Illini defeat Maryland with late field goal

Ethan Moczulski kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired on Saturday, lifting the Illinois football team to a dramatic 20-17 victory against Maryland at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.

The clutch walk-off kick mirrored the Illini's previous trip to the venue in 2023. During that game, former Danville High standout Caleb Griffin secured a 27-24 win for Illinois with a 43-yard field goal as time ran out.

Griffin watched Saturday's tense finish anxiously from the sidelines. "It's almost more nerve-wracking as a fan when you aren't in control, but it's awesome," Griffin said after seeking out Moczulski to congratulate him.

Before kickoff, Griffin had reached out to offer pointers about the stadium. Moczulski stated that he felt confident throughout the day that the game might come down to his foot, adding that he successfully lowered his heart rate and praised the offense for milking the clock on the final drive to set up the attempt.

In other college football action on Saturday, North Dakota fell 31-28 to Youngstown State at Stambaugh Stadium in Ohio. The Fighting Hawks held a 21-7 halftime lead, but Youngstown State rallied in the final minutes.

Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard connected with Lynn Wyche-El for a 20-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-19 with just two minutes and four seconds remaining to seal the comeback. The victory improved Youngstown State's record to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

North Dakota head coach Eric Schmidt expressed frustration over his team's inability to close out games, noting that the squad must learn how to finish strong. The loss drops the Fighting Hawks to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play as they prepare to close out their regular season with upcoming home games against Illinois State and Southern Illinois.