Luke Altmyer threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns and No. 12 Illinois scored on its first five possessions to trigger a 52-3 season-opening victory over Western Illinois on Friday night in Champaign, Ill.
Altmyer completed 17 of 21 passes for the Illini, who played with an AP Top 25 ranking in their opener for the first time since 2008. Aidan Laughery rushed for 101 yards and two scores on nine carries, Justin Bowick snagged two touchdown passes and Hank Beatty caught five passes for 108 yards while delivering Illinois’ first punt return for a score since 2013.
Chris Irvin hit 14 of 29 passes for 134 yards for the FCS-level Leathernecks, who managed just 29 yards on the ground. Demari Davis posted four receptions for 65 yards.
After stuffing Western Illinois on fourth-and-6 on the game’s first possession, Illinois marched 59 yards for a score. Altmyer capped it with a 3-yard flip to wide-open tight end Tanner Arkin.
On the next play from scrimmage, NFL prospect Gabe Jacas (two sacks) hit Irvin from the blind side and forced a fumble that was recovered by Kaleb Patterson at WIU’s 26. Six plays later, Altmyer tossed a 3-yarder to Bowick for a 14-0 lead.
Laughery sprinted 25 yards down the left sideline to give Illinois a 21-0 lead with 13:20 to go in the first half, and then David Olano booted a 35-yard field goal and Altmyer rifled a 13-yard post to Bowick to push the gap to 31-0 by halftime. Illinois owned a 235-87 advantage in total yards at the break.
Western Illinois put something on the highlight reel when defensive end DJ Taylor blocked Olano’s 28-yard field-goal attempt to blunt the second half’s first drive. The Leathernecks did nothing with their ensuing possession, though, which set up a better highlight for Illinois’ special teams as Beatty took the punt return 69 yards for a 38-0 lead with eight minutes left in the third.
The Leathernecks got inside the 1-yard line on Davis’ 21-yard circus catch, but thanks to a false start and three stuffed rushes, they had to settle for Antonio Chadha’s 20-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Kaden Feagin and Laughery rushed for fourth-quarter scores as Illinois close it out with a 440-163 edge in total yards.
