University of Illinois
1-1
EASTERN ILLINOIS
0-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Illinois | 7 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 47 |
Williams, Illini Juice Panthers, 47-21
September 6, 2008 | Football
Sept. 6, 2008
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Final Stats |
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Saturday, Sept. 6 Post-Game Multimedia
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Quarterback Juice Williams ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 24 Illinois to its first win of the season, 47-21 Saturday over Eastern Illinois.
Williams broke the Illinois quarterback record of 145 yards he set in 2006, and threw for 124 yards and a touchdown. But the junior also threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball a yard short of a third-quarter touchdown.
Travorus Bess rushed for 183 yards for Eastern Illinois (0-2), a Championship Subdivision school 45 miles south of Champaign in Charleston.
Illinois (1-1) scored four touchdowns in a decisive, 13-minute span that started late in the first half, going from a 13-7 lead to 40-7 after mistakes and bad luck let Eastern hang around for most of the first half.
Williams' interceptions both proved harmless in the end. Eastern's Bodie Reeder followed the first with a pick of his own, and Tyler Wilke missed a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Midway through the second quarter, Illinois handed Eastern the ball at the Illini 15 when a punt bounced off Miami Thomas' back while he was on the ground with an injured right knee and was recovered by the Panthers' Quinten Ponious.
But Eastern gave the ball right back, failing to convert a fourth-and-1 play at the Illinois 6.
After that stop, Williams and running back Daniel Dufrene got down to business with a nine-play, 94 yard touchdown drive capped by Williams' 7-yard run to put Illinois up 19-7 after a failed 2-point try.
Williams punched the ball in again from a yard out on Illinois' next possession, giving the Illini a 26-7 halftime lead.
Team Stats
EIU 0, ILL 7
ILL - Duvalt, Chris 16 yd pass from Williams, Juice (Eller, Matt kick) 4 plays, 34 yards, TOP 2:00
EIU 7, ILL 7
EIU - WARD 5 yd run (WILKE kick), 3 plays, 66 yards, TOP 1:11
EIU 7, ILL 10
ILL - Eller, Matt 21 yd field goal 14 plays, 62 yards, TOP 6:58
EIU 7, ILL 13
ILL - Eller, Matt 42 yd field goal 9 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:35
EIU 7, ILL 19
ILL - Williams, Juice 7 yd run (Williams, Juice rushfailed), 9 plays, 93 yards, TOP 3:59
EIU 7, ILL 26
ILL - Williams, Juice 1 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 0:54
EIU 7, ILL 33
ILL - Benn, Arrelious 4 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 8 plays, 87 yards, TOP 4:15
EIU 7, ILL 40
ILL - Benn, Arrelious 13 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 1 plays, 13 yards, TOP 0:08
EIU 7, ILL 47
ILL - Pollard, Troy 25 yd run (Eller, Matt kick), 2 plays, 38 yards, TOP 0:32
EIU 14, ILL 47
EIU - RICKS 15 yd pass from REEDER (WILKE kick) 6 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:47
EIU 21, ILL 47
EIU - JEAN-CHARLES 9 yd fumble recovery (WILKE kick)
