Quick hits: Illini defense complements offense, slows Terps in 24-6 win

CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois offense didn't have its best performance on Saturday. Luke Altmyer threw a rare questionable interception, the Illini punted three times on their first four drives of the gam, the Illini failed to score on four straight plays from the Maryland one-yard line late in the third quarter and the Illini had a touchdown called back on a holding penalty in the fourth quarter.

But unlike most of the season, the Illini offense didn't have to be its best as the beleaguered Illini defense played complementary football and notched its best performance of Big Ten play in a 24-6 win over Maryland at Gies Memorial Stadium.

The Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) had nine pass breakups and forced two turnovers on downs, including one at the goal line in the fourth quarter, to hand Maryland (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) its sixth straight loss. Pat Farrell had two pass breakups and 0.5 sacks, Angelo McCullom had two pass breakups, Juice Clarke had two pass breakups, Matthew Bailey had 10 tackles, Miles Scott had an interception, Dylan Rosiek had six tackles and two pass breakups and Gabe Jacas had 0.5 sacks.

Altmyer passed for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 62 yards. Hudson Clement led Illinois with three receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Kaden Feagin had a team-high 81 rushing yards (5.8 ypc) and a touchdown, while Ca'Lil Valentine added 64 rushing yards (3.2 ypc).

Maryland quarterback Malik Washington completed 25 of 46 passes for 238 yards and an interception, and DeJuan Williams had 93 yards from scrimmage to lead the Terrapins. But Illinois ran over Maryland in the second half for 152 rushing yards (5.2 ypc).

Maryland drove the field quickly on the opening drive, but Illinois forced back-to-back incompletions in the red zone to force the Terps to settle for a 29-yard Sean O'Hare field goal. Illinois had two first-half drives end after third-down conversion passes were overturned as incompletions — one to Hudson Clement and one to Tanner Arkin — forcing three-and-out punts.

But after Torrie Cox Jr. stuffed Nolan Ray on a 4th-and-1 from midfield, the offense took advantage with Altmyer finding Hudson Clement for a 22-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. The defense then forced back-to-back punts before Maryland again settled for a second O'Hare field goal from 43 yards to trim the deficit to 7-6 with 6:12 left in the second quarter.

But Illinois ran 10 times for 43 yards on the ensuing 75-yard scoring drive — prolonged by Altmyer's 27-yard third-down conversion to Hudson Clement — capped by a Feagin four-yard touchdown run to give Illinois a 14-6 lead with 1:38 left. Illinois got the ball back after a quick defensive stop, but Altmyer was intercepted at midfield by Jalen Husky. The Illini ended a Maryland threat with Miles Scott intercepting a Hail Mary attempt to send the game into the half.

Illinois drove 67 yards in seven plays to start the second half with Altmyer hitting Clement for a wide-open 23-yard touchdown to take a 21-6 lead. The Illini then forced another Maryland punt following pass breakups by Curt Neal and Farrell. The Illini drove to the Maryland one following a Mario Sanders II 18-yard catch and run off a shovel pass. But Illinois failed to get the ball in the end zone as Valentine was stuffed, Collin Dixon was tackled at the one, Altmyer was stuffed on a quarterback sneak and Altmyer's fourth-down pass went incomplete, though the officials missed a facemask on the play.

On the ensuing play, Maryland drove the ball 96 yards on 17 plays, but Illinois stopped the Terps on four straight plays inside the five-yard line with Farrell tipping a pass to the end zone on fourth down to force an incompletion. Illinois drove inside the Maryland 20, but Altmyer's 18-yard touchdown was called back on a holding call on Valentine, so the Illini settled for a David Olano 33-yard field goal to take a 24-6 lead with about four minutes left.

What it means: Saturday was maybe the least entertaining win of the season for Illinois, and a frustrating one due to some questionable calls by the officials, but it was a win nonetheless. And it was one that notched the Illini's first back-to-back 7+ win regular seasons since 1990. The Illini are better than their final three opponents and took care of business on Saturday against a young and still physically maturing Maryland team. But Saturday showed winning in the Big Ten isn't easy, and Wisconsin hung with Indiana for a half and Northwestern hung with Michigan until the final play on Saturday, so Illinois still needs to play well to end the season on a winning streak and get to a great bowl game. But the defense's continued improvement against subpar Big Ten teams suggests the Illini have a great chance to keep stacking wins.

Star of the game: Pat Farrell had one of the best games of his career with high-impact plays. He combined with Gabe Jacas for a sack, he broke up a third-down pass in the third quarter to force a punt and he tipped a ball on Maryland's fourth-down incompletion at the goal line in the fourth quarter to force a turnover on downs. Farrell was also a key part of a defensive line that held Maryland to just 55 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Stats of the game

Illinois outrushed Maryland 225-55.

Maryland was 3-for-12 on third down, while Illinois was 7-for-13 on third down.

Maryland was 0-for-2 on fourth downs.

Maryland averaged just 4.6 yards per play.

Don't overlook: Luke Altmyer continues to be the most explosive weapon in the Illini's rushing attack. He had 11 carries for 62 yards on Saturday, including explosive runs of 14 and 27 yards -- and his 18-yard touchdown run was called back on a touchy holding call. Altmyer has 25 carries for 198 yards and a touchdown during the last three games, which has helped Illinois rush for 573 yards (5.0 yard per carry) during the last three games.

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