Final
Illinois tops Illinois State, 45-17
Sep 15, 2009 - 9:38 PM By DAVID MERCER Associated Press WriterCHAMPAIGN, Ill.(AP) -- Backup quarterback Eddie McGee replaced an injured Juice Williams and led Illinois to a comfortable 45-17 win over Illinois State Saturday night.
The Illini (1-1) came into their home opener looking to cure the ills left over by last week's 37-9 loss to Missouri. But they lost Williams, their leading rusher and the Big Ten's top passer a year ago, on the game's first series. He injured his right quadriceps on a 49-year run and fell to the turf a yard shy of the game's first TD.
After Jason Ford scored on the next play, Williams came out of the game and did not return.
Behind McGee, the Illini battered the Redbirds with a selective passing game and a heavy dose of running. Illinois had 384 rushing yards, 137 of them from Ford, a sophomore.
Illinois led 24-0 at halftime with McGee running for one touchdown and passing for another. He was 13 of 17 for 164 yards and an interception, and he ran for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
McGee kept the ball on the option for his first TD, a 1-yarder over right tackle that gave the Illini a 14-0 lead with 3:43 left in the first quarter.
McGee hit receiver Chris Duvalt for a 27-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
The Redbirds (0-2), who lost to Eastern Illinois 31-6 last week, got a strong performance from Matt Brown. The redshirt freshman, starting for the injured Drew Kiel, completed 27 of 45 passes for two touchdowns and one interception.
But Illinois State couldn't score until 8:42 remained in the third quarter, when Brown found Eyad Salem for a 3-yard TD, cutting Illinois' lead to 31-7. Salem caught seven passes for 103 yards and both Redbird touchdowns.
The Illini played without starting middle linebacker Martez Wilson. The junior was out with a neck injury.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ILLINOISST 0 0 10 7 17
ILLINOIS 14 10 7 14 45 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: ILLINOIS - TD, JASON FORD 1 YD RUN (MATT
ELLER KICK), 3:08. ILLINOIS
7-0
ILLINOIS - TD, EDDIE MCGEE 1 YD RUN (MATT
ELLER KICK), 11:17. ILLINOIS
14-0
2ND QUARTER: ILLINOIS - TD, CHRIS
Sep 12 9:10 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 17
ILLINOIS 45 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 12 9:10 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 17
ILLINOIS 45 5:51 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Illinois State 17, Illinois 45 4th - 5:51Sep 12 8:59 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 10
ILLINOIS 45 9:14 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Illinois State 10, Illinois 45 4th - 9:14Sep 12 8:48 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 10
ILLINOIS 38 13:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Illinois State 10, Illinois 38 4th - 13:45Sep 12 8:32 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 10
ILLINOIS 31 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 12 8:26 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 10
ILLINOIS 31 1:56 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Illinois State 10, Illinois 31 3rd - 1:56Sep 12 8:21 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 7
ILLINOIS 31 8:42 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Illinois State 7, Illinois 31 3rd - 8:42Sep 12 8:00 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 31 11:45 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Illinois State 0, Illinois 31 3rd - 11:45Sep 12 7:51 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 24 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 12 7:24 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 24 7:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Illinois State 0, Illinois 24 2nd - 7:44Sep 12 6:59 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 21 12:01 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Illinois State 0, Illinois 21 2nd - 12:01Sep 12 6:51 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 14 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 12 6:40 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 14 3:43 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Illinois State 0, Illinois 14 1st - 3:43Sep 12 6:30 PM - NCAAF
ILLINOISST 0
ILLINOIS 7 11:52 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Illinois State 0, Illinois 7 1st - 11:52Sep 12 6:10 PM
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