Sept. 18, 2010

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ILLINOIS Postgame Notes
Illinois 28, Northern Illinois 22
Memorial Stadium // Sept. 18, 2010 // 50,569

1. Mikel Leshoure recorded his third-straight 100-yard rushing game of the season with 180 yards today. It his fourth consecutive 100-yard game overall, dating back to the 2009 season finale against Fresno State. Leshoure is the first Illini with 100 yards rushing in four straight games since Robert Holcombe in 1997.

2. Leshoure's 180 yards were just four shy of his career best. He did set a career high with 24 carries, surpassing the 21 rushes he had last year against Michigan.

3. Nathan Scheelhaase posted his first career 100-yard rushing performance, finishing with 115 yards on 16 carries. It is the first 100-yard rushing game by an Illini quarterback since 2008 when Juice Williams ran for 121 yards at Michigan, and is the seventh-highest single-game rushing total by a QB in Illinois history.

4. With Leshoure and Scheelhaase both eclipsing 100 yards on the ground, it marked the first time the Illini had a pair of 100-yard rushers in a game since Leshoure and Jason Ford accomplished the feat lat season against Michigan.

5. The Illini ran for 319 yards total today, surpassing 300 yards rushing for the second time in the last four games dating back to 2009. Illinois also averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a team.

6. Martez Wilson tallied a game-high 11 tackles, which also equaled the second-highest total of his career.

7. Three Illini defenders set career highs in tackles today: Trulon Henry (9), Justin Green (8) and Justin Staples (6).

8. The Illini defense smothered NIU running back Chad Spann, who entered today's game averaging 110 yards (25th in the NCAA). Spann managed just 15 yards rushing on 13 carries against Illinois.

9. Illinois' defense has allowed a total of 48 points this season. That is the lowest scoring total since 2001, when the UI defense allowed 39 points over the first three games.

10. The Illini defense also has given up only five touchdowns on the season. That is the fewest since 2001, when the UI defense allowed four touchdowns over the first three games.

11. This season, the Illinois defense has allowed totals of 48 points (16.0 ppg) and 999 yards (333.0 ypg). Last year, the UI defense allowed 84 points (28.0 ppg) and 1,158 yards (386.0 ypg) through the first three games.

12. Derek Dimke kicked a pair of field goals to improve to a perfect 9-of-9 on his career. He also registered touchbacks on all six of his kickoffs today.

13. Anthony Santella had another stellar day punting the ball. Santella, who entered today's game ranked second nationally in punting, averaged 48.7 yards on six punts today against NIU. That is the second-highest single-game average of his career. Included in that performance was a career-long 67-yard punt in the fourth quarter against the Huskies.

14. Illinois improves to 4-0 vs. Northern Illinois, and 13-0 all-time against other in-state public universities.

15. Today marked the first career start for true-freshman wide receiver Darius Millines.