DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Midway through the first quarter, Todd Boeckman was cruising. The Ohio State quarterback had completed 6-of-7 passes for 112 yards but faced a third-and-8 on his own 42-yard line.

Eyeing receiver Brian Hartline as he cut to the left sideline, Boeckman fired toward him. But Illinois cornerback Dere Hicks slipped in front of Hartline and intercepted the pass, inspiring the nearby Illini sideline.

That was the first of three interceptions thrown by Boeckman on Saturday as the usually efficient quarterback passed for his second-lowest yardage total of the season and ended two crucial Buckeyes drives with turnovers in OSU's 28-21 loss to Illinois.

"We know we can't turn it over like that and come up on the right end of things against a good team," said OSU coach Jim Tressel.

Ohio State took possession after the defense held Illinois to a three-and-out to open the second half while trailing 21-14. The Buckeyes ran 12 plays to get to the Illini 9-yard line. Boeckman scrambled, cut right, stopped and fired toward receiver Ray Small in the end zone. But Illinois' Marcus Thomas batted the ball that eventually came to Antonio Steele, the Illini linebacker. The Buckeyes, without points in the red zone, continued to trail by a touchdown.

Boeckman was also picked off during Ohio State's only possession of the fourth quarter on a first-and-10 deep throw to Brian Robiskie, and OSU never got the ball back. The junior quarterback finished the day 13-of-23 for 156 yards but passed for just 44 yards after that first-quarter pick.

"These kinds of losses are tough to take, and it's tough to reignite that enthusiasm," Boeckman said. "It's even tougher being a leader on this team and knowing you could have played better and helped out the team."

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