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    • Takeaways from loss to No. 24 Illinois
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    Takeaways from loss to No. 24 Illinois

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    PISCATAWAY – This game was right there for Rutgers football, a chance to end a long losing streak against ranked opponents.

    But the Scarlet Knights couldn’t make it happen.

    Instead of a memorable victory, they suffered a heartbreaking loss.

    Illinois quarterback Luke Altmeyer threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant on fourth-and-13 with just seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the No. 24 Illini to a 38-31 victory over Rutgers at SHI Stadium on Saturday .

    On the previous play, the Illini attempted a 58-yard field goal that wasn’t even close – but Rutgers called a timeout just before the kick, negating the miss and giving Illinois new life.

    The Illini took advantage and won the game in the process.

    Rutgers’ two-game winning streak ended, dropping to 6-5 for the season.

    It was a wild, back-and-forth, momentum-shifting game.

    Athan Kaliakmanis threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Monangai with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, but Illinois moved up the field on the ensuing possession to earn the win.

    Here are some quick takeaways:

    Rutgers’ defense couldn’t limit Illinois late

    Kaliakmanis hit the ball into the end zone from one yard out early in the fourth quarter, giving Rutgers a lead of nine, but it didn’t last long.

    Illinois had third-and-7 from its own 28 on the ensuing possession, but Altmyer threw a 64-yard pass to Bryant that gave the Illini the ball at the eight-yard line.

    Two plays later, Aidan Loughery ran in from there for a touchdown that cut Rutgers’ lead two with just under 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

    Later in the quarter, a pair of penalties hurt Rutgers.

    Illinois had third-and-8 from its own 42 when Altmyer threw an incomplete pass, but Rutgers cornerback Robert Longerbeam was called for pass interference (he was also injured on the play).

    A few plays later, Illinois had a second-and-26 at its own 39. Altmyer threw a pass to Hank Beatty for no gain, but Rutgers cornerback Kevin Levy was called for holding, giving the Illini a first down at its own 49 to keep driving.

    Illinois took advantage.

    The Illini had first-and-10 at their own 30 when Altmyer took off running and drove into the end zone for a touchdown. Illinois converted the two-point attempt to take a 30-24 lead with 3:07 remaining.

    It was a brutal turn of events for Rutgers.

    Athan Kaliakmani’s fumble in the third quarter changes the momentum of the game

    Rutgers came out of halftime with a 17-9 lead and threatened to expand it early in the third quarter.

    But on first and 10 from the Illinois 41, Kaliakmanis fumbled and Gabe Jacas recovered for Illinois at the Illini’s 37. Initially it appeared that Kaliakmanis fell on top of the ball, but the officials eventually determined that Jacas had secured the ball on the bottom. the stack.

    That proved costly for Rutgers.

    Illinois went down the field and scored when Josh McCray ran into the end zone from four yards out. But the Illini failed to convert the two-point attempt, allowing the Scarlet Knights to hold a 17-15 lead.

    Still, it was a costly turnover that swung the momentum from Rutgers to Illinois at that moment.

    Rutgers’ offense was strong in the first half, but up and down in the second

    The Scarlet Knights moved the ball well in the first half and managed to run the ball well with Kyle Monangai leading the way and Athan Kaliakmanis making some good throws to extend the drive.

    Rutgers went up 17-9 in the closing seconds of the first half when Kaliakmanis threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Ian Strong, who made a great catch while being tightly covered by a defender.

    The Scarlet Knights defeated Illinois in the first half.

    But they couldn’t maintain that momentum in the second half.

    It was forced to punt on its first possession of the half, then the Kaliakmanis fumble came on its second drive of the third quarter.

    The Scarlet Knights had a nice drive late in the third quarter – with help from a pair of Illinois penalties, including a holding call on third-and-4 from the Illinois 6 that gave Rutgers a first down at the 3.

    Kaliakmanis drove the ball in from one yard out to end the drive, giving Rutgers a 24-15 lead.

    But the Scarlet Knights couldn’t hold the lead.

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