CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois closed non-conference play with a resounding 31-0 win against Chattanooga on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium, moving the Fighting Illini to 3-1 on the season.
The shutout was the program's first since 2015, and the Illini's 502 total yards of offense marked a new season-high.
The Illini defense forced a three-and-out on Chattanooga's first possession of the evening, and the offense went right to work, marching down the field and moving deep into Mocs territory. Following two long catches by Pat Bryant, Chase Brown capped off a five-play, 64-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. Needing just 86 seconds to find the end zone, Illinois took a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest.
After two consecutive three-and-outs by the Mocs' offense, the Illini got on the board once again on a 34-yard Caleb Griffin with 2:39 to play in the first quarter.
With Chattanooga in the red zone, Jartavius Martin recorded his first interception of the season in the end zone, and the offense capitalized soon after. The Illini completed seven passes to march down the field, and Michael Marchese completed the three-minute drive with a 25-yard reception, his second straight game with a score.
Taking advantage of a short field, Illinois efficiently worked its way toward the north end zone on its next possession, using 1:43 to go 48 yards and extended its lead on a 17-yard Pat Bryant touchdown reception.
The Illini headed into halftime with a 24-0 lead, with Bryant setting new career-highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (107) through just two quarters. Tommy DeVito set a new high in passing yards (249) in the Orange and Blue before the break, and he did on 19-for-25 passing and two scores.
After Jer'Zhan Newton and Seth Coleman combined for a big third-down sack near midfield, the offense needed just 30 seconds to find the end zone for the fourth time on the night, with Isaiah Williams using his speed to complete a 63-yard touchdown pass and push the Illini lead to 31-0.
DeVito finished the night with 329 yards and three touchdowns, while Chattanooga quarterback Preston Hutchinson went 6-for-18 passing with 49 yards through the air and two interceptions.
The win marked the first time in program history the Illini had two 100-yard receivers (Bryant with six catches, 112 yards, one touchdown and Williams with nine catches, 103 yards, one touchdown) and one 100-yard rusher (Chase Brown with 20 carries, 108 yards, one touchdown).
The Illinois defense allowed just 142 total yards of offense and held Chattanooga to 4-for-14 on third-down conversions while making eight tackles for loss and four sacks and forcing two takeaways.
The Illini return to its conference slate next weekend when it heads to Madison to take on Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. CT.
Highlights
Press Conference
Quotes
Opening statement:
"I can't say enough about our guys during the bye week and the preparation to get ready for Chattanooga and obviously the score indicates. We shut them out on defense, put up some points on offense and I really respected that team and the way they ran the ball. Bigger guys locked into it, definitely some things are going to correct. I would like to get some points before the end of the first half. We got a lot of guys more valuable experience today, especially some of the backups, got some new faces on defense. Jared Badie and a couple other guys. We have three wins, obviously we'd love to have four, but I think we've learned a lot about our team in these first four games. Now we will take a nice nine day preparation into the Wisconsin game. Overall our guys played pretty clean today, the big point emphasis during the bye week. Still some things we have to improve. Pat had that long TD called back for a holding, so we have to eradicate that. Our guys played a lot better for four quarters and played a pretty complete game. So we'll take it from there."
On his team through four games:
"We have a tremendous group of players on defense that play with a lot of confidence. They have a lot of faith in their coaches. I couldn't be happier with Ryan (Walters), Terrance (Jamison), Andy (Buh), and Kevin (Kane). They continue to find ways to motivate the guys. I think they'll get stronger as the year goes on because they're intelligent players on defense that understand the advantage of film and tells. Those give them an advantage before the snap. I heard our guys talking two days ago on things that were being alerted before the snap. That is something that has continued to grow. We have a group of very engaged players and some younger players continue to play well."
On not allowing a passing touchdown:
"Ryan and I had a conversation about that on Sunday after the Virginia game, that group wanted that. I think they felt hollow at that Indiana ending and they wanted to be able to prove to themselves mentally and physically they can do it. That's a point that our guys now have learned that lesson and hopefully we can carry it forward because the stakes are a lot higher now. The rest of our games are Big Ten conference opponents, starting off with three in a row in our division. It's going to be a big month of football in front of us for this program."
On playing Wisconsin and his return there:
"I am very proud of the things I accomplished there but none of those accomplishments are going to help us next Saturday. Nothing we did there on the field is going to carry forward. Paul Chryst and I are very good friends in this possession. Jimmy Leonhard was the first player I ever visited. Coach Alvarez said if you get Jimmy you are going to get them all, he's a very accomplished defensive coordinator. My wife and I got married there so you can't get more special than that right. Those are all things that pertained to me, but this is about the University of Illinois. Other than the fact that everyone was going to make a big deal about it. I have turned down a lot of different TV organizations and people that reach out and want to do a special on my return. I turn them all away just because I want this to be about the University of Illinois."
