When somebody searches for the definition of a story of two halves, the field rating of the Illinois soccer recreation in opposition to Purdue will pop up.
I’m not positive I’ve ever been by means of such an emotional curler coaster with the Illini in my lifetime. There was some extent the place I assumed this system was about to cruise to a straightforward win over the Boilermakers. That was referred to as halftime.
Halfway by means of the third quarter, these good emotions become having the considered wanting defensive coordinator Aaron Henry fired. Later within the fourth quarter, I lastly bought to breathe as a result of Illinois was up two scores with below 5 minutes to go.
Issues went off the rails once more when Purdue bought the onside kick. The Boilermakers scored a landing to go forward with below a minute left, and I assumed this was the top of what may have been a particular season. Every thing was over.
Illinois then tied it as much as go to time beyond regulation, which was thrilling. When Purdue scored their landing and determined to go for a two-point conversion, I used to be getting ready to a coronary heart assault. Illinois hadn’t stopped Purdue your complete second half, so why was that going to alter?
It did, although. Illinois stopped Purdue’s two-point conversion. Truthfully, in opposition to a 1-5 Purdue staff, this win felt like we simply gained a Faculty Soccer Playoff recreation. I used to be elated. Illinois gave up 49 factors and nonetheless got here away with the win.
That elation couldn’t have occurred with out Luke Altmyer. Are you able to think about what the rating would have been with an Illinois quarterback of the 2010s? It could have been an unsightly recreation.
Apart from the one fumble the place he tried to make a miraculous play, Altmyer had a flawless recreation. Actually, I feel this was Altmyer’s greatest recreation he has ever had in his school profession.
Altmyer’s profession isn’t that lengthy. He didn’t get a lot of an opportunity with Ole Miss, and final season with the Illini, he handled some accidents. However this child from Mississippi is beginning to come into his personal.
On Saturday, Altmyer threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Purdue. He additionally had 60 yards and a landing on the bottom. So, he accounted for 439 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Within the 16 video games he has thrown no less than 10 passes, Altmyer hasn’t been in a position to surpass the mark he set on Saturday. Coming into the sport, his greatest passing recreation was in opposition to Florida Atlantic final season when he threw for 303 yards.
Relating to whole yards, Altmyer’s greatest was that very same recreation, as he had one yard dashing to offer him a complete of 304 yards that recreation. That was his high-water mark getting into the Purdue contest.
That earlier excessive wasn’t simply damaged, but it surely was smashed to smithereens. He eclipsed his earlier excessive yardage mark by 135 yards. Altmyer’s 4 whole touchdowns additionally ties his profession excessive.
On prime of Altmyer having the very best recreation of his profession, he additionally etched his title within the Illinois soccer report ebook. His 439 single-game whole offensive yardage ranks No. 10 all-time within the historical past of this system.
Illinois was getting ready to one of the vital embarrassing losses in program historical past. As a substitute of strolling away from the sport with a defeat, Altmyer put the Illini on his again and carried us to a victory. He produced the very best recreation of his profession and among the finest performances by an Illini quarterback within the historical past of this system. What an unimaginable displaying by this legendary gunslinger.
5 tense observations from the Illinois soccer win over Purdue. darkish. Subsequent. 5 tense observations from the Illinois soccer win over Purdue
