Luke Altmyer went 19-of-29 passing for 242 yards and two touchdowns to lead Illinois to a 30-9 home win over Central Michigan on Saturday in Champaign.
It was the third straight home win to start the season for the Fighting Illini (3-0).
Pat Bryant was Altmyer’s favorite target, catching seven passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
Illinois outgained the Chippewas 379-309 and didn’t turn the ball over. The Fighting Illini overcame 10 penalties for 81 yards.
Joe Labas completed 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards and an interception for Central Michigan (1-2), which had three scoring drives that lasted at least 10 plays.
Tristan Mattson kicked field goals of 32, 29 and 25 yards to account for the visitors’ points.
Leading 13-6 at halftime, Illinois zipped 75 yards on four plays on the first drive of the second half to take a two-touchdown lead.
Altmyer completed a 17-yard pass to Zakhari Franklin and added a 33-yard connection with Collin Dixon to start the drive. He then hit Bryant with a 20-yard pass to make it 20-6 with 13:05 left in the third quarter.
Mattson’s third field goal pulled the Chippewas within 23-9 with 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Central Michigan’s failed onside kick gave the Fighting Illini the ball at the Chippewas’ 46-yard line, and Kaden Feagin capped the ensuing four-play drive with a 2-yard run to close the scoring with 9:34 left.
Feagin’s score came one play after Central Michigan was called for pass interference in its own end zone. Ca’Lil Valentine also had a 22-yard run to the Chippewas’ 17-yard line on the drive for Illinois.
Illinois grabbed a 7-0 lead with 7:05 remaining in the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Altmyer to Bryant.
The teams traded field goals before Ethan Moczulski connected on a school-record 59-yard field goal for the Fighting Illini to end the first half.
–Field Level Media