Sept. 25, 2004

Recap |  Final Stats |  Quotes

1. Sophomore Pierre Thomas' 72-yard kickoff return in the first quarter made him just the second player in school history, along with Red Grange, to record two career kickoff returns over 70 yards. Last week, Thomas returned the opening kickoff vs. Western Michigan 99 yards for a touchdown.

2. Thomas returned three kickoffs for 121 yards on the day, an average of 40.3 yards per return. This follows last week's performance vs. Western Michigan where Thomas returned three kickoffs for 132 yards and a touchdown against Western Michigan, a 44.0-yard average. Illinois' first touchdown on the day was a 5-yard reception by senior tight end Anthony McClellan, his third career touchdown and his first since the 2002 season.

3. With his three touchdown passes today, senior quarterback Jon Beutjer moved past Johnny Johnson into fifth place on the UI career touchdown passes list with 36. Beutjer's three touchdown passes were a season high.

4. Junior Steve Weatherford, Illinois' starting punter and kick-off specialist, had an impact vs. Purdue as a place kicker as well. Weatherford entered the game during the second quarter and was successful in his first career field goal attempt, a 48-yarder, which also marks Illinois' longest field goal of the season.

5. Junior fullback Jason Davis had a career-high 77 yards rushing vs. Purdue, which included a career-long 32-yard run in the second quarter. Davis also set a single-game career high in touchdowns with two. Davis' first touchdown of the game came on a two-yard pass from Jon Beutjer late in the second quarter, while his second touchdown came on a 26-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter.

6. Kendrick Jones had a 41-yard reception in the third quarter. He now has five catches of 40+ yards on the season.

7. Sophomore wide receiver Franklin Payne set career highs in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (43) vs. Purdue. Defensive linemen Mike Maloney and Scott Moss teamed up to sack quarterback Kyle Orton late in the first quarter, marking the first sack given up by Purdue this season.

8. Senior right tackle Bucky Babcock had his first career reception today, a three-yard catch after a pass by Beutjer was deflected. Senior receiver Mark Kornfeld is now 4-for-4 on the season with his catches resulting in first downs. He had a 15-yard catch in the fourth quarter that converted a first down.

9. Kelvin Hayden's 15 tackles were a career high, eclipsing his mark of 11 tackles against UCLA on Sept. 11. Morris Virgil also set a career high in tackles with 10, passing his previous mark of seven against Western Michigan last week.

From the NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations Book (Rule 6, Section 3, Article 1.a.), regarding the blocked punt by Illinois in the third quarter that Purdue recovered and converted into a first down: - "A scrimmage kick that fails to cross the neutral zone continues in play. All players may catch or recover the ball behind the neutral zone and advance it."