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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The defense forced five turnovers, including a 78-yard interception return for touchdown by Darius Mosely, and Kendrick Foster scored two touchdowns as Illinois snapped a four-game losing streak with a 24-7 victory at Rutgers on Saturday. It was the first Big Ten win for first-year Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith.
Check out postgame quotes from Smith and several Illini players below.
Opening Statement: "Whenever you take the ball away five times and have two fourth down stops, you should be talking about a win. Rutgers played hard throughout. Just some tough breaks for them. Defense wise, our guys stepped up, Darius Mosely, we started him for the first time in the nickel position and that was probably the play of the game, that long interception return. He did a great job returning punts too. Times like when you have a four-game losing streak going, you need to have someone elevate their game. He did. Offensively, Chase (Crouch) kind of picked up where he left off from last week. Just tough play from the quarterback position. We didn't score as many points as we wanted to. We'll keep building on with him. Running back wise, Ke'Shawn Vaughn getting in, of course that was a big play. We had some individual efforts that gave us a chance to win. I thought the defensive line did a good job rushing. Carroll Phillips coming in, playing the second half. Dawune Smoot, his normal game. A lot of things to like. I didn't like missing those two field goals. There are some things to clean up, but we'll take the win. A road win is always hard to come by.
On getting the first Big Ten win: "Just a win. It's been a long time, since the first game of the season. Just that and to get a road win too. There's a lot of history in this stadium. First time for our guys in this stadium and for our guys to come get a win should give us some confidence going into next week.
Update on quarterback Wes Lunt's status: "We didn't dress (Lunt). He wasn't ready to go. He's making progress. We decided to hold him this week."
On quarterback Chase Crouch's shoulder: "If he was hurt, we wouldn't have him out there playing. Did he take a few shots? Yeah. There's some soreness. Quite a few guys have that. This was a physical football game."
On running back Kendrick Foster: "Pleased. I think I've said that quite a few times with Kendrick. Again, the running back position, all three of those guys have found a way and they all had big plays today. Reggie Corbin, he had two. We talked about Ke'Shawn Vaughn. We've been getting great play from that tailback position.
On showing multiple back sets: "We're trying to get our playmakers the ball, but we have some receivers that can catch the ball. As much as anything, we want to have balance and keep defenses off balance. The more guys you play in different roles will do that."
On the first half penalties: "We're constantly coaching up penalties. Sometimes you don't get that done. There were some bad penalties in the first half. It comes to a point where you need to show more discipline. Again, I'm not talking about all the play hard penalties, some of the post, pre snap we have to eliminate. Looking at the glass half full, we did a lot better job in the second half in all areas.
On forcing turnovers: "I think when you take the ball away five times, most of the time that says win."
On starting new guys on defense: "Trying to find combinations to win football games. There are different reasons why you like games playing. Maybe a player hadn't played as well as we need at the position, somebody else gets the opportunity. We've been in that situation a few times. Then you get in the game and you see who is playing good at the time and you make adjustment just like everything else."
On a sense of relief in getting a win: "We feel good about winning the football game, yes. About this one game. You have to celebrate every game to feel good about it. Sense of relief? Yeah. You can give it a few different descriptions. There definitely was a lot of excitement. There's nothing like seeing a locker room after a big win and that's what we had today. We want it to become more than an every once-in-a-while thing."
On the mind set coming into the game: "For us, we go in thinking every game is a winnable game. It was about us eliminating some of the mistakes whether it be penalties and not finishing a football game. The last couple of week we had opportunities to win against a top 10 team and last week at home. It was about finishing today. We finished today."
On putting the game away in the fourth quarter: "Very pleased. It takes a while to build a program. That's where we are. We found things out each week. We have gotten better each week. Eventually if you continue to get better and do some things right, eliminate some of things that are bad that you are doing wrong, you win football games."
On first career start: "It is always good to come here and get a win on the road, any win regardless, but a win on the road is something special. It was good to get the first start out of the way and come into an environment on the road and get a win."
On when he found out he was starting: "Truthfully, I didn't really find out until the other day, but throughout the week Wes (Lunt) wasn't practicing so it just made sense."
On nerves: "You always have a little bit of nerves. We really stress coming in as a unit and we're not individuals, we're a team. When you have guys like the dudes we have on our team with you, it makes it easier not to be as nervous."
