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Then listen to the postgame call-in show here

ST. LOUIS – Make that 0 for the 2000s.

Illinois found a new way to lose against old rival Missouri. This time, it took a 10-point lead at the half before the Tigers dominated the final 30 minutes in a 23-13 victory.

The Illinois players were sure they were going to finally beat Missouri.

"We feel like we let one get away," Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget said.

"We should have finished," Illinois linebacker Ian Thomas said. "We just didn't finish. That was the big thing. We've got to come back with more hypeness than we did the first half."

The start of Illinois' slide was easy to pinpoint. For those at home. And for those on the sidelines.

"We began to lose it right there in the first five minutes of the third quarter," sixth-year Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "You talk about that all the time."

The game was the Illinois debut for new coordinators Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning. For a half, most everything worked.

Petrino's offense dominated the time of possession in the first half, holding a 5:40 edge. If you would have asked before the game, "How does Illinois win?" Controlling the ball would have been the first answer.

The second answer would have been "win the turnover battle." That one didn't work for Illinois, which had four turnovers to one for Missouri.

First-time starter Nathan Scheelhaase had three interceptions and lost a fumble on a hard hit. The mistakes weren't a surprise, Zook said.

"It's not the kind of game he would have liked to have had," Zook said. "But I feel very, very good about Nathan. Some of the things that weren't quite the way you'd want them was because he was trying too hard.

"This football team knows he has a chance to be special. We've got to circle around him and go from there."

Scheelhaase had a chance in the final minutes to lead his team back. Down 20-13 deep in his own territory, he broke away from a Missouri defender and hit Mikel Leshoure on what would have been a 26-yard gain. But Leshoure was ruled out of bounds and replay confirmed the call.

"(Offensive line coach) Joe Gilbert was right there, and he felt like it was good," Zook said. "Obviously, it was not. The evidence has to be without doubt to overturn that call."

Zook had talked during the week about trying to turn the Illinois-Missouri series. It didn't happen.

"I think that's the best game we've played of the four," Zook said.

There isn't another game scheduled between the teams.

"This is our last chance and we came up short, so it's disappointing," Thomas said.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Midway through the fourth quarter, Illinois was driving toward what it hoped would be a tying touchdown. Thanks to a long run by Mikel Leshoure, the Illini reached the Missouri 32. But a first-down pass from Nathan Scheelhaase sailed over Eddie McGee and was intercepted by Kenji Jackson. The Illini didn't pass midfield again.

NUMBERS GAME

58,060

That's the attendance for the final version of the Arch Rivalry series (Ben Randecker, right), the first time the crowd was under 60,000. Maybe now is a good time for the schools to move on to different scheduling options. The fans were late arriving and not as loud as usual. The teams now will be able to play more home games.

WHAT IT MEANS

That Illinois won't be able to prove the program has turned the corner for at least a month. Upcoming games against Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois are expected to be wins. Then, an off week. Then, Ohio State visits Memorial Stadium. Beat the Buckeyes, or Penn State or Michigan State in the two weeks after, and talk can begin. But not before then.

WHAT'S NEXT

A night game at home against Southern Illinois, which will include fireworks and memories of fireworks (Howard Griffith being honored for his eight-touchdown game 20 years ago). The Salukis, a Football Championship Subdivision power, scored 70 in their opener. In the words of Scooby-Doo: "Ruh-roh."