After two consecutive ugly losses to UTSA and Virginia over the last two weeks, Illinois came to play against Maryland on Friday night under the lights at Memorial Stadium. 

In former Illinois coaches Michael Locksley and Ron Zook’s returns to their old stomping grounds, the Terrapins escaped Champaign with a 20-17 victory on a last-second field goal as time expired.

“Really hard one to take, one that’s definitely a learning opportunity for us,” said head coach Bret Bielema. “For us to get to a point to win games, I think they gotta feel it, taste it, smell it, touch it; whatever we wanna say, they gotta be able to do that.”

The visitors put up 62 points last week against Howard, and after struggling against Brennan Armstrong and the Virginia Cavaliers last weekend, the Illini came into the game in desperate need of defensive changes. 

The Illinois defense looked much more aggressive and disciplined early, holding quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terrapins to just 40 total yards in the first quarter.

“I did like the way that our defense responded overall from where they’d been from the last couple weeks to get out there and play the way they did,” Bielema said.

But despite making big stops on defense, the Illini offense couldn’t capitalize, punting twice in the opening 15 minutes while also having a 26-yard field goal attempt blocked following an otherwise solid drive.

The return of Brandon Peters, who had been sidelined since the team’s season opener against Nebraska, was highly anticipated for Illinois after the offense looked static and outmatched against both the Roadrunners and the Cavaliers over the last two weeks. His return wasn’t very productive, though, with Peters throwing for 185 yards and an interception, completing 10 of his 26 pass attempts in his first game back from injury.

Neither team was able to find the end zone in the first 30 minutes of play, with a short field goal from both teams the only scoring of the first half.

Chase Brown and Isaiah Williams were the difference-makers for the Illini in the first half, as Brown notched 88 total yards and Williams made two catches for 47 yards as he continued to show that his transition from quarterback to receiver has been a success.

With the score knotted at 3-3, Tagovailoa opened the second half with a bang, scrambling for 35 yards before ultimately handing the ball off to Tayon Fleet-Davis for a 2-yard score just under two minutes into the second half. 

After a quick three and out on the Illini’s first drive of the second half, the Terrapin offense looked like it had kicked into second gear. After getting into the red zone on its second consecutive drive, Maryland looked eager to extend its lead, but a forced fumble by Jartavius Martin gave the Illinois offense a second chance to get going.

And that’s exactly what it did.

Two big plays — a 19-yard Brandon Peters scramble and a 21-yard pass to Chase Brown — set up a 38-yard touchdown run by Josh McCray, the first of the freshman’s college career, a score that tied the game at 10.

Illinois’ momentum continued after linebacker Seth Coleman ripped the ball right out of running back Penny Boone’s hands. But the Illini’s drive didn’t last long, with Peters tossing an interception on the very next play.

After flip-flopping unsuccessful drives, the Illini took their first lead of the game under one minute into the fourth quarter. Reggie Love III had a 33-yard run, fumbled the ball and Casey Washington picked up the loose ball and took it 30 yards to the house.

The Terrapins appeared to answer right back, but a chop block on the offensive line negated the 41-yard touchdown pass. A sack by Owen Carney put an end to the Maryland drive, but the Illini couldn’t extend their lead.

Maryland took full advantage of the Illinois’ offense’s faltering, tying the game with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter via a 10-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Fleet-Davis for his second score of the game.

Illinois couldn’t do anything in its offensive possession, which faltered after two sacks and an intentional grounding penalty, giving Maryland plenty of time to manufacture enough yardage after getting the ball at the Illinois 46 with under a minute to play.

And the Terrapins didn’t let the opportunity slip away, with the visitors kicking a 32-yard field goal as time expired to escape Champaign with a crucial Big Ten victory.

“The last series, the complete opposite of what we want to accomplish,” Bielema said. “The first thing I do; I told our coaches, ‘Let’s win this game. Let’s not play for a tie or play safe; let’s try to go win this game.’ I think it’s important for us as a program to try to win football games, not just play in them.”

@JacksonJanes3

[email protected]