Chase Brown Has Career Day As Illini Beat Charlotte

The Illini win wraps up the non-conference schedule for the Orange and Blue who now host Wisconsin for Homecoming next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Chase Brown made his return to the field a big one, breaking into the top five for most rushing yards in a single game in program history. His 257 yards put him at No. 4 behind Howard Griffith's 263-yard game against Northwestern in 1990. Brown nearly doubled his previous career-high of 131 yards set in 2019 against Rutgers.After scoring just one touchdown so far this season, Brown punched in two rushing TDs against the 49ers. His second score was an 80-yard run, which is tied for the 10th longest run in program history.

While the Charlotte offense looked strong through 20 minutes, the Illini defense dominated the second half. Saturday marks the second game in a row where Illinois held their opponent to under 15 points.

Pass breakups were key to the defense's success. In the 49ers' first drive of the second half, Tarique Barnes broke up a pass on third down in Illinois territory.

On the following Charlotte drive, the 49ers were on the move when Kerby Joseph broke up a third-down pass, that led to a missed field goal for the 49ers.
The fourth quarter wasn't any easier for Charlotte. Keith Randolph Jr. made another big third down play, recording his first career interception at the start of the quarter. In the 49ers final drive of the game, Owen Carney Jr. had back-to-back sacks, marking the third game in a row that the Illini captain has recorded a sack.

Offense Bounces BackFollowing a tough offensive outing last weekend, the entire group stepped up against Charlotte to help get the win. While Brown led the way, freshman Josh McCray was a crucial part of the first half, and finished with 64 yards.

Several Illini receivers got in the mix against the 49ers with Isaiah Williams leading the way with three receptions. After being limited at Purdue, Daniel Barker stepped up for the Illini, catching the team's only pass touchdown of the game with a 10-yard reception. With the score, Barker now holds the Illinois record for career touchdowns by a tight end.

TEAM NOTES

The Fighting Illini improve to 2-4 with the 24-14 victory over Charlotte.  

Illinois tallied a season-high 414 yards of total offense on Saturday, eclipsing the 412 yards recorded in Game 2 vs. UTSA. 

The Illini rushed for 336 yards as a team, also a season-best mark. It is the most for the program since rushing for 341 yards last season at Rutgers (11/14/20). 

After surrendering 14 first-half points, the Illinois defense held Charlotte scoreless in the second half on Sunday. It marks the first time the Fighting Illini defense held an opponent scoreless in the second half of a game since a 38-10 win at Rutgers on Nov. 2, 2019. 

The Illini offense took a 17-14 lead with 6:52 left in the third quarter on a 10-play, 94-yard drive capped by a 31-yard TD run by sophomore RB Chase Brown. The 94-yard drive marked the longest scoring drive of the season for the Illini. 

On the next offensive possession, the Illini scored on their first play from scrimmage, an 80-yard TD run also by Brown. 
Illinois captains: DB Tony Adams, OLB Owen Carney Jr., LB Jake Hansen, P Blake Hayes, OL Doug Kramer, OL Vederian Lowe.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Sophomore running back Chase Brown rushed for a career-high 257 yards and tied his career-high with two rushing touchdowns, giving him three TDs on the season and five for his career. Brown's 257 yards are the fourth-most in a single game in program history.

Brown's 257 yards were the third-most by a running back in college football this season.

Brown's first TD gave the Illini a 17-14 lead in the third quarter. He carried the ball six times for 72 yards on the drive which covered 94 yards overall (the longest of the season for Illinois). 

Brown's second TD of the game, an 80-yard score, came on the first play of the ensuing Illini possession and gave Illinois a 24-14 lead as time expired in the third quarter. The 80-yard scoring run tied for the 10th-longest in program history.  

Junior Daniel Barker hauled in his 10th career touchdown in the second quarter, breaking the Illini record for career-TD receptions by a tight end. He moved past Ken Dilger who caught nine touchdowns for the Illini from 1991-94. 

Senior OLB Owen Carney Jr. recorded two fourth-quarter sacks and now has 14 for his career which ranks 13th in program history, just one away from cracking the top 10. 

Senior OL duo of Vederian Lowe and Alex Palczewski each made their 46th career starts (40th consecutive for Lowe) on Saturday. They are now tied for tied for eighth on the Illini career starts list among all positions, and sixth among offensive linemen. They are two starts from tying the Illinois record of 48.  
Freshman Pat Bryant became the 15th Illini in program history to start multiple games at wide receiver as a true freshman. 

The Illini defense played without senior LB Jake Hansen for the second consecutive game. Hansen, despite missing last week's game at Purdue, entered Saturdays game as the team's leading tackler with 31 stops on the season.    

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema won his 99th career game as a head coach. Brown's 257 rushing yards were the most ever by a player under Bielema.

Murray State 22, EIU 6

MURRAY, Ky.  – Eastern Illinois and Murray State both had long drives to open the game on Saturday afternoon at Stewart Stadium.   Murray State cashed its drive in with an Aaron Baum field goal, EIU was turned away on its drive. 

That would be the story of the first half as Murray State led 13-0 at the break during a 22-6 win. 

Baum hit the 46-yard field goal with 10:53 to play in the first half.  He would add another 41-yard kick in the second quarter staking the Racers to a 13-0 lead.  Baum tacked on a third field goal with 4:43 left in the contest, accounting for the Racers final score. 

EIU was turned away on its long opening drive as the Panthers missed a 36-yard field goal attempt with 4:17 remaining in the first quarter.  EIU again drove deep into Murray State territory on its second offensive drive but was stopped on a 4th and 5 attempt at the 15-yard line.  It was one of four drives for EIU deep into Murray State territory during the game.   

Murray State added a 14-yard touchdown run by DJ Williams in the second quarter as the Racers rushed for 183 yards in the game.  Murray State’s offense held the advantage in the second quarter with 200 yards of offense compared to just 11 yards for the Panthers.   Damonta Witherspoon led Murray State with 141 yards on the ground including a 5-yard touchdown run at the 11:45 mark of the 3rd quarter that pushed Murray State’s lead to 19-0. 

EIU broke through early in the fourth quarter as back-up quarterback Chris Katrenick connected with Arron Foulkes on a streak route down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown.  Foulkes had six catches for 123 yards.  Katrenick was 12-of-35 for 175 yards after entering late in the fourth quarter as starter Otto Kuhns was shaken up. 

EIU’s defense did a good job of applying pressure on Murray State as Jason Johnson and Colin Bohanek both finished with 12 tackles.  Russell Dandy had three turnovers with two interceptions and a forced fumble to go with seven tackles. 
Cortez Roberts led Murray State’s defense with seven tackles.   

EIU is now 1-5 on the season and will return to action in two weeks hosting UT Martin.  Murray State improved to 2-2 on the year.  The game was a non-conference contest between the two OVC rivals as they will meet for their conference match-up on Nov. 20 in Charleston.