After suffering its first losing streak of the season, Illinois (6-3, 3-3) got back on track with a 35-13 win over Rutgers (4-5, 1-5).
Senior quarterback Luke Altmyer and the offense wasted no time in making their mark, scoring on a 99-yard drive in their first possession. Altmyer capped off the drive with a short touchdown pass to junior running back Kaden Feagin, who was wide open.
“The very first touchdown pass, that was 100% Barry (Lunney Jr.),” said head coach Bret Bielema. “When Barry speaks and speaks with that volume and intensity, we usually have good results. When I hear that on the headset, it makes me smile because I know good things are coming.”
Plenty of good things were in store for Illinois the rest of the game. The team found the endzone on four of their next five drives while limiting the Scarlet Knights to a pair of field goals.
Altmyer made a statement with both his arm and legs today, something the quarterback hadn’t done all season. Heading into the game, Altmyer’s season-high in rushing yards was 48, which he set in last weekend’s loss to Washington.
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Today, Altmyer ran wild, racking up 88 rushing yards on seven attempts. He also notched his third rushing touchdown of the season. In the final minutes of the first half, the Illini lined up in wildcat formation on fourth and goal.
Feagin took the snap and handed it off to Altmyer, who waltzed into the endzone. Altmyer said that he was looking to throw, but took the opportunity to run when it presented itself.
“Didn’t expect to run it at all, we didn’t work that one time,” Altmyer said. “But the Red Sea parted, and I walked in.”
In the air, Altmyer connected with four different receivers for touchdown passes. Junior receiver Hudson Clement had a breakout performance, recording his first touchdown of the season while putting together a highlight reel of contested catches.
“I know I can make those plays,” Clement said. “They weren’t happening how I wanted them to earlier in the season, but having a game like this really helped me remember who I am.”
Clement also set a season high in receiving yards (84) in the win. His emergence adds another weapon for Altmyer to find. Clement joined fellow receivers senior Hank Beatty, sophomore Collin Dixon and junior Justin Bowick in totaling at least 30 receiving yards today.
“He’s a great player, super dynamic,” Altmyer said of Clement. “Very similar to Hank the way he’s able to make really, really crazy catches. He hadn’t done it a whole lot through the first couple of weeks, but his confidence is going to a new place.”
The defense, meanwhile, limited Rutgers to just 13 points, and their quarterback, senior Athan Kaliakmanis, to just one touchdown.
Kaliakmanis, the conference leader in passing yards, struggled with accuracy. The quarterback had just a 55.6% completion today, his second-worst mark of the season.
Illinois put an emphatic end to the game, with junior defensive back Tyson Rooks adding Kaliakmanis’ final incompletion after breaking up a pass destined for a last-second touchdown.
The Illini have another bye next weekend before returning to Gies Memorial Stadium to take on the Maryland Terrapins (4-3, 1-3) on Nov. 15.
@BrendanGallian
