Illinois survives Blue Raiders 27-25 with late field goal

Stockstill continued to shine in his first season under center.

Covers Wisconsin and Big Ten. James has 17 catches for 271 yards and five touchdowns.

Lunt’s top target was Geronimo Allison, who caught 10 balls for 128 yards.

Jordan Parker led Middle Tennessee’s ground attack with 70 yards on 23 carries. The Blue Raiders didn’t approach that point total, but they nearly won the game anyway. Illinois had 140 yards rushing and 238 yards through the air. The running game was a bright side, with both Josh Ferguson and Ke’Shawn Vaughn going for more than 80 yards.

Trailing 24-12 entering the fourth quarter, Stockstill showed the poise he has exhibited at the outset of the season and continuously found sure-handed veteran Batties to rally the Raiders.

Clark drilled the kick wide left, Blue Raiders coach Rick Stockstill’s head slumped low as he squatted in front of the Middle Tennessee sideline and Illinois (3-1) ran out the clock to win, barely, 27-25.

Cubit chewed out receiver Marchie Murdock on a key third down play in the fourth quarter as Illinois tried to build on a 24-19 lead. The senior out of Fresno was huge for the Blue Raiders in the second half.

He missed field goals from 57 and 45 yards at North Carolina last weekend.

It was a competitive game throughout.

After Taylor Zalewski’s 51-yard field goal gave Illinois a two-point lead with 2:09 to play Saturday, the struggling kicker got a playful shove from one of his lineman, and a hug around his helmet from relieved quarterback Wes Lunt.

He connected on a 23-yard field goal before halftime against Middle Tennessee.

The loss puts Middle Tennessee at 2-2 on the year as they return to Murfreesboro to prepare for a homecoming showdown with in-state opponent Vanderbilt on October 3.

The Illini defense was better than it was last week against North Carolina, but it wasn’t quite the dominating force it was in the first two games against Kent State and Western Illinois. Defensive back Caleb Day, who was playing in his first game this season after being suspended, blocked a second-quarter punt and fellow defensive back Clayton Fejedelem fell on the ball for a 14-3 Illinois lead. Although the win over Middle Tennessee State wasn’t the prettiest, players know that it doesn’t matter how close the game is if it’s the right result.

The Illini defense was relentless and kept the Blue Raiders high octane offense under control. Clark added the point after to pull Middle Tennessee to within 14-12.

After the Blue Raiders forced Illinois to punt, Brent Stockstill fumbled and set the Illini offense up again, leading to a field goal just before halftime. The Fighting Illini made it a two-scoring game late in the third quarter when they added a 5-yard TD run to go up 24-12 after the successful extra point.