SB Nation Dallas - Texas Bowl: Illinois Cruises To 38-14 Win Over Baylorhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2010-12-29T21:25:59-06:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16663522010-12-29T21:25:59-06:002010-12-29T21:25:59-06:00Texas Bowl: Illinois Defeats Baylor 38-14
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<p>Baylor’s first bowl game since 1994 did not end well for Robert Griffin <span class="caps">III</span> and the rest of the Bears. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> dominated the Bears throughout the entire game en route to a 38-14 Texas Bowl victory.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36298/mikel-leshoure">Mikel Leshoure</a> rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns, pacing the Illinois offensive attack. Leshoure added 21 reception yards as well, giving him 205 total yards against an overmatched Baylor defense. Illinois quarter back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75932/nathan-scheelhaase">Nathan Scheelhaase</a> was efficient, completing 18 of 23 passes for 242 yards. Scheelhaase didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but rushed for a 55 yard touchdown with 41 seconds left in the game, serving as the final dagger to Baylor.</p>
<p>Baylor struggled offensively all night, specifically on third down. The Bears offense converted only two of ten third downs. The Bears also lost the turnover battle, losing a pair of fumbles. Illinois did not turn the ball over once.</p>
<p>Leshoure was named the Texas Bowl Most Valuable Player, marking the second running back to win the award in the bowl’s five year history. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6169/ray-rice">Ray Rice</a> won the inaugural Texas Bowl <span class="caps">MVP</span> when Rutgers defeated Kansas State in 2006. Leshoure’s <span class="caps">MVP</span> honors also interrupts the streak of quarterbacks winning the award as a quarterback had won the honors in each of the last three years.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/baylor-bears/2010/12/29/1903492/texas-bowl-illinois-defeats-baylor-38-14JP Starkey2010-12-29T19:06:03-06:002010-12-29T19:06:03-06:00Texas Bowl: Illinois Scores Again, Leads Baylor 24-0
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<p>The Texas Bowl has the makings of a rout this year. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> extended their lead to 24-0 after a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36298/mikel-leshoure">Mikel Leshoure</a> 13 yard touchdown run. The touchdown put Illinois up 22-0 and head coach Ron Zook elected to go for the two point conversion, which was successful and gave Illinois a 24-0 lead.</p>
<p>Leshoure’s touchdown was his second of the game and capped off a nine play, 87 yard drive. Leshoure is making a case for <span class="caps">MVP</span> of the Texas Bowl as he’s rushed for 117 yards on 18 carries only three minutes into the third quarter.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/baylor-bears/2010/12/29/1903254/texas-bowl-illinois-scores-again-leads-baylor-24-0JP Starkey2010-12-29T18:06:38-06:002010-12-29T18:06:38-06:00Texas Bowl: Illinois Extends Lead To 16-0 Over baylor
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<p>Illinois running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36298/mikel-leshoure">Mikel Leshoure</a> has rushed for 71 yards already in the Texas Bowl and can boast a touchdown score as well. Leshoure’s five yard touchdown run capped off a seven play, 86 yard drive for the Fighting Illini which took only 3:02 off the clock.</p>
<p>Illinois now leads Baylor 16-0 in the second quarter.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/baylor-bears/2010/12/29/1903157/texas-bowl-illinois-extends-lead-to-16-0-over-baylorJP Starkey2010-12-29T17:52:24-06:002010-12-29T17:52:24-06:00Texas Bowl: Illinois Converts Another Field Goal, Up 9-0 On Baylor
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> have extended their lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a> in the Texas Bowl. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/48931/derek-dimke">Derek Dimke</a> converted his third field goal of the game, this one from 43 yards to cap off a six play, 65 yard drive by Illinois.</p>
<p>The Bears now find themselves in a two-score hole with 13:51 to play in the second quarter.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/baylor-bears/2010/12/29/1903135/texas-bowl-illinois-converts-another-field-goal-up-9-0-on-baylorJP Starkey2010-12-29T17:48:16-06:002010-12-29T17:48:16-06:00Texas Bowl: Illinois Leads Baylor 6-0
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> have taken a 6-0 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a> after the first quarter in the Texas Bowl. The Illini capitalized on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35519/robert-griffin-iii">Robert Griffin III</a>’s gaffe. Griffin <span class="caps">III</span> attempted a screen pass which wound up being a backwards pass and therefore a fumble. Illinois recovered the fumble and wound up kicking a field goal on their ensuing drive.</p>
