FINAL Illinois 42, UAB 23
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- FINAL Illinois 42, UAB 23
Sep. 3—CHAMPAIGN — Big plays dominated Thursday night for Illinois football en route to a 42-23 win against UAB>
A night that improved the Illini to 6-0 in season openers during the Bret Bielema era.
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But Bielema and his staff will have plenty to pick apart in the next week before Illinois (1-0) hosts Duke at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 12.
The announced crowd of 52,673 witnessed the debut of the largest scoreboard in college football situated in the horseshoe at Gies Memorial Stadium and witnessed the debut of a new Illinois defensive scheme.
The scoreboard dazzled with its lights, features and overall size. The defense? The verdict is still out on Bobby Hauck's 3-3-5 look, even with Ismael Kante's 59-yard touchdown on an interception return in the fourth quarter sealing the Illini win.
"We had so many new things and new faces coming into today," Bielema said. "We saw some flashes in all three phases."
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UAB (0-1) had its offense on the field for two-thirds of the game, with the Blazers having the ball for 41 minutes, 3 seconds compared to just 18:57 for the Illini.
Katin Houser, however, made the most of his limited opportunities on the field. The fifth-year senior quarterback making his first start for the Illini finished 13 of 17 for 182 yards and three touchdowns, including a dramatic Hail Mary to end the first half. He picked up a fourth touchdown on a 6-yard scramble that bumped the Illinois lead to 35-16 with 12:25 left in the fourth quarter.
"He's a special kid," Bielema said.
Ca'Lil Valentine rushed for a team-high 89 yards on 11 carries, with his 51-yard touchdown run giving Illinois a 14-3 lead with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
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UAB, however, cut its deficit to 14-13 with just 18 seconds left in the first half after a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Burton to Roderick Robinson II. But that was apparently enough time for Illinois to pull off a highlight-reel play to end the first half.
On the final play of the second quarter, Houser dropped back about and unleashed a Hail Mary pass to the south end zone. Instead of UAB batting the ball down, it bounced around before Ty Robinson caught it in the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown catch.
A game-changing play to give Illinois a 21-13 lead into halftime. A lead that grew to 28-13 with 10:15 remaining in the third quarter after Houser hit Collin Dixon on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Dixon turned into Houser's favorite target on the night, with Dixon making six catches for 70 yards.
Burton finished 18 of 32 for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception to go along with a late rushing touchdown. The Blazers compiled 408 yards of offense, rushing for 189 yards.
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"A lot of really good things," Bielema said. "Some things popped up. A really good learning experience."
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Kante takes it to the house
12 plays, 44 yards, 6:03
UAB continued to chew clock while moving the ball against the Illini. Much like the Blazers have done all night. But the pressure the Illini showed allowed Ismael Kante to become the first Illinois defensive player to score a touchdown this season. With UAB quarterback Ryder Burton under pressure, Kante alertly caught a distressed shovel pass from Burton and raced 59 yards for a touchdown.
Illinois 42, UAB 16
***
Lead is growing
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13 plays, 75 yards, 6:33
The first two Illinois drives of the game barely topped 1 minute in total play time. The Hail Mary to end the first half was even shorter. But the Illini have proven in the second half they can string together a lengthy drive just like UAB. The difference? Illinois has turned those longer drives into touchdowns instead of field goals. The latest was capped by a 6-yard scoring run by Katin Houser.
Illinois 35, UAB 16
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Another three points
11 plays, 58 yards, 6:17
The most consistent part of the Blazers' offense has been its ability to stay on the field. This drive was the fourth, out of six total, to last double-digit plays. It was also the third that ended in a Jonah Delange field goal (this time from 35 yards). Long drives that sputter out deep in the other team's territory, though, qualify as a real bummer.
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Illinois 28, UAB 16
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Double dip
11 plays, 75 yards, 4:45
The officials wiped out what would have been one of the most impressive rushing touchdowns of his career by saying his knee went down as he did everything humanly possible to stay on his feet and get to the end zone. But Laughery was, in fact, down. It didn't take long for Illinois to get back to the end zone, however, with Katin Houser connecting with Collin Dixon for a second touchdown tonight.
Illinois 28, UAB 13
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Hail Mary
3 plays, 66 yards, 0:13
Yes, Katin Houser was actually able to connect with Ty Robinson on a 54-yard touchdown to end the first half. It might be the most embarrassing defensive play of the season (and it's still only Week 1). UAB basically had its entire defense in the end zone, but somehow Robinson still wound up with the ball. Great turn of events for the Illini and a dagger for the Blazers.
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Sometimes you just need a little help from your opponent (i.e. gross incompetence).
Illinois 21, UAB 13
***
Suddenly, a ball game
10 plays, 50 yards, 2:45
This time, the Blazers didn't blow it within site of the end zone. Two previous first-and-goal situations ultimately deteriorated into UAB field goals. The third had zero drama, as Blazers quarterback Ryder Burton hit running back Roderick Robinson II on a crossing route for a 10-yard touchdown.
Illinois 14, UAB 13
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Stuffed
6 plays, 25 yards, 2:47
UAB gifted Illinois a free first down with a defensive pass interference penalty (the Blazers' fifth total penalty) on what was already shaping up to be a medicore drive. The Illini followed through on that by getting stuffed on fourth-and-1 near midfield. A delayed handoff to Jordan Anderson didn't make a ton of sense when quarterback Katin Houser is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. Sneak might have worked better.
