CHAMPAIGN — Luke Altmyer threw for 213 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Illinois past Eastern Illinois 45-0 on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
Altmyer spread the wealth while completing 19 of 24 passes. Eleven receivers caught passes, three for touchdowns. Pat Bryant had two TDs, giving him 11 for his career. Malik Elzy and Tanner Arkin also caught scoring passes.
Kaden Feagin led Illinois’ rushing attack with 16 carries for 108 yards. It was his first career 100-yard game. He ran for a touchdown, as did Josh McCray. Aidan Laughery ran for 79 yards on 10 carries.
Illinois scored on all five of its trips into the red zone, outgained Eastern Illinois 486-196 and had 27 first downs to the Panthers’ nine.
Four Eastern Illinois turnovers led to 24 Illini points. Miles Scott caused a fumble and had an interception.
It was 31-0 at halftime.
Eastern Illinois had a promising opening drive, but Scott forced a fumble by running back Jay Pearson and Seth Coleman recovered on the Illini 23.
That turned out to be the Panthers’ deepest drive into Illinois territory until late in the third quarter, when Dylan Rosiek chased down Eastern Illinois receiver DeAirious Smith after a pass completion, Smith fumbled and Kaleb Patterson recovered on the Illini 13.
Altmyer threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bryant following Coleman’s fumble recovery. That came on the play after an Altmyer-to-Zakhari Franklin touchdown pass was ruled incomplete and confirmed by video review after a challenge by Illinois.
The takeaway
This wasn’t much of a test for Illinois, which moved at will behind Altmyer’s pinpoint passing and never allowed Eastern Illinois quarterback Pierce Holley, the preseason Big South/OVC Offensive Player of the Year, to get comfortable. Holley completed 14 of 29 passes for 127 yards and was intercepted twice. Eastern Illinois came into the season with high hopes for winning its conference and making it into the FCS playoffs. The Panthers will need to lick their wounds after being overwhelmed by Illinois and refocus on those goals.
Up next
Illinois: vs. No. 22 Kansas on Sept. 7.
Eastern Illinois: vs. Indiana State on Sept. 7.
