U of I squeaks by Middle Tennessee State
Illini move to 3-1 before Big Ten slate
 

[September 28, 2015]  The University of Illinois used another solid defensive performance and just enough offense to hang on to a 27-25 victory over the feisty Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University. With the win, the Illini moves to 3-1 ahead of the opening of Big Ten Conference play. The Illini will host the vaunted Nebraska Cornhuskers this upcoming Saturday.

Illini QB Wes Lunt of nearby Rochester was 29-of-49 for 238 yards and one touchdown. Josh Ferguson and Ke’Shawn Vaughn rushed for 88 and 80 yards respectively while Geronimo Allison continued to show that he’s the next big-time wideout by snagging 12 catches for 128 yards. And Taylor Zalewski nailed a 51-yard field goal late in the game to provide the winning margin. But it was the defense that came up big at times and gave the Illini the chance to win.

The, at times, maligned defensive unit, held the Blue Raiders to a game total of 38 yards rushing! They also harassed the kicker at the end of the game forcing a miss on a potential game-winning 43-yard chip shot.

Nobody’s fooling anybody as we all know that the schedule gets exponentially tougher starting next week against Nebraska. However, starting the season 3-1 does put the Illini at least in a position to try to scramble for three more wins to make them bowl eligible. With U of I’s brutal schedule, that task will not be easy, but since that last field goal drifted wide maybe good fortune will smile on the Illini.

[LDN Staff]