For the first time since 2002, No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1) has taken the Cannon in back-to-back meetings with Purdue (2-3, 0-2). The Illini left no doubt about who the better team was, besting the Boilermakers 43-27.
It was all offense for the Illini. They had over 500 total yards for the second game in a row. And just like it’s been all season, Illinois was led by its top quarterback-receiver duo.
High-flying offense
The Illini’s passing attack was virtually unstoppable throughout the game. Senior quarterback Luke Altmyer was 19 for 22 for 390 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target, senior receiver Hank Beatty, was well fed once again. He racked up 186 receiving yards and a touchdown.
“(Beatty’s) consistently gotten better and more confident,” Altmyer said. “(He’s) somebody I can trust.”
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It seemed nearly every receiver was wide open at one point or another. The Purdue secondary had breakdown after breakdown in coverage. Beatty was wide open on his 62-yard touchdown. Junior receiver Ashton Hollins had no one near him on his 49-yard catch-and-run.
However, the run game was not as flashy as the passing attack. Illinois struggled to get things going against Purdue’s defensive front, which had 8 tackles for loss.
Junior running back Kaden Feagin struggled. He got the rock 10 times but only tallied 16 yards. He did find the end zone twice, but his 1.6 yards per carry was unimpressive.
Thankfully for Illinois, its sophomore running back carried the load. Sophomore running back Ca’Lil Valentine carried the ball 22 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. His speed and agility make tackling him a difficult task, and he showed that throughout the game.
“I could see it coming,” said head coach Bret Bielema. “I could see the way he’s playing … I thought this would be a game he might fit into.”
Illinois’ offense was on top of its game. After the first drive ended in a punt, it went on a tear. It scored on six straight drives, making sure Purdue didn’t get too close. Of the Illini’s 13 drives, they scored on nine of them.
Defense comes up clutch
Throughout the afternoon, Illinois’ defense was shredded by Purdue’s offense. It allowed 453 total yards: 302 through the air and 151 on the ground. Boilermaker quarterback, sophomore Ryan Browne, continuously made plays. He used his legs to escape pressure and often found his target.
“Credit to him, pretty good quarterback, pretty elusive,” said senior linebacker Gabe Jacas. “The fact that we (were) just able to rush him and keep him in the pocket was pretty good on us.”
When it mattered most, though, the Illini defense came up big. Purdue built up momentum after an early fourth quarter touchdown. However, the defense kept the Boilermakers quiet the rest of the afternoon.
Special teams showed out
The offense wasn’t the only one that had a standout day. The special teams unit came to play, whether it was a punt, a kick return or a field goal.
Junior kicker David Olano was a huge part of the Illini’s victory. He was a perfect 5 for 5 on field goals. He also didn’t miss an extra point. It’s another impressive performance, a week after winning the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
No. 1 up next
Illinois is back home next week against the best team in the country, No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 0-0). It is easily the biggest game of the season, and a sold-out Gies Memorial Stadium reflects that. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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