Illinois (3-3, 1-2) found itself in a tough spot at the start of the fourth quarter on Saturday.

Following a fervent comeback by the Michigan State Spartans (2-4, 0-3), all the momentum the Illini built through a first-half 17-0 lead was gone. So, too, was fifth-year quarterback Katin Houser, who left the game following an injury near the end of the third quarter. 

Illinois’ hopes lay in the hands of freshman quarterback Michael Clayton II, making just his second collegiate appearance. 

“He came out very composed, did what he had to do,” said fifth-year wide receiver Hudson Clement. “He was ready for his moment. … He stepped up to the occasion and did his thing.”

Clayton’s thing turned out to be leading the Illini downfield from their own territory to the end zone. He recorded his second career completion two plays into the quarter, connecting with Clement for a 24-yard gain. 

Clayton’s third career completion found senior wide receiver Collin Dixon, who spun his way free from the snares of the Spartans’ defense before sprinting into the end zone. 

“It was just a great ball by him, kind of set me up to finish the play off,” Dixon said. “It was a good connection.”

The touchdown — Dixon’s ninth this season, and Clayton’s first of his career — gave Illinois a 29-17 lead, which soon turned into a 31-17 advantage following fifth-year running back Aidan Laughery’s two-point conversion. 

With just over 13 minutes left and a 14-point lead, Illinois seemed to have the game in hand. Clayton’s poise and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.’s confidence in him to fire off deep passes appeared to be the perfect recipe to hold off the surging Spartans. 

“I knew when (Clayton’s) opportunity came, Barry wasn’t going to hold back because he knows he’s got a thrower, a little bit of a gunslinger,” said head coach Bret Bielema.

The trust in Clayton paid off again when — following a long and methodical quarter of football from Michigan State — Illinois found itself tied at 31-31 in overtime. 

Lunney again put his full faith behind the freshman and called for a pass on the Illini’s first play. Clayton delivered, hitting Clement to put Illinois back in front.

“I think the nickel came in, got a little nosy, and Mike threw a great ball,” Clement said. “Lunney schemed it up, and it was just a great play call — great execution.”

The play — paired with fifth-year kicker Ethan Moczulski’s extra point — put the Illini ahead 38-31. Following the kick, Clayton got hit with the nerves he’d done an impeccable job of managing to that point, though.

He watched as the Spartans drew closer to the end zone before redshirt senior Jaziun Patterson took a direct snap and ran the ball in for his fourth touchdown of the game. Clayton said that he was ready to hit the field again if needed.

“I was a little nervous on the sideline just knowing that the game was so close in overtime,” Clayton said. “I was ready to go back out there.”

Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald had other plans and called for a two-point conversion to end the game immediately, one way or another. 

Fitzgerald tried for a trick play, with sophomore running back Marvis Parrish taking the snap before flipping the ball to redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. 

Milivojevic then fired the ball to redshirt freshman tight end Jayden Savoury, but fifth-year defensive back Xavier Scott was all over the play and brought down Savoury after he failed to haul in the pass cleanly. 

The failed conversion gave Illinois a narrow but emphatic 38-37 win. It also made a hero out of Clayton, though he was much more measured about his accomplishments. 

“It’s a one-of-one feeling,” Clayton said. “Right now I’m on cloud nine, but I know I got to stay humble.”

Clayton’s teammates, on the other hand, offered rave reviews of his performance, especially his ability to enter Michigan State’s Homecoming game at a moment’s notice and seize the day for himself and Illinois.

Despite Spartan Stadium being short of a sellout, throngs of rowdy Michigan State faithful remained on hand for the fourth quarter. Their palpable energy, brought on by the team’s late charge, made Clayton’s job all the more difficult.

“I couldn’t even imagine being thrown into the fire like that as a freshman, especially as a quarterback,” Dixon said.

Clement was equally impressed with Clayton’s outing, complimenting the quarterback on his calm demeanor.

“If I were to go in a situation like that, I would have been feeling a little more nervous than he looked like out there, but he got it done,” Clement said.

Illinois’ next game is in a much friendlier environment — Gies Memorial Stadium — but against a much tougher opponent — the No. 13 Oregon Ducks — on Oct. 24. 

If Clayton gets the start in the game — a likely proposition with Houser set to miss some time — he’ll have an extra week’s worth of preparation as the Illini enter their bye. 

@BrendanGallian

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