Illini Sports Blog

Too Little, Too Late

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall.

Syracuse beat Illinois 31-21 Saturday in what was sadly dubbed the week's big "pillow fight" between two programs who are about as desperate for a win as you can get. The Illini racked up 106 penalty yards and found themselves down 31-7 in the 4th when QB Juice Williams—who took over for Tim Brasic on the second series of the 2nd half—connected for long TD passes to Rashard Mendenhall and Kyle Hudson to keep it interesting. Most of the Illinois fandom is praying that Juice will start this week in the Big Ten opener against #14 Iowa.

Photos courtesy of fryeimages. Many more pics from the game after the jump!

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Syracuse QB Perry Patterson is hit by several Illini; Patterson fumbled on the play.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Syracuse WR Taj Smith picked up Patterson's fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Illinois FB Russ Weil gets upended while returning a short kickoff.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Illinois QB Tim Brasic runs for a first down; during the run Syracuse was called for a 15 yard face mask penalty.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
WR Jody Ellis makes a first down catch.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Rashard Mendenhall.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
E.B. Halsey.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Syracuse safety A.J. Brown intercepts Tim Brasic's pass in the 2nd quarter.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Juice Williams.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Illinois safety Justin Harrison stuffs Syracuse RB Delone Carter at the line of scrimmage.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Illinois LB J Leman and DE Doug Pilcher put the squeeze on Syracuse RB Delone Carter, Carter lost his helmet on the play.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Illinois' Derek Walker pulls down Sryacuse QB Perry Patterson.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Kyle Hudson scores on a long TD pass from Juice Williams.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Juice Williams.

Syracuse vs. Illinois
Juice Williams.

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