What’s better than getting your first win of the season? Your first win for the new head coach!
The Fighting took to the scorching hot Memorial Stadium field full of vim and vigor in front of over 41 thousand. But things started off more like a baby taking its first steps rather than a finely-tuned Big Ten team.
Illinois fell behind 9-2 to visiting Nebraska midway through the second quarter after the Illini opened up with two special teams points curtesy of the safety. Punter Blake Hayes – part of “The Lads” duo on special teams – floated a beautiful punt deep to the North end zone. That’s when Kerby Joseph rocketed down the field and forced the safety. It was the Illini’s first since 2016.
U of I tied the game at nine after Mike Epstein scored from a yard out and James McCourt converted the extra point.
The biggest play of the game was a forced fumble that was plucked off the turf like a hot potato by linebacker Clavin Hart Jr., who then ran it in for a touchdown with less than 40 seconds remaining in the second quarter. That gave the Illini a 16-9 lead. Hart finished the game with a team high five tackles.
“Very, very excited to get a win, not just for our team but our fans,” head coach Bret Bielema said. He continued, “I thought the crowd was awesome, starting with the Illini Walk to getting dropped off in Grange Grove, I though our players really reacted to that.”
The players did. The fans did as well as they were into the game the rest of the way.
The Fighting Illini would build a 30-9 lead and hold on for the 30-22 win over West Division rival Nebraska.
Next game is Saturday, September 4, in primetime when Illinois hosts the University of Texas San Antonio. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.
You can hear all the action on WLS-AM 890
