CHAMPAIGN — Luke Altmyer threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, both to Pat Bryant, to lead Illinois to a 30-9 win over Central Michigan on Saturday.
Bryant had seven catches for 102 yards and Zakhari Franklin caught five passes for 66 yards.
Josh McCray ran for 54 yards on eight carries and Ca’Lil Valentine had 53 yards on five rushes for the Illini (3-0), who have won three straight games to start the season for the first time since 2011.
Texas A&M transfer Ethan Moczulski kicked a school-record 59-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Illini a 13-6 lead.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema said the win wasn’t pretty despite the lopsided score.
“I could almost feel it coming after we beat (then-No. 19 Kansas) last week and had to flip the page and get ready for Central Michigan,” he said. “We had our work cut out for us and we made it more difficult than it needed to be.”
Altmyer and Bryant hooked up for a 20-yard touchdown pass to begin the second half. Bryant wriggled free from four would-be Central Michigan tacklers on his way to the end zone.
Bryant was wide open in the end zone when Altmyer hit him with an 11-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
“Luke and I did lot a work over the summer so when we get to the field for a game, things come easily for us,” Bryant said.
David Alano, the other half of Illinois’ placekicking tandem, made a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 34-yarder in the third.
Tristan Mattson kicked 32- and 29-yard field goals in the first half and a 25-yarder in the fourth for Central Michigan (1-2). The first field goal came after a Marion Lukes 9-yard touchdown run was called back because of a holding penalty.
Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas was 12 of 25 for 125 yards. Chippewas coach Jim McElwain said his team was facing a long bus ride home to think about the game.
“First drive of the first half, first drive of the second half, Illinois marches right down the field and scores,” he said. “That’s unacceptable. Can’t do that.
“Offensively, we’ve got to score touchdowns when we’re in the red zone. Illinois has a good defense. The numbers show it. Give them credit. But we’ve got to put it in the end zone when we’re down there.”
The takeaway
Illinois: After a victory against then-No. 19 Kansas last week lost some of its luster Friday when UNLV upset the host Jayhawks 23-20, the Illini struggled at times against Central Michigan and had 10 penalties for 81 yards. That can’t happen when they hit the road the next two weeks to play No. 23 Nebraska and No. 8 Penn State.
Central Michigan: Six turnovers cost the Chippewas in a lopsided loss last week to Florida International. Of the 52 points Central Michigan allowed, 39 came off turnovers. The Chippewas had just one turnover Saturday, the third interception of the season by Illinois’ Xavier Scott, and it didn’t lead to any points. That’s the biggest positive Central Michigan can take from the game.
Up next
Illinois: At Nebraska on Friday night.
Central Michigan: Hosts Ball State on Saturday.
