University of Illinois
2-1
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Western Michigan
1-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Illinois | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
Illinois Rallies Past Western Michigan
September 18, 2004 | Football
Sept. 18, 2004
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - E.B. Halsey's 40-yard punt return and a pass interference penalty in the end zone set up Illinois' winning touchdown with 1:02 remaining in a 30-27 win over Western Michigan on Saturday.
Halsey returned the punt to the Western Michigan 40 and Illinois (2-1) moved to the 19 in four plays. On second-and-3, Illini quarterback Brad Bower tried to hit Ade Adeyemo in the right corner of the end zone, but Adeyemo was hit before the ball arrived.
The penalty put the ball on the Western Michigan 4 and Halsey scored his second TD of the day on the next play. The Illinois defense kept the Broncos pinned back in the final minute.
Western Michigan (1-2) had taken a 27-23 lead with 6:56 remaining after Blake Sims ran an interception back 56 yards to the Illinois 44. Eight plays later, Ryan Cubit hit Greg Jennings from 3 yards out.
Bower, a redshirt freshman playing for injured starter Jon Beutjer, completed 10 of 19 passes for 177 yards. He was intercepted twice. Halsey rushed 20 times for 91 yards and Adeyemo caught 6 passes for 93 yards.
The Broncos moved the ball easily on the Illinois defense, rolling up 406 yards to Illinois' 353. Western Michigan running back Trovon Riley carried the ball 17 times for 75 yards and freshman Mark Bonds had 13 carries for 71 yards.
Cubit was 27-of-41 for 273 yards.
Western Michigan kicked its first two field goals of the season in the first half. Nate Meyer connected from 50 yards out and Robert Menchinger hit from 22 to break a string of four straight misses.
Illinois kicker Jason Reda connected on a 34-yard field goal, but missed an extra point - breaking a string of 202 consecutive extra point kicks for Illinois.
Team Stats
WMU 0, ILL 7
ILL - Thomas,Pierre 99 yd kickoff return (Reda, Jason kick)
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WMU 7, ILL 7
WMU - RILEY, Trovon 1 yd run (MENCHINGER, R. kick), 6 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:06
WMU 7, ILL 14
ILL - Halsey, EB 3 yd run (Reda, Jason kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:49
WMU 10, ILL 14
WMU - MEYER, NATE 50 yd field goal 11 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:07
WMU 13, ILL 14
WMU - MENCHINGER, R. 22 yd field goal 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 4:32
WMU 13, ILL 20
ILL - Jones,Kendrick 28 yd pass from Bower,Brad (Reda, Jason kickfailed) 4 plays, 66 yards, TOP 1:30
WMU 20, ILL 20
WMU - JACKSON, Brian 8 yd pass from CUBIT, Ryan (MENCHINGER, R. kick) 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:15
WMU 20, ILL 23
ILL - Reda, Jason 34 yd field goal 11 plays, 48 yards, TOP 5:34
WMU 27, ILL 23
WMU - JENNINGS, Greg 3 yd pass from CUBIT, Ryan (MENCHINGER, R. kick) 8 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:43
WMU 27, ILL 30
ILL - Halsey, EB 4 yd run (Reda, Jason kick), 6 plays, 40 yards, TOP 2:01
