Illinois Fighting Illini ©	Arizona Wildcats
Played September 8, 1990 at Arizona Stadium Tucson, Arizona

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Illinois ©	1	1	3	0	.250	0	2	0	.000	0	1	0	.000	1	0	0	1.000
Arizona	1	1	6	0	.143	0	2	0	.000	1	4	0	.200

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The Illinois Fighting Illini of coach John Mackovic opened the 1990 season ranked 11^th nationally but without All-Big Ten QB Jeff George who was the first choice in the NFL draft.  The Arizona Wildcats of coach Dick Tomey had a chance to take The Belt.  Arizona converted 2 turnovers in the 1^st quarter into touchdowns while holding the Illini to just a single touchdown as they posted a 28-16 upset for their second Belt reign & first since 1985.  The Wildcats scored their first touchdown after S Todd Burden blocked an Illinois punt & CB Bobby Roland recovered at the Illinois 11-yard line.  Two plays later, RB Michael Bates scored on a 3-yard touchdown run giving Arizona a 7-0 lead.  On Illinois’ next possession, Arizona's S Richard Holt intercepted a pass from QB Jason Verduzco at the Illinois 43-yard line.  The Wildcats used an 11-play drive with RB Mario Hampton carrying the final yard for the 14-0 lead.  The Illini scored in the 2^nd quarter when PK Doug Higgins connected on a 37-yard field goal attempt but Arizona went to a trick-play for their next touchdown.  Arizona's OG Rick Warren scored from 24 yards when the Wildcats ran the “fumblerooskie”.  The play is designed for the quarterback to take the snap but then set the ball on the ground behind the line before carrying out his fake hand-off to a running back.  The offensive guard, Warren in this case, moves in behind the center as if he is a pulling blocker but picks-up the ball.  If the deception works, the guard has a clear path to the end zone.  That is exactly what happened here & Arizona had a 21-3 lead.  Verduzco found WR Elbert Turner on a 12-yard touchdown pass as Illinois closed the deficit to 21-10 at the half.  Higgins’ 29-yard field goal account for the only points of the 3^rd quarter & when he kicked a 33-yard field goal in the 4^th quarter, Illinois had cut the lead to 21-16.  Arizona sealed the win with a 74-yard drive that consumed 6:41 of game time with RB Art Greathouse scoring the touchdown on a 1-yard run.  Verduzco finished with 255 yards passing with a touchdown but 2 interceptions as the Illini dominated the stat sheet but the 2 turnovers proved most costly.  Two Arizona quarterbacks combined to throw for 84 yards with an interception.  The Illini finished the season 8-4; Big Ten Co-Champs, ranked 25^th nationally while the Wildcats finished 7-5.  Illinois has not played for The Belt again.