Sept. 24, 2005

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1. Pierre Thomas returned five kickoffs for 131 yards to improve to fourth on the all-time kickoff return yardage list with 1,115 yards. The junior now needs only 268 yards to break the career record. Thomas' 131 yards were the sixth-best single-game performance in school history.

2. Steve Weatherford punted seven times for 274 yards, an average of 39.1 yards. He booted two over 50 yards and landed two inside the 20 yard line. With 274 yards, he improves to eighth on the career punting yardage list with 6,468 yards.

3. Weatherford also booted two of his four kickoffs against Michigan State for touchbacks.

4. Tim Brasic threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Thomas to convert Illinois' 18th score in the red zone. For the season, the Illini are 18-18 inside the 20 (100 percent). It was also Thomas' first touchdown catch since Michigan last season (10/16/04).

5. Brasic also led the team in rushing with 56 yards on 11 carries. It is the second time this year he has led the team in rushing, also posting the team's most rushing yardage in the season-opener against Rutgers.

6. Freshman running back Rashard Mendenhall scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter, catching a five-yard pass from Tim Brasic. He also caught a 12-yard pass earlier in the game.

7. With four catches for 52 yards, freshman receiver Jody Ellis set a career high in both receiving yards and receptions.

8. E.B. Halsey's 76-yard kickoff return was the longest since Thomas took one back 99 yards against Western Michigan on Sept. 18, 2004, and the longest of Halsey's career. His previous long was a 66-yard return in 2003.

9. Today's attendance was 51,469, the largest home crowd of the season.

10. Michigan State's 61 points sets a Memorial Stadium record for points scored by an opponent and their 705 total yards breaks the facility record.