CHICAGO — Justin Jackson stormed into Solider Field's south end zone, took a celebratory leap in the air and handed the ball to the back judge. The score gave Northwestern a 21-7 lead over Illinois with 11:41 left in the second quarter. Northwestern, it appeared, was on its way to a rout.
Jackson's touchdown was the Wildcats' third score in nearly 10 minutes of game time, and third in three straight possessions. Clayton Thorson seemed on his way to a season-best game, shredding the Illinois secondary with a 48-yard pass to Austin Carr in the first quarter and a 39-yard toss to Miles Shuler in the second.