A strong defensive performance and a dual-headed rushing attack helped the Illini overcome a shaky performance by quarterback Juice Williams to beat Western Illinois 21-0 and notch Illinois’ first victory of the season.

Rashard Mendenhall led the Illini with 139 yards rushing on a career-high 23 carries and scored a fourth quarter 16-yard rushing touchdown to put Illinois up three scores. The Illini defense allowed 152 total yards and earned the team’s first shutout in seven years. J Leman led the team with 11 tackles and halted the Leathernecks’ only serious scoring chance.

“I’m getting to the point where I really like the look of our defense’s eyes,” head coach Ron Zook said. “They’ve got that look and they like that challenge.”

Walter Mendenhall fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, setting the Leatherneck offense up on the Illinois 37-yard line. Leman broke through Western’s line and stuffed running back Herb Donaldson for a two-yard loss on a fourth and one on the Illini 27-yard line. The Illini defense allowed only four first downs in the game and one in the entire second half.

“No matter what the score is our defense is not going to let down,” safety Kevin Mitchell said. “It looked kind of grim in the first half, but they came to play and the defense came to stop them every play and we did it and did it good.”

Williams, returning to action after last week’s first-half eye injury, threw for 123 yards on 12 of 24 passing, including one interception deep in the Leatherneck territory.

“I missed a few guys, but it’s going to get better from here,” Williams said. “I’ll get back in the film room and correct the mistakes I made out there.”

Williams managed to find the end zone on a nine-yard rush to cap a nine play, 71-yard drive that followed the Leman stop on fourth and one. Despite the underwhelming performance, Zook said he still believes Williams can, and will, play better and is the right choice for starting quarterback.

“I told him you got to go out and relax,” Zook said. “You can’t be tight. You can’t go out there and force things.”

Without a strong air attack the Illini relied on their running game, which for the second straight week was a two-man attack. After a scoreless first quarter, backup running back Daniel Dufrene got the Illini on the board in the second quarter on a 32-yard scamper. The rush was Dufrene’s second 30-yard run of the season and his first touchdown. He finished the game with nine carries for 51 yards.

Third string running back Troy Pollard saw his first action of his career late in the fourth quarter. He carried the ball four times for 26 yards.

Freshman receiver Arrelious Benn built on his success from last week and led the Illini receivers with four catches for 52 yards and also rushed for 38 yards on three carries.

“I’m getting used to things,” Benn said. “I’m getting more confident everyday I go out.”