On true freshman Gabe Jacas:
"He is strong and athletic. Kevin and I had this conversation, even though he is a rookie he does not get wild at the moment. His mom raised an incredible kid, his brother is very influential in his life. He's a very serious kid, nothing fazes him, he's got a great sense of humor and demeanor, very engaged. I looked at our defense. We have six guys from the state of Florida. That star for us, he's another great addition. During our bye week I went out to Florida, my wife is from Florida so hopefully that part is going to continue to grow. Those players have been a huge impact in this program."
Pat Bryant
Bryant on how he and Isaiah Williams work well together:
"We both have good hands. We complement each other perfectly."
Bryant on setting career-highs in receptions and yards:
"It was pretty cool, I didn't realize how many yards I had in that moment. I was just focused on scoring touchdowns and help my team. It was a great start, especially going into Big Ten and Wisconsin coming up.'"
Bryant on he and Tommy DeVito's relationship:
"Him trusting that every time he would throw the ball I would catch it, and having that same relationship off the field. We go out to eat, talk and watch football together, it plays a big role in our relationship."
Bryant on building an early lead:
"That's something we emphasize, getting the receivers hot early because it's a four quarter game, we can't start to get hot in the second half. Just starting off really early and keeping out the whole game."
Jartavius Martin
Martin on the defense:
"I know we got a great group of guys out front to help us out on the back end."
Martin on not allowing a touchdown at home:
"We take a lot of pride in that, getting the shutout and not letting the guys in the end zone every week, it's nice keeping that goal.Â
"It means a lot, we prepare the right way, that's what happens when you prepare for the team the right way and not look pass anyone."
Isaiah Williams
On how he and Pat Bryant complement each other:
"I think all of us complement each other, but like Pat, he's a special talent. Like you saw today, he can catch a bubble, take it to the house. He can catch a deep pass. Just having a guy like that, you can't double other receivers. When you have a group of receivers, you have Brian Hightower, Casey Washington, Miles Scott, I mean the list goes on, but you have a whole bunch of guys that can play at a high level and it takes a lot of stress, double teams, off of one person."
On what was going through his mind on the touchdown catch:
"I was just thinking, 'Go score. I gotta go score. No cutting back. Just use my speed down the sideline and go score.'"
On the offense and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.:
"Coach Lunney, he's special. I just give thanks to him because he finds ways to get the ball in my hands, and that's all I can ask. I had nine catches today. When you have nine catches, there's nothing you can really complain about. He does that with everybody. There's multiple receivers who are getting the ball. The running back's getting the ball. He just makes sure we are attacking the defenses vertically and horizontally. I just feel like it's helping us a lot."
On the offense's ability to move the ball:
"For me personally, it gives me confidence. It makes me just want to get better, so when my name's called, I want to make sure I can make the plays for Coach Lunney, for the team, for Tommy (DeVito), and for the receiver room, too. Our biggest thing is we want to do our job, and when my name is called, just make plays so Coach Lunney can do it even more. That just starts with us doing our job, and we're just trying to rise to the occasion every time."
On what makes teammate Pat Bryant special:
"The biggest thing for him has been maturity. I feel like when his name is called, he always makes plays. That's one thing about Pat. He's just one of those confident dudes where every time I know the ball is in the air, Pat's gonna go make a play. I just trust him. When somebody's throws a bubble to me, I know one person that I want blocking for me I'm gonna say Past Bryant. Make sure Pat Bryant's over there. It just tells a lot about him. He's special, and now everybody's starting to see he's special with the ball in his hands. We've been knowing that. What makes him even more special is how he blocks and how he cares for his teammates. With my touchdown, he's running right with me. When have a teammate like that, you'll do anything for them."
Jer'Zhan Newton
Newton on not allowing a touchdown at home:
"We want to win all our home games. We know defense could be a big part of that, defense wins games. So, if they are not scoring in the game, we take pride in that."
Newton on keeping the momentum from last year:
"Like everybody, I'm more mature and a greater understanding of what Coach Walters wants from us, whether it's attacking or reacting, we got a lot of ball hogs in the back end and trying to bring the pressure in and knock off the offensive linemen, I think that's a big part of it."
