Iowa Hawkeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini Match Player Stats On Dec 05, 2020

Spencer Petras threw for 220 yards with three touchdowns and No. 19 Iowa scored 35 consecutive points in a 35-21 win over Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

Tyler Goodson rushed for 92 yards and Ihmir Smith-Marsette scored two touchdowns for the Hawkeyes (5-2, 5-2), who have won five in a row overall. Iowa, which has emerged victorious in seven straight against Illinois, held its 21st straight opponent under 25 points.

Brandon Peters completed 10 of 18 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns for Illinois (2-4, 2-4), which had its two-game winning streak snapped.

Early on it appeared that Illinois was the team that was averaging 37.8 points over its previous four games. Peters threw two touchdown passes in the Illini's first three possessions for a 14-0 lead, while Iowa was held to one first down on its first three drives.

The Hawkeyes finally got their offense rolling midway through the second quarter when Sam LaPorta caught a 22-yard TD pass from Petras. The Hawkeyes converted a fourth down on the previous play.

Keith Duncan then converted field goals from 40 and 27 yards on the Hawkeyes' next two possessions to cut the deficit to 14-13 at the half.

Iowa took a 21-14 lead on a nine-play, 70-yard drive on its first possession after the break, with Petras connecting with Smith-Marsette on a 4-yard TD. Petras then found Goodson in the left flat for a 2-point conversion.

Iowa increased the bulge to 28-14 when Petras hit Shaun Beyer from 16 yards out and iced it when Smith-Marsette scored on a reverse from 13 yards out with 1:56 left.

While the Iowa offense got it rolling, the defense kept providing it with opportunities, holding the Illini to 82 total yards on the six possessions after scoring their second touchdown.

--Field Level Media