost half its normal number.

“I believe teams across the Big Ten are starting to realize we’re for real,” Mitchell said.

As usual, Illinois’ offense was led by its rushing game as freshman quarterback Juice Williams rushed 19 times for 53 net yards and running backs Rashard Mendenhall and Pierre Thomas had 26 and 23 yards each.

Once again, Williams threw primarily to Illinois’ youngest receivers, directing passes to freshman tight end Jeff Cumberland and sophomore wide receiver Kyle Hudson.

For the fourth time this season, David Lindquist, who leads the Big Ten in fumble recoveries, held on to the ball, getting Illinois the ball on Wisconsin’s 24-yard line.

“I knew that them being one of the top teams in the nation, we were going to have to come out here and try to make big plays,” Cumberland said. “If things didn’t go our way, we would have to keep fighting. You know you’ve got to fight through the whole game, never quit. You’ve got to keep fighting.”

But once again, it wasn’t enough. Zook repeated after the game that the team is making improvement, and the numbers show things are looking up. But the coach and players both acknowledged that it’s not easy to step off the field knowing a win slipped away.

“Just like last week, I could taste it, I could taste the win,” Mitchell said. “That’s what makes losing so tough.”