On quarterback Wes Lunt: "He was my roommate at the hotel. It's the same friendship we've always had. He would go over the series with me at practice before we would run them. He would try to help me out. He's doing good. He feels great."
On the importance of the win: "I think this is our first road win, where we've taken a plane to the road game, in a while. Regardless, it is tough to win football games. It was a big time win."
On improving the offense: "We have to start a little faster and put up more points in the first half. We came out in the second half strong and that showed a lot. Our coaches made great adjustments and as players we took what they told us and brought it on to the field."
On needing this win: "It was time to get a W, let's just say that. It was time to get a win. We came in and took care of business. I'm very happy for the team. Chayce [Crouch] did a great job back there. Defense did an amazing job with five turnovers. Now we are getting ready for a big one next week."
On taking care of quarterback Chayce Crouch: "There were a couple of times that we needed to do better in protecting him. Chayce did a good job. He's a fighter. He's a battler. People have said he reminds them of Reilly O'Toole and I think that is a great comparison. Those guys put their heart in every play. It's great to see and have back there. He did a great job coming in for Wes (Lunt)."
On what this win does for the team: "In college football getting a win is probably the hardest thing to do. Just to get a win and walk away is great. Not everything is going to be pretty. There is a lot we need to work on. We need to get our hands inside and communicate a little better. A win is a win and we're going into the second half of the season with some energy."
On the first Big Ten win of the season: "It's crazy. It's like getting a big monkey off our back. It just feels good finally getting this win. It is like a relief."
On the importance of the win: "It is definitely important. This is the starting point, for us to get this win."
On nerves in the second half: "I don't think we were nervous, we just knew we had certain things to do. We had to make a couple changes and stop them. We were able to do that."
On forcing turnovers: "We attribute that to working in practices and focusing getting off the field. We were able to execute.
On first sack: "I can't even explain it. It's been a long time and I've been close in a bunch of games. It feels great."
On true freshman defensive lineman Kenyon Jackson: "He's been great. It is giving him experience he needs going into the next three years of his college career. It's great getting out here freshman year and getting as much reps as he has."
On what worked today: "I think we started to be confident in our scheme and ability to run the ball. Especially with Chayce [Crouch] being another threat to run the ball and his ability to pass the ball as well. We wanted to put our foot on the gas pedal. We have been hurting ourselves in the fourth quarter, and we knew we were a better team that what we were presenting out on the field."
On the importance of this win going into the second half on the season: "It is very important. We were on a losing streak and now all it takes is one win to get on a winning streak. This is a great feeling for all of us. We haven't had this feeling for three weeks now. It gives just another boost of confidence to the guys up front and the whole morale in the locker room. It means a lot to know that we are good in the Big Ten and we just have to keep fighting."
On first career start: "It was fun. I'm not the one to complain about where my spot on the team is. I'm just making the best of my opportunity and praising God."
On how rewarding this start was: "It's very humbling. I went through a lot of trials and tribulations. I'm focused on the season now. I'm more mature now. I'm a redshirt junior and 22 years old, I'm too old to worry about the past."
On a sense of relief: "A big weight has been lifted off our shoulders. The defense played great with five turnovers. The whole morale in the locker room it brings a positive attitude. It is a monkey off our back for sure."
On defense forcing turnovers: "We put our defense in a couple bad spots, but it helps us a lot if we can get turnovers and score at the same time. We can put pressure on teams."
On scoring early in the second half: "It felt great putting pressure on the other team. It gives us a great confidence boost and showed that we can play in the Big Ten. We are good, we are just not presenting to our standards. We have to do a better job. I'm happy with the win and my team and I are enjoying it. We are just going to get better from here."
On what worked in the running game: "Just staying true to our offensive line. As always they had a heck of a game. They were so focused on this game all week and to make things right."
On feelings after the game: "Everyone is happy and enjoying the moment. We are all fresh at all times and it's a great thing."
On how quarterback Chayce Crouch played: "Amazing. He controlled the team and ne had a heck of a game. His confidence is building."
On the crucial touchdown to start the second half: "We had to come out strong. That is a big part of winning football games, especially when you get the ball at the half. It was a big accomplishment. It was nice."
On the defense forcing turnovers: "It was good. I knew it was going to happen. It was expected."
