Illini Football 2025 Game 1 vs WIU скачать в хорошем качестве

Illini Football 2025 Game 1 vs WIU

#12 Illinois Rolls Western Illinois in Season Opener CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 12 Illinois dominated its 2025 season opener, defeating Western Illinois, 52-3, on Friday night in front of 56,040 spectators in Memorial Stadium. Head coach Bret Bielema improved to 5-0 in season openers since taking the helm in 2021. Hank Beatty led the Illini in receiving with five catches for 108 yards including a 59-yard strike, which tied his career long; he also compiled 133 punt return yards, bringing back a 69-yard return for a touchdown. His 133 punt return yards broke Red Grange's 102-year-old single-game school record of 125 set Oct. 6, 1923, against Nebraska. Gabe Jacas recorded five tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Jacas is tied for fifth with four other Illini (Jer'Zhan Newton, Whitney Mercilus, Kevin Hardy, and Moe Gardner) on the program's all-time career quarterback sacks list with 18. Luke Altmyer went 17-21, throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Bowick caught three passes for 23 yards with two scores. Aidan Laughery led the Illini rushing attack with nine carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Altmyer's first touchdown of the 2025 season came eight minutes into the game when he found tight end Tanner Arkin wide open for a three-yard reception to give Illinois the early 7-0 lead. It's the second-straight campaign Arkin's caught a touchdown in the season opener. Jacas forced the first turnover of the season for the Illini on the Leathernecks' ensuing drive with a strip sack recovered by Kaleb Patterson. Additionally, this is the second-straight season opener Patterson has recovered a fumble. Bowick caught his first touchdown as a Fighting Illini near the end of the first quarter on a three-yard pass from Altmyer to raise their lead, 14-0. Laughery broke free down the sideline two minutes into the second quarter to punch in the Orange and Blue's first rushing touchdown of the season on a 25-yard scamper, pushing their lead to 21-0. David Olano knocked in a 35-yard field goal on Illinois' next possession to go up 24-0. Bowick later added another score right before halftime on a 13-yard pass from Altmyer to break the 30-point threshold, 31-0. Halfway through the third quarter, Beatty brought back a punt 69 yards to the house for the Orange and Blue's first punt return touchdown since V'Angelo Bentley on Nov. 16, 2013, vs. Ohio State. Illinois led 38-0 after this moment. Western Illinois broke into the scoring column to start the fourth quarter on a 20-yard field goal before Kaden Feagin later powered his way to a seven-yard rushing touchdown to further bolster the Illini lead, 45-3. Laughery broke away on a 57-yard sprint to score his second rushing touchdown of the game and break the century mark on rushing yards for the contest. This score pushed Illinois over 50 points for the final score of 52-3. Beatty ended his night with a 43-yard punt return - which raised his total to 133 yards - breaking Red Grange's 102-year-old school record of 125. Illinois returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 6, when the No. 12 Illini travel to Durham, N.C. to take on the Duke Blue Devils. TEAM NOTES Illinois is 5-0 in season openers under head coach Bret Bielema. Illinois leads the all-time series against Western Illinois, 4-0. Illinois is 18-0 all-time against the other public universities in the state (4-0 vs. Northern Illinois, 4-0 vs. Southern Illinois, 4-0 vs. Western Illinois, 3-0 vs. Illinois State, 3-0 vs. Eastern Illinois). Illinois is 20-0 all-time against FCS opponents (formerly I-AA).