<p>Illinois converted on another field goal when kicker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/48931/derek-dimke">Derek Dimke</a> kicked a 28 yard field goal which capped off a 10 play, 57 yard drive and gave Illinois a 6-0 lead over Baylor.</p>
<p>So far, the fumble by Griffin <span class="caps">III</span> and Baylor’s inability to convert on third down has been the difference in the game. The Bears are 0 for 2 on third down conversions thus far and are losing the turnover battle. Illinois, by contrast, are 2 for 4 on third down conversions.</p>
<p>Despite being outplayed, the Bears find themselves only down by one score with three quarters left to play.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/baylor-bears/2010/12/29/1903126/texas-bowl-illinois-leads-baylor-6-0JP Starkey2010-12-29T16:28:01-06:002010-12-29T16:28:01-06:00Texas Bowl History
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<p>Tonight’s Texas Bowl between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> will be the fifth installment of the Texas Bowl. Held at Reliant Stadium in Houston, the Texas Bowl replaced the Houston Bowl, which had existed from 2000-2005.</p>
<p>The inaugural Texas Bowl featured one of current top running backs in the <span class="caps">NFL</span> – <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6169/ray-rice">Ray Rice</a>. Rice was named the <span class="caps">MVP</span> of the 2006 Texas Bowl as Rutgers defeated Kansas State by a 37-10 margin.</p>
<p>In 2007, a familiar face took home the <span class="caps">MVP</span> honors. <span class="caps">TCU</span> quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/12996/andy-dalton">Andy Dalton</a> led the Horned Frogs to a 20-13 victory over the University of Houston.</p>
<p>The third Texas Bowl, held in 2008, wasn’t much of a contest. Rice slammed Western Michigan 38-14, while Rice quarterback Chase Clement took home <span class="caps">MVP</span> honors.</p>
<p>Last year, in the fourth Texas Bowl, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/navy-midshipmen">Navy Midshipmen</a> pasted Missouri 35-13, with a Texas Bowl record 69,441 in attendance. Navy quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/11370/ricky-dobbs">Ricky Dobbs</a> took home the <span class="caps">MVP</span> honors, making him the third consecutive quarterback to do so.</p>
<p>Baylor and Illinois are set to kick off the fifth Texas Bowl tonight at 6 PM <span class="caps">EST</span>. Robert Griffin <span class="caps">III</span> will look to become the fourth consecutive quarterback to win the <span class="caps">MVP</span> award as he looks to lead his Bears to victory.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/baylor-bears/2010/12/29/1902979/texas-bowl-historyJP Starkey2010-12-29T11:20:36-06:002010-12-29T11:20:36-06:00Texas Bowl: Baylor Bears Vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears" class="sbn-auto-link">Baylor Bears</a> look to cap off their most successful season in recent history with a Texas Bowl win tonight. To do so, the Bears will have to beat the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" class="sbn-auto-link">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> and their excellent rushing attack.</p>
<p>Baylor finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, but only 4-4 in conference. The Bears were 7-2 but dropped their final three games of the season to Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma - all ranked opponents - to finish the season 7-5. Baylor finished fifth in the Big 12 South with their 4-4 in-conference record.</p>
<p>Illinois went 6-6 this year while going 4-4 in Big 10 play, good for sixth in the Big 10. Much like Baylor, Illinois is limping into this bowl game. The Fighting Illini are losers of three of their last four games, and lost their most recent game to Fresno State. </p>
<p>Junior running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36298/mikel-leshoure" class="sbn-auto-link">Mikel Leshoure</a> leads the Illinois offense. Leshoure rushed for 1,513 yards this year - and also added 175 reception yards and three touchdowns - while rushing for 14 touchdowns and averaging six yards per carry.</p>
<p>Baylor's offense goes through their quarterback, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35519/robert-griffin-iii" class="sbn-auto-link">Robert Griffin III</a>. Griffin has thrown for 3,195 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he's also rushed for 591 yards and eight touchdowns. Griffin's success has helped senior running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7622/jay-finley" class="sbn-auto-link">Jay Finley</a> thrive. Finley has rushed for 1,155 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns. </p>
<p>Kickoff is slated for 6:00 PM EST. Televised coverage can be found on ESPN and also online at ESPN3.com.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/12/29/2327136/texas-bowl-baylor-bears-vs-illinois-fighting-illiniJP Starkey