Beatty returns punt for TD, breaks
Grange's nearly 102-year-old mark in No. 12 Illini's opening rout
[August 30, 2025]
By STEVE STEIN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Hank Beatty returned a punt 69 yards for a
touchdown and broke Red Grange’s nearly 102-year-old Illinois record
for yards on punt returns to help the No. 12 Illini rout Western
Illinois 52-3 on Friday night to open the season.
Beatty had four returns for 133 yards to break Grange's mark of 125
set against Nebraska on Oct. 6, 1923. The third-quarter TD return
was the Illini’s first since D’Angelo Bailey did it against Ohio
State in 2013.
Beatty also led Illinois in receiving with 108 yards on five
catches.
“Hank started to have success in the punt-return game last year and
that's given him confidence as a receiver,” Illinois coach Bret
Bielema said.. “I was talking with (Western Illinois coach) Joe
Davis before the game and he said they don't want to punt it to
Hank. But, obviously, they did.”
Luke Altmyer was 17 of 21 with three touchdowns passes in an
interception-free performance. Aidan Laughery ran for 109 yards on
nine carries and two TDs.
Chris Irvin was 14 of 29 for 134 yards for Western Illinois. Antonio
Chadha made a 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
“Obviously, this wasn't the outcome we wanted,” Davis said. “The
physical advantages Illinois has over us were apparent and they're a
well-coached and talented football team. We'll close the book on
this one and move on to next week.”
The overmatched Leathernecks gained just 163 yards. Gabe Jacas led
the Illinois defense with five tackles, two sacks, and a forced
fumble.
“Gabe is a freak of nature,” Bielema said. “He has a great skill
set, and he's highly motivated.”
The Illini led 31-0 at halftime, with Altmyer throwing all three of
his TD passes — two to Justin Bowick in his first game at Illinois
since transferring from Ball State.
[to top of second column] |
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) passes during the first half
of an NCAA college football game against Western Illinois on Friday,
Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
The takeaway
Western Illinois: There wasn’t a lot for the Leathernecks to be
happy about. But Davis praised his defense, saying Illinois needed
to keep Altmyer in the game until the fourth quarter “to try to put
us away.”
Illinois: Bielema hoped his team caught the attention of some AP
poll voters. “Some people didn’t vote for us at all,” he said. “So
our success from last season (a team record-tying 10 wins) was
temporary in their eyes.”
FG streak ends
David Alano of Illinois kicked his seventh straight field goal
dating to last season and 18th of his career in the first half. The
streak ended in the third quarter when DJ Taylor blocked a
28-yarder.
What's new? 57 players
Illinois has 16 returning starters from last season — tied with
Arizona, Clemson and Penn State for the most in the nation — and 18
from the Illini’s win over South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus
Bowl.
Contrast that to Western Illinois, which has 57 new players on its
roster. That made scouting a bit of a challenge for Bielema and his
staff.
“We were grading players with film that we got from all over the
place,” he said.
Up next
Western Illinois: At Northwestern on Sept. 5.
Illinois: At Duke on Sept. 6.
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