Michigan State University
Illinois
Michigan State Falls to Illinois 31-27
11/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Michigan State held the ball on the Illinois 15 with 19 seconds left, but the Spartans were unable to move the chains on fourth down, and fell to Illinois 31-27 on Saturday.
The Illinois win broke a two-game losing streak for the Illini (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten), and it extended the Spartans' losing streak to seven (2-7, 0-6).
Michigan State out-gained Illinois 490-304 overall and 315 to 140 in passing yardage. And eight times Michigan State moved the ball to the Illinois 36-yard line or further, but turned those possessions into just two touchdowns and four field goals.
'Very disappointing,'' Spartan coach Mark Dantonio said several times in his postgame news conference, shaking his head. ''You kick four field goals, that sounds good. (But) it means there's missed opportunities in the red zone.''
George started the season as the third-string quarterback for the Illini. With injuries to No. 1 quarterback Wes Lunt and backup Chayce Crouch, though, the son of longtime NFL quarterback Jeff George has now started three straight games at his father's alma mater.
On Dad's Day at Illinois, the younger George was just 13-of-29 passing.
But the second touchdown gave the Illini the lead they would keep.
'We had forgotten what it's like,'' Illinois coach Lovie Smith said after the win. ''There's no excitement like a winning locker room, just genuine emotion, that's what the locker room was like.''
Kendrick Foster added 146 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.
Michigan State had a shot late, but on fourth down with 19 seconds left in the game, Illinois linebacker Hardy Nickerson and defensive end Carroll Phillips stuffed quarterback Damion Terry's draw for a 1-yard loss.
Terry came into the game in the fourth quarter when Tyler O'Connor left with an injury and finished 6-of-12 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
THE TAKEAWAY
Michigan State: O'Connor and Terry proved Saturday that the Spartans aren't lost at quarterback. With Brian Lewerke out for the season, O'Connor was steady. He kept plays alive with his feet on a key third-quarter drive that ended with a touchdown and tied the game at 17-17. And when Terry came off the bench, he was cool under pressure for the late fourth-quarter touchdown.
UP NEXT
Michigan State: The Spartans host Rutgers Saturday.
