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Team Notes

1. Illinois completed a fourth quarter comeback today for the second straight game. The Illini trailed Youngstown State last week, 17-14, before scoring the game's final 14 points for a 28-17 win. And today the Illini trailed Western Kentucky, 27-21, before scoring 21 straight en route to the 42-34 victory. Illinois has now executed consecutive fourth-quarter comebacks for the first time since the 2001 season. The Illini last did so against Penn State (Nov. 10, 2001) and Ohio State (Nov. 17, 2001). UI trailed PSU 21-14 entering the fourth quarter and came away with a 33-28 victory. The Orange and Blue were down 22-21 to the Buckeyes heading into the fourth quarter and captured a 34-22 win.

2. Illinois fought back from a 10-point deficit today (17-7), its first double-digit comeback win since Oct. 2, 2011 vs. Northwestern when the Illini responded from down 18 points (28-10) to claim a 38-35 victory.

3. Illinois scored 21 points in the fourth quarter for the second straight week, equaling the most points scored in the final quarter in 32 years since putting up 22 points on Oct. 2, 1982, at Minnesota. The Illini have posted 21 points in the fourth quarter 10 times since 1982: Sept. 6 vs. Western Kentucky; Aug. 30, 2014 vs. Youngstown State; Oct. 1, 2011 vs. Northwestern; Oct. 4, 2008 at Michigan; Nov. 3, 2001 at Purdue; Oct. 13, 2001 at Indiana; Nov. 18, 2000 at Northwestern; Oct. 23, 1999 at Michigan; Nov. 18, 1995 vs. Minnesota; Oct. 1, 1988 at Ohio State.

4. The Illini defense took over in the second half, holding WKU to 76 yards on its first five offensive drives of the half. Illinois forced the 'Toppers into 3-and-out, 3-and-out, INT returned for a touchdown, 3-and-out and a fumble in the first 20:31 of the second half, while the Orange and Blue scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth quarter to turn a 27-21 deficit into a 35-27 lead.

5. Illinois had three takeaways (two fumbles, interception) in a game for the first time since Sept. 22, 2012, against Louisiana Tech when it recovered three fumbles. Today's total equals the most takeaways since notching four in the season opener against Western Michigan on Sept. 1, 2012, marking a stretch of 25 games.

Individual Notes

1. Sophomore quarterback Wes Lunt turned in another stellar performance. He threw for a career-high 456 yards, which ranks second on the all-time Memorial Stadium passing yardage, just six yards shy of the school record 462 yards set by Juice Williams vs. Minnesota (Oct. 11, 2008). Lunt's performance stands fourth, meanwhile, on the Illini all-time single-game passing yardage list.

2. Lunt's 456 yards broke his previous career high of 436 set during his true-freshman season at Oklahoma State, at Arizona on Sept. 8, 2012. Lunt also recorded the longest pass of his career today, a 62-yard TD strike to Justin Hardee.

3. The 62-yard TD strike from Lunt to Hardee was the Illini's longest play from scrimmage since a 72-yard TD pass from Nathan Scheelhaase to Ryan Lankford vs. Washington (Sept. 14, 2013).

4. Along with catching his first-career touchdown pass, Hardee set career highs for both receptions (6) and receiving yardage (110) today.

5. Geronimo Allison nearly joined Hardee with 100-yards receiving, setting career highs with the Illini in both catches (8) and yards (97).

6. True freshman Mike Dudek became the first Illini newcomer to tally a touchdown reception in each of his first two career games since junior college transfer Kelvin Hayden did so in 2003.

7. Lunt (35-of-50) spread the wealth for the second straight week, as eight different receivers caught two or more passes. His three touchdown strikes went to three different receivers.

8. After accounting for 146 yards on nine receptions last week, newcomers Allison, Dudek and Malik Turner combined for 18 catches and 208 yards against the Hilltoppers.

9. Defensive back Taylor Barton registered the first interception return for a touchdown by an Illini since Ashante Williams vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 1, 2012. Barton's 77-yard pick six extended Illinois' lead to 35-27, as the Illini scored 14 points in the first 4:45 of the fourth quarter.