Post-Game Notes
September 6, 2008 | Football
Sept. 6, 2008
- Juice Williams broke the Illinois single-game rushing record by a quarterback with 174 yards, topping his own previous record of 145 yards against Purdue in 2006. He had 100 yards in the first half on 11 carries. With his career-high 174 yards, Williams moves into 21st on the Illinois all-time rushing list with 1,515 yards.
- Williams also posted 298 yards of total offense, which moves him up to 6th on Illinois' career total offense list with 5,322 yards.
- In just two games, Williams has already moved into 9th place on the single-season rushing list for Illinois quarterbacks with 184 yards.
- Illinois jump-started its running game in today's home opener with 399 yards on the ground. That total ranks 10th on the Illinois single-game rushing yards list and is the most since the Illini had 448 yards rushing last year vs. Minnesota.
- The Illini's 47 points marks the highest-scoring game of the Zook era. It is the seventh 40-point game in Zook's four seasons. The Illini have now topped 40 points in back-to-back games to open the 2008 season.
- Illinois' nine-play, 93-yard drive in the second quarter marked the longest drive in terms of yardage that the Illini have conducted this season. Illinois' drive that took 6:58 off the clock in the first quarter also was a season-long.
- Arrelious Benn scored his first and second touchdowns of the season, as well as his first career rushing TDs, with his 4-yard and 13-yard runs. He now has four career TDs.
- Troy Pollard scored his first career touchdown on a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter.
- The Illinois defense has now held opponent offenses on three fourth-down attempts for the season. The Illini stopped Missouri twice in the season opener and once against EIU.
- The Illini defense also forced three turnovers on the day, grabbing two interceptions and forcing a fumble. Illinois now has five turnovers in two games this season.
- Along with registering a team-high 11 tackles today, Britt Miller also had a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and 2.5 tackles for loss.
- Dere Hicks intercepted his third career pass and first of the season, returning it 12 yards. It was the first return of his career.
- With his 16-yard touchdown catch today (third of the season), Chris Duvalt now has a TD reception in each of his first two games as a receiver.
- Will Davis had a sack today, giving him 12.5 for his career and moving him into 10th on the Illinois all-time quarterback sacks list.
- Freshman DT Corey Liuget also had a solid day, recording five tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks and a forced fumble. All of those numbers were career highs.
- After playing 10 true freshman in last week's season opener, freshman OL Jeff Allen saw the field today to bring the number to 11.
- Placekicker Matt Eller recorded the first field goals of his career today, with a 21-yarder followed by a career-long 42-yarder.
- Illinois has now won its last 11 home openers and have a all-time record of 81-33-5 in home openers.
Players Mentioned
OL
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WR
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TE
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DB
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PK
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DB
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DL
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RB
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QB
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