Illinois Too Much for Indiana

It looked like Indiana would upset Illinois and give the 19th-ranked team its first defeat of the season early, but the Illini held strong in a 41-20 victory on Saturday.

Indiana freshman Shane Wynn returned the opening kickoff 98 yards untouched for the fourth-longest return in IU history. That gave Indiana a 7-0 lead.

On Illinois' first play from scrimmage, Adam Replogle sacked Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase for a two-yard loss that led to a three-and-out.

It was the start Indiana needed.

On Illinois' second possession, a quarterback-to-running back exchange resulted in a fumble, and IU's Brandon McGhee recovered near midfield. Four plays later, kicker Mitch Ewald nailed a 44-yard field goal. 

With 5:55 left of the first quarter, Indiana was already up 10-0.

It all changed from there, though.

On Illinois' third possession, star Illini receiver A.J. Jenkins and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase connected on a 77-yard touchdown strike. It was Jenkins' sixth touchdown of the season.

Scheelhaase saw Indiana was blitzing its corners, and he made them pay.

On the ensuing Indiana possession, quarterback Dusty Kiel was sack and Illinois defender Tavon Wilson returned the fumble 66 yards for a touchdown.

Just like that it was a 14-10 Illinois lead.

Indiana showed a little bit of fight on the next Illinois offensive possession when Adam Replogle sacked Scheelhaase and forced a fumble in which freshman Bobby Richardson recovered at the Illinois 2-yard line.

Indiana ran three straight running plays in which Illinois stuffed them all three times, which led to another Mitch Ewald field goal to bring the score closer at 14-13 Illinois.

Illinois answered back with a touchdown strike from Scheelhaase to freshman tight end Jon Davis for his first career score. After an weird decision by head coach Ron Zook, Illinois was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt, but Illinois led 20-13.

The Illini never looked back from there.

Jenkins and Scheelhaase hooked up for a second touchdown at the end of the half with a 67-yard strike that gave Illinois a 27-13 halftime lead.

Illinois sealed their first 6-0 start since 1951 on a Scheelhaase nine-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

The Illini added another touchdown and the Hoosiers scored a garbage-time touchdown by freshman quarterback Tre Roberson with 5:29 to play in the game to end the scoring at 41-20.

The touchdown was Roberson's first of his career, as he ended up 11-for-17 for 148 yards and an interception on the day. He got most of the action due to starting quarterback Dusty Kiel's struggles.

Kiel was 6-for-19 with only 71 yards.

Stephen Houston was the leading receiver and rusher on the day for the Hoosiers, with three receptions for 70 yards and 14 carries and 68 yards.

Scheelhaase led the attack for the Illini in going 12-for-22 passing for 210 yards and three touchdown passes in the air. He also had 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

A.J. Jenkins had another big day, with six receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Illinois will try to tie that 1951 team's start at 7-0 next week at home in Champaign against the struggling Ohio State Buckeyes.

Indiana (1-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) will hit the road the next two weeks against tough conference opponents.

Next week the Hoosiers will travel to Madison, Wisc., and take on the Big Ten's best Wisconsin Badgers. The week after that they travel to Iowa City and take on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Indiana returns to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 29 against Northwestern for Homecoming.