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Illinois 14, UAB 6
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Settling, again
6 plays, 27 yards, 3:23
The Blazers, again, had first-and-goal inside the 5-yard line and couldn't punch it in the end zone. Mostly because they can't stop hurting themselves. A false start penalty pushed UAB back on that first-and-goal play and then its offense stalled out. Another Jonah Delange field goal, this one from 23 yards, was all the Blazers could manage.
Of note for Illinois ... Xavier Scott went down with cramps in both of his legs, and the athletic training staff took him back to either the locker room or the athletic training space now in FICE.
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Illinois 14, UAB 6
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What exactly was the plan?
3 plays, 6 yards, 2:16
Field position was obviously an issue after UAB downed its punt at the Illini 2-yard line. Running Ca'Lil Valentine into the teeth of the Blazers' defense on three consecutive plays was ... a choice. Valentine got nowhere on first and second down and didn't do much damage on third down. A low Lars Rau punt and a 19-yard UAB return certainly didn't help the Illini flip the field.
Illinois 14, UAB 3
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Not helping themselves
8 plays, 21 yards, 4:34
An early holding penalty put UAB in a tough spot. A false start on a manageable fourth down did in the Blazers, forcing a punt. The only upside? UAB was able to down the punt at the Illinois 2-yard line.
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Illinois 14, UAB 3
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Breaking free
3 plays, 75 yards, 1:06
There's chunk plays, and then there's CHUNK plays. Ca'Lil Valentine had one of each in the Illini's second scoring drive. The junior running back started the drive with a 17-yard gain (thanks to a big block from center Jake Renfro). Then Valentine uncorked the longest run of his career, showing exceedingly impressive patience to let a hole develop in the line before bursting forth for what turned into a 51-yard touchdown run.
Illinois 14, UAB 3
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Just three points
12 plays, 67 yards, 5:31
What probably should have been a touchdown after Blazers wide receiver CJ Smith beat Illinois cornerback Tywan Cox deep down the sideline for a 42-yard reception, wound up as just three points.
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Illini defensive lineman Joe Barna snuffed out UAB's first down run from the 3-yard line. Then the Blazers were hit with a false start, and Illinois linebacker James Kreutz forced an incompletion. UAB quarterback Ryder Burton was forced to scramble on third and long and got nowhere, prompting a 26-yard field goal from Jonah Delange.
***
That was quick
3 plays, 30 yards, 1:03.
Katin Houser's first drive as Illinois quarterback was an efficient one. Aidan Laughery got it going with a 7-yard rush. Then Houser hit Hudson Clement on a 5-yard out before finding a WIDE open Collin Dixon in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass.
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All set up by Mac Resetich's impressive punt return. Scoring is certainly easier when you only have 30 yards to go.
***
Bent, but not broken
10 plays, 25 yards, 6:02.
The Blazers were kind of rolling with Illinois struggling to stop the run. Like really struggling, as UAB running back Roderick Robinson II picked up a a pair of first down and quarterback Ryder Burton picked up another.
Then a holding penalty wiped out what would have been another first down for the Blazers, and Emory & Henry transfer linebacker Ean Rhea secured the first sack of the season for Illinois. UAB was forced to punt, and Mac Resetich retuned it 65 yards to set up the Illini offense in seriously advantageous position.
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***
No injury report tonight from Illinois (we won't get those until Big Ten play starts), but the two expected two-deep players are not dressed.
The Illini will be without wide receiver Jayshon Platt and linebacker Daniel Brown against UAB. Both would have started. Also out for tonight's game that hadn't been previously ruled out for the season were offensive lineman Champ Smith, tight end Logan Farrell, defensive back Xanai Scott, linebacker Jacob Alexander and wide receiver Jacob Harvey.
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Nearly three dozen former Illinois football players landed a spot with an NFL organization after cut down day at the end of last week.
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That includes 23 Illini on active rosters, with 21 of those playing for Bret Bielema. Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Ted Karras and Washington Commanders offensive lineman Nick Allegretti — the starting centers, respectively, for their teams — are the outliers.
Five NFL teams are represented tonight in Champaign, with scouts from the Commanders, Bengals, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders in attendance.
***
It's time.
After weeks of discussing and writing about this Illinois football team — and then writing about it and discussing it some more — a game will actually be played. The Illini are roughly 2 hours out from their season opener against UAB at Gies Memorial Stadium. As 26 1/2-point favorites.
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It's not a stretch to say we've hammered every possible talking point ahead of the season from new quarterback Katin Houser to a brand new defense under first-year coordinator Bobby Hauck.
Transfer quarterback's self-organized mini camp in California this past spring helped him connect with some key teammates: 'We really got closer'
Tonight's season opener against the Blazers might not reveal all of Illinois' secrets — in fact, it will probably be as vanilla as vanilla can get from a scheme perspective — but football seasons is far superior to talking season.
I'lll have wall-to-wall coverage of tonight's game from Gies Memorial Stadium right here at , as my 11th season on the beat officially gets underway. Tonight's coverage will include exhaustive in-game updates and then plenty after the game.
Follow along all night. Literally.
