Illinois Pounds Rutgers in Second Half

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After battling Rutgers to a 10-10 draw in the first half, Illinois outscored the Scarlet Knights 28-0 in the second half of a 38-10 win at Memorial Stadium.  The Illini forced three turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns to turn a tight contest into their third straight win.

What Can Brown Do For You?

Senior running back Dre Brown found pay dirt twice Saturday to double his season total. His first touchdown of the game, a ten-yard run, opened the scoring in the first quarter. His second, a two-yard run, came on Illinois' second drive of the third quarter and gave the Illini the lead for good.

The Best Offense is a Good Defense

Illinois entered the game fourth in the nation and second in the Big Ten with three defensive touchdowns on the season. Junior defensive back Nate Hobbs and senior linebacker Dele Harding added two of their own Saturday. Hobbs recovered a fumble and returned it 36 yards to the end zone with 7:29 left in the third quarter. Harding's 55-yard interception return in the fourth quarter put the finishing touches on the victory.

Harding's interception ended the third straight Rutgers possession with an Illinois takeaway. The Illini also used junior wideout Josh Imatorbhebhe's 52-yard touchdown catch to capitalize on another fumble recovery. 

Ground-n-PoundTen Illini combined to rush for 204 yards Saturday. That total marked the second straight week Illinois had gained at least 200 yards on the ground after a 242-yard output at Purdue. Senior Reggie Corbin led the way with 51 yards, while junior quarterback Brandon Peters added 41.

Team Notes:

Illinois is on a three-game winning streak for the first time since starting the 2011 season 6-0

• Illinois is on a three-game Big Ten winning streak for the first time since 2014-15 when the Illini finished the 2014 season with victories over Penn State and Northwestern, then beat Nebraska to start the 2015 conference schedule

• Illinois is on a three-game Big Ten winning streak in a single season for the first time since beating Minnesota, No. 1 Ohio State, and Northwestern to end the 2007 regular season en route to the Rose Bowl Game.

• Illinois is over .500 in November for the first time since 2015 when the Fighting Illini beat Purdue, 48-14, on Nov. 7, 2015 to move to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten.

• Illinois is .500 in Big Ten games in November for the first time since 2010 when the Fighting Illini beat Northwestern, 48-27, on Nov. 20, 2010 at Wrigley Field to finish the season 4-4 in conference games.

• Illinois' five defensive touchdowns this season are tied for the national lead. Illinois scored its fourth defensive touchdown of the season on Nate Hobbs' third-quarter fumble return and its fifth on Dele Harding's fourth-quarter interception return.

• Illinois has at least one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in every game this season

• Illinois' 15 fumble recoveries this season are its most since recovering 16 in 2010

• Illinois has outscored opponents 87-41 in the third quarter this season, including 21-0 against Rutgers. • Illinois leads the nation in defensive touchdowns (5, tied), fumbles recovered (15), and takeaways (22)

• Illinois' defense outscored Rutgers' offense, 12-10. • Illinois had 10 TFLs and now averages 8.4 TFLs per game, the third-best mark in Illinois history (9.7 in 1987, 8.8 in 1995)

• Illinois leads the all-time series against Rutgers, 4-2. • Illinois started four transfers - QB Brandon Peters, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, OL Richie Petitbon, LB Milo Eifler

• Illinois captains: LB Dele Harding, LB Jake Hansen, P Blake Hayes, OL Doug Kramer, OL Alex Palczewski

Individual Notes

• Senior LB Dele Harding was the second player in the nation in the last 20 years to have 12+ tackles, 2.0+ TFL, 1+ forced fumble, 1+ interception, and 1+ touchdown in a single game (Kentucky's Mike Edwards had the exact same stat line - 12 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 1 intercpetion touchdown -  vs. Middle Tennessee 11/17/2018).• Senior DB Stanley Green had his ninth career forced fumble, the third most in Illinois history

• Junior DB Nate Hobbs had his first career touchdown on a 36-yard fumble return after Stanley Green's forced fumble.

• Junior LB Milo Eifler had career highs in tackles (10), TFLs (2.5), and sacks (1.0)

• Junior DL Isaiah Gay had a career-high six tackles, a career-high two pass breakups, his first career forced fumble, and 1.0 sacks

• Senior RB Dre Brown had his first career two-touchdown game. He had eight carries for 31 yards and two touchdowns

• Junior QB Brandon Peters had a career-long 54-yard run in the third quarter. Peters completed 6-of-11 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown and ran three times for 41 yards.

• Junior WR Josh Imatorbhebhe had a career-long 52-yard reception.• Sophomore WR Donny Navarro had a career-high 57 receiving yards, including tying a career-long 48-yard reception

• Senior RB Reggie Corbin ran 13 times for 51 yards. Corbin is in 12th place on Illinois' all-time career rushing yardage list.• Senior DT Jamal Milan had three tackles and 2.0 TFLs

• Junior P Blake Hayes had two of five punts inside the 20-yard line. Hayes has placed 24 punts inside the 20 yard line this season, 14 within the 10-yard line, and seven within the three-yard line with just one touchback this season. On the 24 ensuing drives when Hayes pins the opponent inside the 20, opponents have scored only 16 points (0.7 points per drive) and Illinois has scored two defensive touchdowns (net -2 points).

• Freshman WR Casey Washington started for the second straight game. He is the 14th Illini wide receiver in history to start multiple games as a true freshman. • Senior TE Justice Williams started for the third time in his career at his third different position (TE vs. Rutgers 11/2/2019, WR vs. Western Illinois 9/8/2018, LB vs. Iowa 11/19/2016)

• Junior RT Alex Palczewski started for the 32nd straight game

• Junior C Doug Kramer started for the 24th straight game.• Junior LT Vederian Lowe started for the 22nd straight game

• Sophomore LG Kendrick Green started for the 21st straight game.• Junior DE Oluwole Betiku Jr. missed his second straight game with an injury.• Junior WR Ricky Smalling missed his second straight game with an injury.