DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — After an official measurement showed the University of Illinois was an inch from a first down, the Illini kept their offense on the field. It was fourth-and-1 from their own 33-yard line, and most thought they were going for the first down.

But there was confusion. Juice Williams, the Illinois quarterback, frantically waved his arms for the offense to exit as the punting team ran onto the field. Ohio State's defense, meanwhile, also was unsure of its personnel.

Forced to call a timeout with 6:53 left in the game and trailing by a touchdown, OSU allowed Illinois coach Ron Zook to rethink the punt, put Williams back in the game and gain the first down. The Illini, who had taken possession with 8:09 left, didn't again give up the ball in their 28-21 upset of the Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium.

"We wanted the base people on the field, and we had nickel on the field," said OSU linebacker Marcus Freeman, who had 18 tackles. "We had 12 men on the field, so Coach had to call timeout."

Illinois, with the country's sixth-ranked rushing offense, then converted third downs from 7, 10 and 2 yards (all rushing plays) on a day when the Illini ripped Ohio State's highly regarded rushing defense for a 260 yards on the ground. Before Saturday, an opponent's greatest total against the Buckeyes was 161 rushing yards by Kent State.

Afterward, OSU coach Jim Tressel said he saw too many defensive players on the field and regretted needing to take the timeout.

"It's hard to get people off the field," Tressel said. "It's loud out there, and I'd like to have that one back."

Finding early holes

On Illinois' second play, backup running back Daniel Dufrene found space through the middle of the Buckeyes defensive line and sprinted for 80 yards. On that single play, the Illini gained more rushing yards than five OSU opponents — Akron (3), Northwestern (0), Minnesota (45), Michigan State (59) and Wisconsin (12) — had in entire games this season.

It was the longest rushing play allowed by the Buckeyes this season (the previous high was 28 yards). It also was Illinois' longest play from scrimmage this season.

And passing, too

By the end of the first half, Williams had set his own single-game record with three touchdown passes, 3 yards to Michael Hoomanawanui, 33 yards to Jacob Willis and 8 yards to Brian Gamble. Williams finished the game with four scores while completing 12-of-22 passes for 140 yards.

Quick start Buckeyes

On the game's first play from scrimmage, OSU quarterback Todd Boeckman completed a 65-yard pass down the right sideline to receiver Brian Hartline. On the second play, running back Chris Wells ran 11 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead after just 23 seconds. It was the ninth time this season the Buckeyes scored on their opening drive.

Ohio State gained 142 of its 336 yards in the first quarter and totaled just 106 yards in the second half.

Quick hits

• Former OSU linebacker Pepper Johnson served as the team's honorary captain on Saturday. A Buckeye captain in 1984 and '85, Johnson is a coach with the New England Patriots and father of OSU fullback and captain Dionte Johnson.

• Mike Nugent, the former Centerville High School and OSU kicker, watched the game from the sidelines. Fittingly, he spent much of his time next to the kicking practice net.

• The win was Illinois' first against the nation's top-ranked team since 1956 and gives the Illini three victories in their past four trips to Columbus.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com

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