STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Isaiah Williams threw for two touchdowns as Illinois racked up 273 yards of total offense in a 56-21 loss to Penn State in Happy Valley on Saturday evening.
The Fighting Illini offense was able to get going early, putting up 21 points in a thrilling back-and-forth first quarter with the Nittany Lions. Saturday's contest between Illinois and Penn State marked the latest game ever played at Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley.
WILLIAMS PROVIDES FIRST QUARTER SPARK
Illinois quarterback Isaiah Williams went 8-for-18 tallying 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Nittany Lions. Williams also ran for 102 yards, the second time this season that the Illini redshirt freshman quarterback has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in a game.
Williams notched two first-half touchdowns, connecting with Brian Hightower for the Illini's first score of the game early in the first quarter. He would then find Daniel Barker for a 38-yard touchdown pass to give the Illini a 21-14 lead midway through the first quarter.
SACK PARTY
The Illinois defense racked up five sacks and six tackles for loss in Saturday's contest. Senior linebacker Jake Hansen recorded four solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Safety Jartavius Martin led the way for the Illini defense with a game high 12 total tackles, including seven solo tackles.
PUTTING ON A PUNTING CLINIC
Blake Hayes continued to impress in Saturday's game with two punts of 50+ yards and three punts inside the 20. Hayes averaged 44.0 yards per punt and had a long of 55 yards.
MISSING STARTERS
For the second straight week, the Illinois defense missed six defensive starters, including three out of the four starters in their secondary. In total, 17 Illinois players missed the game.
NOTES
• Illinois played the first Big Ten game of the season and the last Big Ten game of the season.
• Today was the latest regular season game in Illinois football history. Prior to 2020, the Illini's latest regular season game was against Fresno State on December 5, 2009.
• Illinois finishes the 2020 regular season 3-5
• Illinois is 5-20 all-time against Penn State, including a 1-10 record in Happy Valley
• The 21 first quarter points by Illinois was their most in the opening stanza of a #B1G game since Nov. 20, 2010 when they also had 21 against Northwestern.
• Illinois started an all-Illinois offensive line of LT Vederian Lowe (Rockford, Ill.), LG Jordyn Slaughter (Belleville, Ill.), OL Kendrick Green (Peoria, Ill.), RG Verdis Brown (Chicago, Ill.), RT Julian Pearl (Danville, Ill.).
• Illinois captains: LB Jake Hansen, P Blake Hayes, QB Brandon Peters. Other captains, CB Nate Hobbs and C Doug Kramer were out.
• Illinois started six transfers - RB Chase Brown, LB Milo Eifler, WR Brian Hightower, WR Donny Navarro, QB Brandon Peters, DB Derrick Smith
• Three of Illinois' 22 starters against Iowa have 20+ starts: OT Vederian Lowe (40h), OL Kendrick Green (35th), LB Jake Hansen (30th)
• WR Dalevon Campbell and OL Jordyn Slaughter made their first career starts.
• Senior LT Vederian Lowe started for the 34th straight game.
• Junior OL Kendrick Green started for the 35th straight game.
• Senior P Blake Hayes has 11207 career punting yards, the most in school history.
• Redshirt freshman QB Isaiah Williams finishes the season with 389 rushing yards, the ninth most in school history by a quarterback. Williams also ranks No. 9 in career rushing yards by a QB with 405 rushing yards.
• Junior RB Mike Epstein ranks No. 36 all-time with 1169 career rushing yards.
• Illinois was missing 47% of its total starts on defense (36/77).
• Illinois traveled with 54 scholarship players (21 on defense). Three of those players that traveled were out: DB S. Brown, DB Hobbs, OL Kramer
• Illinois senior defensive back Tony Adams missed his second game following a positive test result for the COVID-19 virus.
