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University of Illinois Athletics

Ra'Von Bonner - Illinois at Iowa - Oct. 7, 2017
16
Illinois ILL 2-3 , 0-2
45
Winner Iowa Hawkeyes IOWA 4-2 , 1-2
Illinois ILL
2-3 , 0-2
16
Final
45
Iowa Hawkeyes IOWA
4-2 , 1-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ILL Illinois 3 10 3 0 16
IOWA Iowa Hawkeyes 7 10 7 21 45

Game Recap: Football |

Strong Start Finishes with Fighting Illini Loss at Iowa

IOWA CITY - A strong start finished with the Hawkeyes pulling away from the Fighting Illini late, 45-16 in Iowa City on Saturday.

The Illini host Rutgers next Saturday at 11 am.

Trio of Backs

Illinois relied on its running game on Saturday, as the team finished with 200 total rushing yards on 30 attempts. In the second quarter, freshman Mike Epstein broke free for a 58-yard scamper, setting up a Ra'Von Bonner 2-yard touchdown.

Epstein paced the running backs, totaling 83 yards on just seven carries (11.9 yards per carry).

Sophomore Reggie Corbin added 61 yards on seven carries, while Bonner finished with 47 yards on twelve touches.

The 200 rushing yards for the Orange and Blue was a season high and most since last year's win at Rutgers.

First Start for George

In his first start of the season, and fifth of his career, sophomore quarterback Jeff George, Jr. finished the day 22-45 passing for 246 yards.

Illini Chunk Plays

The Illinois offense didn't have a hard time moving the ball on Saturday as the offense posted six plays of 20 yards or more. Freshman tight end Louis Dorsey was responsible for two of them, hauling in a 40-yard reception in the first quarter on a beautiful play-action fake by George to set up a Chase McLaughlin field goal and later pulling down a 31-yard catch in the third quarter.

Chase the Ace

Junior kicker Chase McLaughlin continued his solid kicking on Saturday, as the Cypress, Texas, native tied his career-high with three field goals (29, 24, 40). The 40-yard field goal matched his season long.

McLaughlin is now 8-of-9 on the season, with his lone miss coming on a 44-yard attempt against Ball State in the season opener.

Takeaways

The Illinois defense collected a pair of takeaways in the loss at Iowa. Early in the first quarter, Stanley Green jarred the ball loose from Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin and Patrick Nelson scooped it up.

In the second quarter, Bennett Williams collected his first career interception on an errant pass by Hawkeye quarterback Nate Stanley.

Both turnovers led to field goals for Illinois.

The Wave

The Illini team participated in a great new Iowa football gameday staple.

At the end of the first quarter, black and gold clad Hawkeye fans wave to the patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. The new facility overlooks Kinnick Stadium and gives the children and their families a great view of the football game.

Along with the 69,000-plus fans in attendance, Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini sent their salutations to the children.

Team Notes

  • Illinois leads the all-time series against Iowa, 38-33-2.
  • Illinois is 18-18-2 all-time against Iowa in Iowa City.
  • Illinois had a season-high 200 rushing yards. It was the first time Illinois gained 200+ yards rushing since 10/15/2016 at Rutgers (228).
  • Illinois' 200 yards rushing were the second-most allowed by Iowa this season (295 vs. Penn State).
  • Illinois started eight true freshmen (DB Nate Hobbs, DE Bobby Roundtree, RB Ra'Von Bonner, TE Louis Dorsey, WR Ricky Smalling, OL Alex Palczewski, OL Larry Boyd, OL Vederian Lowe).
  • Illinois' eight true freshmen starters are tied for the second-most in a game in program history. The record of 10 was set at South Florida.
  • Illinois' 13 true freshmen starters this season is the most of any team in the nation.
  • Illinois' 13 true freshmen starters this season is a program record. The previous high for a season was nine in 1980.
  • Illinois' most cumulative true freshmen starts in a season: 35 (2017), 34 (1977), 33 (2006)
  • Illinois started four freshmen on the offensive line (three true freshmen, one redshirt freshman).
  • Illinois started three true freshmen on the offensive line for the first time in program history (T Larry Boyd, G Alex Palczewski, T Vederian Lowe).
  • Illinois has played 20 true freshmen this season, tied for the most in the nation with LSU.
  • Eight Illini had a reception, the most for Illinois in a game this season (7 vs. Nebraska).
  • Illinois has used 22 first-time starters in 2017. Baylor entered the week with the most in the nation at 21.
  • Illinois captains: DE James Crawford, WR Mike Dudek, DB Cameron Watkins

Individual Notes

  • Junior WR Mike Dudek has at least two catches in all 18 games he has played.
  • Senior WR Malik Turner has caught a pass in 25 straight games, which is among the top 20 longest active streaks in the nation.
  • Freshman WR Carmoni Green led the team with a career-high four receptions.
  • Freshman TE Louis Dorsey led the team with a career-high 75 receiving yards.
  • Freshman RB Mike Epstein had seven carries for 83 yards, including a career-long 58-yard run, before leaving the game with an injury in the second half.
  • Sophomore QB Jeff George Jr. had a career-high 22 completions for a career-high 246 yards.
  • Junior QB/TE Chayce Crouch had his first career reception.
  • Freshman S Bennett Williams had his first career interception.
  • Sophomore S Patrick Nelson led the team with eight tackles.
  • Junior K Chase McLaughlin tied a career high with three field goals made.
  • Sophomore RB Dre Brown made his Illinois debut after missing the first two years of his career with knee injuries.
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