CHAMPAIGN — Backup kicker Fabrizio Pinton hit a 36-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 46 seconds left and Matthew Bailey made a game-sealing interception to give Illinois a 9-6 win over Iowa on Saturday night, its first victory over the Hawkeyes since 2008.
The Illini (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) are off to their best start since 2011, when they started 6-0.
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Iowa (3-3, 1-2) looked like it might escape Champaign with a dramatic win, but Riley Moss’ 82-yard fumble return for a touchdown was overturned after review when officials determined that Illinois backup quarterback Art Sitkowski’s wrist was down before he lost the ball.
Pinton was filling in for the injured Caleb Griffin and went 3 of 3 on the night, including makes from 37 and 27 yards.
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Sitkowski went 13 of 19 for 74 yards and an interception after starter Tommy DeVito left the game in the first quarter with what appeared to be a lower left leg injury. DeVito completed 6 of 11 passes for 42 yards.
Chase Brown finished with 146 yards on 31 carries, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the sixth time in as many games for the Illini, more than any other running back in school history.
Iowa struggled to move the ball as Spencer Petras completed 18 of 36 passes for 170 yards and an interception.
A field goal was once again the difference for the Illini, who beat Iowa in 2008 on Matt Eller’s 46-yard kick with 24 seconds to go.
Kaleb Johnson, Leshon Williams and Petras pieced together first-down runs on an Iowa drive to start the fourth before an 8-yard tackle for a loss by Tarique Barnes and Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton forced Iowa’s fourth straight punt.
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Williams finished with 32 yards on seven runs.
Sitkowski connected with Brian Hightower for a 34-yard completion to move into Iowa territory early in the fourth. The Hawkeyes defense had yet to allow a gain that large through five games.
Illinois didn’t turn it into points though as Sitkwoski was intercepted by Quinn Schulte at the 1-yard line a few players later.
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A pair of Isaiah Williams fumbles set up Iowa in prime real estate, once at the Illinois 9-yard line, but the Hawkeyes settled for a 27-yard field goal from Stevens to tie the game at 6 headed into the half.
Five of six Iowa drives went for negative yardage during the second and third quarters.
Iowa: At Ohio State on Oct. 22.
Illinois: Hosts Minnesota on Saturday.
