The Illinois football team has its swagger back or at least some of it.

The Illini pounded Illinois State 45-17 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, rebounding nicely from a disappointing season-opening loss to Missouri.

The Illini were forced to play without their starting quarterback, Juice Williams, after he injured his quadriceps on a 49-yard run in the first quarter in which he fell one yard short of the end zone.

Backup quarterback Eddie McGee filled in with an efficient performance, completing 13 of 17 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

The junior quarterback has spotted Williams throughout his career, and head coach Ron Zook said he was mostly pleased with his performance.

“I thought he did well,” Zook said. “He had a couple of bad throws there. He ran a couple of times when he should’ve handed off. But … that is the most he’s played since he’s been here, and I think he’ll get better, and it’ll help him over there.”

Williams was questionable to return for the second half, but Zook decided to take precaution in keeping him out of the second half.

“Juice wanted to go,” he said. “In fact, he fought me a little bit at halftime. We just felt like it was more important that he’s healthy and ready to go.”

With McGee under center, though, the Illini scored early and often in the first half.

Jason Ford’s one-yard run in the fourth minute of the game opened up the floodgates as the Illini scored in every quarter.

Although the Redbirds were never a threat, the Illini aren’t claiming to have had a perfect game.

“We came out real hard, and in the third quarter we had kind of a letdown,” receiver Chris Duvalt said.

“On the sideline, the coaches were telling us we had to get it up like we did in the first two quarters.”

Ford and Daniel Dufrene returned from ankle injuries to total 198 of Illinois’ 384 total rushing yards.

Star receiver Arrelious Benn also returned but was held without a reception for the first time in his career.

The win didn’t erase last week’s disaster of a game, but the Illini seemed to accomplish what they wanted – a blowout win without any significant long-term injuries.

“All of the guys that were knicked up, we got back out there, played and got game experience,” Zook said.

“Obviously it’s going to be very, very important that they got game experience, and obviously they’re very, very important for the next game.”