CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Whatever is said about Robert Holcombe, "ordinary" isn't an apt description.

But Purdue's defense, catching undeniable spirit from Joe Tiller's quick-strike offense, made the Illini's all-time leading rusher look ordinary Saturday. For the second consecutive game, Holcombe came up shy of 100 yards – he had 98 in 25 carries – after attaining triple figures four times in a row.

And eight of Holcombe's yards came on a fumble that bounced around and wound up as one of seven UI turnovers in a 48-3 loss.

"We hurt ourselves and they capitalized," Holcombe said.

"Personally, I was embarrassed. This was not something that I expected. We worked hard for two weeks in preparation for this, and I expected us to play well. We are experiencing things that a lot of football players never experience.

"Granted, Purdue is good, and they have an explosive offense, but that's no excuse. You can't put your finger on any one thing or any specific position. Everyone is contributing."

Coach Ron Turner explained that the last two opponents, Wisconsin and Purdue, "have been able to stack up Holcombe's favorite inside plays by pinching down with the defensive ends and bringing the safeties up from the perimeter for what amounts to an eight-man front."

It should be noted that Penn State did the same in the second half Oct. 4, limiting Holcombe to eight yards after intermission.

Turner went on: "When that happens, we have to find something else that works. We have to adjust. And we have to make plays in the passing game. That isn't happening."

Holcombe, who now has 841 yards as he nears his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, said the third UI quarterback (Kirk Johnson) in seven games is no factor in his decreased productivity.

"We bumped on one handoff, but I think the film will show that I was too tight on my course," the Illini senior said. "Purdue was tough. It was hard yardage. We have to make adjustments when certain plays don't work, and we aren't executing the way we have to. It's disappointing. Any loss is disappointing."

Holcombe never seemed to find his rhythm Saturday. With Illinois failing to chalk up a single first down in the opening quarter, he netted 11 yards in four carries. His 5-yard run in the second quarter was nullified one play later by a George McDonald-Ashford fumble.

Holcombe's best series came before halftime when he had runs of 3, 3, 10, 3 and 6 in a march that reached the Purdue 12 and resulted in the UI's only score, a 32-yard field goal by Neil Rackers. The score was 48-3 when Holcombe, still pounding away, rambled for 18 yards midway in the fourth quarter.

Illinois has yet to score more than 10 points in any of four Big Ten games. Opponents, in discovering a solution to Holcombe, have found a way to stop the Illini cold.