No. 17 Illinois Hazed by Northwestern : Big Ten: All-purple Wildcats, rain combine to end Illini’s Rose Bowl hopes, 17-11.

Northwestern came out wearing all purple Saturday and the Wildcats sent 17th-ranked Illinois home with a taste of sour grapes after a 17-11 defeat in a rainstorm.

The loss ended the Illini’s Big Ten title and Rose Bowl hopes.

“We looked like a grape,” said Len Williams, whose passing led to one touchdown. He scored another on a four-yard run.

It was the first time since 1979 that the Wildcats, who usually dress in purple and white, donned all-purple uniforms.

“They chose to wear the purple uniforms, not me,” Coach Francis Peay said.

“I liked it for a change,” said Mark Benson, who caught five passes for 99 yards. Benson had receptions of 21 and 15 yards in the opening touchdown drive of 73 yards, which ended on a one-yard run by Rodney Ray.

“The defense did a good job all day and we made clutch plays on offense,” Peay said. “The opening drive was important, it established confidence.”

Illini quarterback Jason Verduzco, who had been averaging more than 300 passing yards, completed 14 of 33 for 153 yards and was intercepted twice.

“They played up to a level that was great,” Verduzco said. “Give them credit. They played good defense but we didn’t execute, that’s the bottom line. Don’t blame the weather, it was no big deal.”

Said Illini Coach John Mackovic: “I don’t like to lose but, personally, I’m happy for Francis Peay. We made a lot of mistakes, period. We knew we had to get off to a good start, but the weather changed everything. They were able to convert and Benson made some big catches.”

Asked if Illinois (4-3, 2-2) had an emotional letdown against Northwestern (2-5, 1-3) after last week’s 24-21 loss to Iowa, Mackovic said, “I don’t know if that was the case, but Northwestern came ready to play. It was their homecoming, and they were on a high.”

Northwestern took the opening kickoff and went 73 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead after Peay’s touchdown. Midway in the third quarter, Ed Sutter intercepted Verduzco’s pass on the Northwestern 42. The Wildcats then went 58 yards in 12 plays, with Williams carrying for the final four yards.

Illinois, its passing game neutralized by the rains, finally scored on a 40-yard field goal by Chris Richardson on the last play of the third quarter.

The Illini scored their touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a two-yard run by Steve Feagin after Feagin caught a 20-yard pass to set up the score.

After Brian Leahy’s field goal for Northwestern, the Illini had another chance, but an 18-yard loss on a double reverse doomed their chances.