Illinois Downs Purdue, EIU Drops Game to EKU

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Illinois rushed for a season-high 242 yards Saturday in a 24-6 win on a rain-soaked field at Ross-Ade Stadium to improve to 4-4 on the season. Senior running back Dre brown set a career high with 131 yards on the ground, and the Illini defense forced two turnovers in the victory. Illinois now leads the all-time series

Illini Strike First

Illinois scored the first points of the game on James McCourt's 38-yard field goal with 2:47 on the clock in the first quarter to cap a 67-yard drive. Brown keyed the scoring drive with a 44-yard run on the first play of the possession. 
Adams Finds Pay Dirt

One week removed from an interception that set up the game-winning drive in the Illini's upset of No. 6 Wisconsin, junior defensive back Tony Adams came up with another big takeaway. Adams' 13-yard pick-six in the second quarter was the game's first touchdown. The score was the first of Adams' career and Illinois' third defensive touchdown of the year.

Takeaways Continue to Put Points on the Board

Senior linebacker Dele Harding forced a fumble that was recovered by senior safety Stanley Green in the third quarter for Illinois' nation-leading 13th fumble recovery of the season. Green's third fumble recovery of the season and subsequent 29-yard return set the Illini up at the Purdue 22 yard line. Senior running back Reggie Corbin capitalized with a 20-yard touchdown run. 

Team Notes

Illinois leads the all-time series against Purdue, 45-44-6.• Illinois won The Cannon rivalry trophy for the first time since 2015. • Illinois won a Big Ten road game for the first time since beat Rutgers, 38-17, Oct. 6, 2018.• Illinois won back-to-back Big Ten games in the same season for the first time since beating Penn State, 16-14, Nov. 22, 2014 and Northwestern, 47-33, Nov. 29, 2014 to end the 2014 season. • Illinois held Purdue to six points, the Boilermakers' lowest total since a 56-0 loss vs. Ohio State 11/2/2013.• Illinois' six points allowed were the fewest allowed by the Illini in a Big Ten road game since a 3-3 tie at Wisconsin 11/25/1995.• Purdue's six points were head coach Jeff Brohm's fewest ever during his six-year head coaching career (Western Kentucky 2014-16; Purdue 2017-19).• Illinois held Purdue to 3.5 yards per play (77 plays, 271 total yards), the Illini's fewest yards per play allowed in a Big Ten game since 3.5 at Purdue 11/7/2015. • Illinois' three pass completions and seven pass attempts were both its fewest in a game, respectively, since at least 2000.• Illinois' 26 passing yards were the third-fewest by a winning FBS team this season (Army 18 at UTSA 9/14/19, Navy 23 vs. South Florida 10/19/19).• Illinois led 17-0 at halftime. Illinois shut out an opponent in the first half for the first time since Sept. 9, 2017 vs. Western Kentucky (W, 20-7 … Illinois led 13-0 at half). Illinois shut out a Big Ten team in the first half for the first time since Oct. 15, 2016 at Rutgers (W, 24-7 … Illinois led 7-0 at half). Illinois led by double digits at halftime of a Big Ten game for the first time since Oct. 6, 2018 vs. Rutgers (W, 38-17 … Illinois led 24-14 at half).• Illinois led 3-0 after one quarter. It was the first time this season Illinois has shut out a team in the first quarter.• Illinois started a true freshman on offense (WR Casey Washington) for the first time since QB M.J. Rivers started at Maryland 10/27/18, a span of 11 straight games without starting a true freshman on offense. • Illinois started four transfers - QB Brandon Peters, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, OL Richie Petitbon, LB Milo Eifler  • Illinois captains: LB Dele Harding, LB Jake Hansen, P Blake Hayes, OL Doug Kramer, OL Alex Palczewski

Individual Notes

Senior RB Dre Brown ran a career-high 18 times for a career-high 131 yards. • Senior RB Reggie Corbin ran 12 times for 47 yards and one touchdown. Corbin passed Keith Jones (1984-88) for 12th place on Illinois' all-time career rushing yardage list.• Senior DT Jamal Milan led the defense with a career-high 4.0 TFLs, tied for the 10th-most in a single game in Illinois history. Milan is the first Illini with 4.0+ TFLs since Jake Hansen (6.0) vs. Kent State 9/1/2018.• Junior CB Tony Adams became the first Illini with interceptions in back-to-back Big Ten games since Vontae Davis and Kevin Mitchell both did it against Penn State and Wisconsin in 2007.• Junior P Blake Hayes had two punts inside the 20-yard line. Hayes has placed 22 punts inside the 20 yard line this season, 12 within the 10-yard line, and seven within the three-yard line with just one touchback this season. On the 22 ensuing drives when Hayes pins the opponent inside the 20, opponents have scored only 16 points (0.7 points per drive) and Illinois has scored two defensive touchdowns (net -2 points). • Freshman WR Casey Washington started for the first time in his career, becoming the 19th true freshman wide receiver to start a game in Illinois history. Washington is the fifth Illini true freshman wide receiver to start a game in the last six years, joining Carlos Sandy (1 game, 2018), Ricky Smalling (10 games, 2017), Desmond Cain (5 games, 2015), Mike Dudek (9 games, 2014). Notable Illini wide receivers to start a game as true freshmen include Arrelious Benn (12 games, 2007), Brandon Lloyd (7 games, 1999), and A.J. Jenkins (1 game, 2008).• Junior RT Alex Palczewski started for the 31st straight game.• Junior C Doug Kramer started for the 23rd straight game.• Junior LT Vederian Lowe started for the 21st straight game.• Sophomore LG Kendrick Green started for the 20th straight game.• Junior DE Oluwole Betiku Jr. missed the game with an injury.• Junior WR Ricky Smalling missed the game with an injury.

Eastern Kentucky 33, EIU 3

CHARLESTON -- Eastern Kentucky started eight offensive drives in Eastern Illinois territory as the Colonels beat the Panthers 33-6 during a rain-soaked homecoming game Saturday at O'Brien Field.

EIU fell to 0-9 on the season, 0-5 in the OVC. EKU improved to 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the OVC.
Eastern Illinois defense stepped up on the first drive of the game as Dytarious Johnson intercepted a Parker McKinney pass. EIU went three-and-out on its first offensive possession.

The Colonols shifted gears offensively the remainde of the afternoon playing to the conditions that had heavy rain falling during the contest. EKU ran the ball 58 times for 265 yards while completing ony two passes for 14 yards.