Illinois’ losing streak reaches four with loss to Michigan

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Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase (2) is sandwiched between two Michigan defenders during the first half Saturday. | Seth Perlman~AP

Updated: December 14, 2011 8:36AM

CHAMPAIGN — You can’t make this stuff up.

Is there another team in the nation that won its first six games, then scored only 14 points in the first three quarters of each of its next four games?

Not just this year? Ever?

Shut out in the first half for the fourth straight game, the Illini lost to Michigan 31-14 on Saturday before a Dad’s Day crowd of 60,670, their first sellout of the season.

‘‘There’s not a lot I can say,’’ a glum Ron Zook said. ‘‘We never got a running game going. I thought we had some things fixed. Obviously, we didn’t.’’

That running game is really broken. The Illini managed only 37 yards to Michigan’s 223. That was pretty much game, set and match.

Give credit to the defense and two Michigan turnovers for keeping Illinois (6-4, 2-4 Big Ten) within 14-0 at halftime.

‘‘When we were only down 14 at halftime, I thought we had a chance,’’ Zook said. ‘‘It could have been 48-0.’’

The struggling Illini even cut the deficit to 17-7 on a 13-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.

But J.T. Floyd returned a Scheelhaase interception 43 yards to the Illini 22 with 10:54 left to play, setting up another touchdown.

‘‘The DB just made a good play,’’ Scheelhaase said. ‘‘It’s on me to pull it back when I see him reading the route.’’

If Scheelhaase, who was stymied on the run (14 net yards) while being sacked four times, didn’t have his best game, he wasn’t alone.

‘‘Nate needs help from other people, too,’’ offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. ‘‘He competed as hard as he could in the second half. It doesn’t matter who you put back there. If the other 10 guys aren’t doing their job, you aren’t going to get it done.’’

Jason Ford, who rushed for 26 yards on 11 carries and had a dangerous fumble, didn’t get it done.

When the Illini started 6-0, we knew they weren’t that good. But now that they’re 6-4, how did things go this bad?

‘‘The biggest difference between now and the first six games is the overall mental attitude,’’ Zook said. ‘‘In the first six games, they weren’t questioning themselves. When things aren’t going right, they begin to doubt themselves. It started in the Ohio State game. Coaches began to press, players began to press and everything went south.’’

‘‘The confidence is depleting,’’ said defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who had a sack giving him 121/2, tops in the nation. ‘‘We’ve lost [four] straight games. Confidence right now is shot, in my eyes.’’

The defense is doing solid work. The offense is another matter.

‘‘When this team was 6-0, we had all the confidence in the world,’’ receiver A.J. Jenkins said. ‘‘And everything, for that reason, seemed to go right. Now we’re on a four-game losing streak. I have no words to explain how I feel right now. We just have to keep our heads up and keep fighting.’’

Michigan improves to 8-2, 4-2.