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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois dominated all facets of its 42-3 season-opening victory against Akron on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. New Illini quarterback Brandon Peters threw three touchdowns on 163 yards passing and added a rushing touchdown in blowout victory.
The defense was stout - holding the Zips to 192 total yards. Junior linebacker Jake Hansen had a monster first half, tallying six tackles, a forced fumble and interception.
Up next, the Fighting Illini travel east to play UConn next Saturday.
New Faces Make Immediate Impact
The Illini started five transfers. Junior quarterback Brandon Peters, junior receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe, senior offensive lineman Richie Petitbon, junior linebacker Milo Eifler, and junior defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku Jr. each made their Orange and Blue debuts Saturday and made big contributions to the win.
Peters passed for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for his first career touchdown, a 20-yard rush in the second quarter. Betiku set career highs with 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Eifler supplied his first career tackle for loss, and Imatorbhebhe caught two passes for 34 yards. Junior wide receiver Trevon Sidney caught his first career touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Hansen Takes Control
Junior linebacker Jake Hansen made his presence felt early and often Saturday. He recorded a team-high seven tackles (five solo) and two takeaways. Hansen set up a 24-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter with a forced fumble and a recovery. He also nabbed his first career interception in the second quarter.
Movin' Back
Illinois recorded 12 tackles for loss, its most since Sept. 1, 2018 against Kent State. The Orange and Blue's six sacks were its most since Sept. 3, 2016 against Murray State.
Oluwole Betiku Jr. led the Illini with 3.0 tackles for loss, while he and Tymir Oliver shared the team lead with 1.5 sacks apiece. First-time defensive end starter Ayo Shogbonyo added a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
A Big Win
The Illini's 39-point margin of victory was their largest since a season-opening 52-3 win over Murray State on Sept. 3, 2016. Illinois' three points allowed were its fewest since that game.
Team Notes
• Illinois leads the all-time series against Akron 2-0.
• Illinois has 22 consecutive home-opening wins, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation behind only Florida (29), Oklahoma State (23) and Wisconsin (23). Illinois is 92-33-5 all-time in home-openers.
• Illinois has an all-time record of 83-42-5 in season-openers and are 60-27-4 when opening the season at home.
• Illinois has won nine straight season-openers (last loss 2010 vs. Missouri in St. Louis), 14 straight season-openers at Memorial Stadium (last loss 1997 vs. Southern Mississippi), and 22 straight home-openers (last loss 1997 vs. Southern Mississippi).
• Illinois is 28-6 in August/September home games dating back to the start of 2007.
• Illinois did not start a true freshman for the first time since Sept. 17, 2016 against Western Michigan, a span of 33 consecutive games. The 33 straight games with at least one true freshman starter is 15 games longer than the previous record of 18 set from 2005-07.
• Illinois did not start a true freshman in the season opener for the first time since 2015. True freshmen to start the season opener in the last three seasons include Daniel Barker (TE, 2018), Sydney Brown (NB, 2018), Jartavius Martin (CB, 2018), Delano Ware (SS, 2018), Bobby Roundtree (DE, 2017), Tony Adams (CB, 2017), Bennett Williams (FS, 2017), Darta Lee (OG, 2016).
• Illinois started five transfers - QB Brandon Peters, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, OL Richie Petitbon, DL Oluwole Betiku Jr., and LB Milo Eifler
• Illinois allowed its fewest points (3) and secured its largest margin of victory (39) since a 52-3 win over Murray State on Sept. 3, 2016.
• Illinois' 12.0 tackles for loss were its most since Sept. 1, 2018 vs. Kent State.
• Illinois captains: LB Dele Harding, LB Jake Hansen, P Blake Hayes, OL Doug Kramer, OL Alex Palczewski
• Illinois sold beer at Memorial Stadium for the first time.
Individual Notes
• Junior QB Brandon Peters made his fifth career start and first for Illinois (4 starts at Michigan). He also rushed for his first career touchdown.
• Senior RB Reggie Corbin passed College Football Hall of Famer J.C. Caroline (1953-54) for 22nd on Illinois' all-time rushing yardage list. Caroline, a 2019 inductee to the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame, ran for 1,696 yards in two seasons for the Illini.
• Junior WR Trevon Sidney scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter.
• Junior DL Oluwole Betiku Jr. set a career high with 3.0 tackles for loss and recorded his first career sack. He finished with 1.5 sacks.
• Junior DL Ayo Shogbonyo set a career high with 2.5 tackles for loss.
• Junior LB Milo Eifler made his first career tackle for loss in the second quarter.
• Sophomore DL Lere Oladipo recorded his first career sack in the second quarter.
• Junior LB Jake Hansen had a team-high seven tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and recorded his first career interception in the second quarter.
• Senior TE Justice Williams scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter.
• Senior DL Tymir Oliver had a career-high 1.5 sacks.
• Sophomore OL Alex Palczewski started for the 24th straight game.
• Junior WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, senior OL Richie Petitbon, DB Kerby Joseph, and LB Milo Eifler made their first career starts. Junior Ayo Shogbonyo made his first career start at defensive end. He had one previous career start (Linebacker vs. Minnesota 10/21/2017).Â