Alex Pihlstrom
On the importance of the bye week:
"Especially the first couple of days, it was just seeing the young guys grow. They did an awesome job early in the week, but when we started with the game plan, I think the coaches had an excellent game plan from the start. We worked on it for two weeks, so I'm really we got it done that early because they had an awesome game plan. Obviously, a little changed up from what we did past week. More vertical, so I'm glad we had a whole other day to work on it."
On if there is anything Chase Brown could do that would surprise him:
"I expect to see a few rips off his shirt with a Superman 'S' on it. I expect to see that all the time, but he can do anything. He's a complete back, and I just love blocking for Chase Brown."
Team Notes
- Illinois played its first Thursday night game at Memorial Stadium in program history
- Illinois is now 10-8-2 all-time in regular season Thursday contests
- Illinois went 3-0 in non-conference play this season, going undefeated in non-conference play for the first time since 2011 (4-0).
- Tonight's win extends Illinois' winning streak at Memorial Stadium to four games.
- It is the longest such streak since the Illini won five-straight home contests from Nov. 22, 2014, to Sept. 20, 2015.
- Tonight was the Illini's first shutout win since a 44-0 victory over Western Illinois on Sept. 12, 2015.
- The Illini defense has not allowed a touchdown in three of the first four games this season.The defense held the Mocs to 142 total yards, a season low.
- It is also the fewest yards allowed since holding Western Illinois to 141 yards on Sept. 12, 2015.
- They have held three of the first four opponents to 222 yards or fewer.
- The defense has also held opponents to fewer than 25 points in 12 of their last 13 games.
- Tonight marks the first time in program history that the Illini had a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers in the same game.
- Illinois recorded 502 yards of total offense in tonight's game, a season high. They have 400 yards of total offense or more in three of the four games this season.
- It was the first time since Nov. 10, 2018, at Nebraska, that the Illini offense recorded at least 500 total yards.
- Bret Bielema improved to 8-8 to in his Illinois career with tonight's win. He is the first Illini head coach to start .500 or better through his first 16Â games since John Mackovic started 9-6-1 in the 1988 and 1989 seasons.
- With no passing touchdowns allowed tonight, no FBS team has allowed fewer TD passes than Illinois since last October.
Illinois Notes
- Tonight's captains: WRÂ Isaiah Williams, LBÂ Tarique Barnes, DBÂ Sydney Brown, OLÂ Alex Palczewski.
- OL Alex Palczewski started for the 56th time in his career, extending his Illinois record. Palczewski is three back of tying the Big Ten record of 59 set by Minnesota's Connor Olson from 2016-21.
- RB Chase Brown ran for 108 yards in tonight's contest adding to his national leading rushing total to 604.
- His brings Illinois total to 2,167 yards. He surpassed the legendary Red Grange for 16th most rushing yards in Illini history in the first quarter and would go on to pass John Karras for 14th most yards in program history.
- 12. Reggie Corbin, 2016-19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,361
- 13. Keith Jones, 1984-88Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,194
- 14. Chase Brown, 2018-present 2,167
- 15. John Karras, 1949-51Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,135
- 16. Chubby Phillips, 1973-76Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,103
- 17. Red Grange, 1923-25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,071
- 18. Nathan Scheelhaase, 2010-13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,066
- Brown is the first Illini in history to rush for 100 yards or more in five-straight games.
- Brown is the first running back in program history to rush for 100 yards or more in each of the first four games to open a season.
- Brown is the first Illini rusher to have four-straight 100-yard performances in a single season since Robert Holcombe in 1997.
- Brown had his 10th career 100-yard game, tied for the fifth-most in Illinois history. He is one back of Red Grange for fourth and six back of Robert Holcombe for Illinois' all-time record for 100-yard rushing games.Â
- WR Pat Bryant set career highs in receptions (6) and yards (112) tonight. He also caught the second touchdown of his career in the second quarter.
- WR Isaiah Williams caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
- The nine receptions matches a career high, set earlier this season on Sept. 2 at Indiana.
- The 63-yard touchdown reception was a career high.
- QB Tommy DeVito completed 23 of his 31 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns.
- DeVito has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of his first-four games to start his Illini career.
- DeVito has thrown three touchdown passes for the first time since Nov. 2, 2019.
- DeVito was the first Illini QB with over 300 passing yards since Brandon Peters threw for 369 at Michigan State on Nov. 9, 2019.
- TE Michael Marchese caught the second touchdown pass of his Illini career in the second quarter.
- DB Jartavius Martin recorded his fifth-career interception and his first of the season tonight.
- LB Gabe Jacas and DL Jer'Zhan Newton led the way defensively with eight tackles a piece.
- Newton's eight tackles is a career high.
- LB Seth Coleman recorded a game-high four QB hurries.
