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University of Illinois Athletics

Mike Epstein - Illinois Football vs. South Florida - 09/15/2018
Brad Leeb / Illinois Athletics
25
Winner South Florida USF 3-0
19
Illinois ILL 2-1
Winner
South Florida USF
3-0
25
Final
19
Illinois ILL
2-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
USF South Florida 7 0 0 18 25
ILL Illinois 10 6 3 0 19

Game Recap: Football |

McLaughlin, Epstein Shine in Tough Loss to USF

Despite forcing two South Florida turnovers and holding the lead for three and a half quarters, Illinois came up short to the Bulls, 25-19, Saturday at Soldier Field. The Orange and Blue fall to 2-1 on the season.

Down to the Wire

After a 50-yard touchdown pass from Barnett to Salomon gave South Florida a 25-19 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Illinois offense had one last chance to try and win the game. True freshman quarterback M.J. Rivers II drove the offense all the way down to the USF 20-yard line but was unable to connect with receiver Ricky Smalling in the back of the end zone on the final play of the game.

In his first collegiate start, Rivers finished the day 20-of-29 passing for 168 yards.

Chase McLaughlin

Kicker Chase McLaughlin continued his strong start to the season, as the senior nailed a career-high four field goals. McLaughlin kept the Illini ahead most of the afternoon, connecting on kicks of 26, 46, 53 and 41 yards. The 53-yarder is just one yard off his career-long and pushed the Illinois lead to 16-7 as time expired in the first half. McLaughlin is the first kicker in Illinois history to hit a 50+-yard field goal in three-straight games.

South Florida Kid

For the second-straight year, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, native Mike Epstein impressed against the Bulls, as the sophomore running back carried the ball 19 times for 113 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and a touchdown. The game marks the second consecutive 100-yard performance for Epstein, who also caught five passes for a career-high 56 yards. 

The Orange and Blue have now had a 100-yard rusher in all three games this season.

Turnovers

Senior linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips and freshman cornerback Jartavius Martin each came away with their second interception of the season to push Illinois' streak to 17 straight games with a turnover. 

The Illini defense has recorded seven takeaways through the first three games of the season. 

Up next

Illinois has a quick turnaround as the team returns home for a Friday night showdown with No. 11 Penn State. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.

Team Notes

  • Illinois is 0-2 all-time against South Florida. The Illini lost to South Florida 47-23 last season in Tampa in the first ever meeting between the two programs. Today was the final game of the two-game contract between Illinois and USF. No future games are scheduled.
  • Illinois' defensive line had four pass breakups (Roundtree 2, Woods 1, Oliver 1)
  • Illinois has forced a turnover in 17 straight games.
  • Illinois has not thrown an interception this season.
  • Illinois has had a 100-yard rusher in all three games this season.
  • Illinois started three true freshmen (CB Jartavius Martin, QB M.J. Rivers II, DB Delano Ware).
  • Two Illini returned from injury to play for the first time this season: CB Tony Adams, DL Lere Oladipo
  • Illinois played at Soldier Field for the fourth time in program history. Illinois previously played at Soldier Field in 1994 (10-9 loss to Washington State), 2013 (34-24 loss to Washington) and 2015 (24-14 loss to Northwestern).
  • Illinois captains: OL Nick Allegretti, LB Jake Hansen, LB Dele Harding, LB Del'Shawn Phillips

Individual Notes

  • Freshman QB M.J. Rivers II made his first career start. Rivers is the fifth Illinois true freshman quarterback to start a game (Juice Williams 2005, Kurt Kittner 1998, Aaron Bailey 2013, Cam Thomas 2017).
  • Sophomore RB Mike Epstein had his third career 100-yard game (19 carries, 113 rushing yards, 1 touchdown) and his second in a row. Epstein also had a career-high 56 receiving yards.
  • Junior RB Reggie Corbin rushed 12 times for 98 yards.
  • Freshman TE Daniel Barker had the first four receptions of his career (30 receiving yards).
  • Freshman CB Jartavius Martin had his second career interception (third career game played).
  • Senior LB Del'Shawn Phillips had his second interception of the season.
  • Sophomore DE Bobby Roundtree tied a career high with two pass breakups.
  • Sophomore P Blake Hayes had a career-high four 50+ yard punts.
  • Senior K Chase McLaughlin was 4-for-4 on field goals, including a long of 53 yards. He is the first player in Illinois history to hit a 50+ yard field goal in three straight games. McLaughlin's four career 50+ yard field goals is tied for the most in Illinois history with Dan Beaver and Jason Reda.
  • Redshirt freshman DL Lere Oladipo played for the first time.
  • Junior LB Cameron Watkins missed the first half due to his second-half targeting penalty last week against Western Illinois.
  • Senior OL Nick Allegretti started for the 27th straight game.
  • Sophomore OL Alex Palczewski started for the 14th straight game.
  • Senior QB AJ Bush Jr. missed the game with an injury. Bush started the first two games of the season before leaving last week's game against Western Illinois in the second quarter.
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