CHAMPAIGN, In poor health. — — Chase Brown rushed for 146 yards on 20 carries, Tommy DeVito threw for 196 yards and two scores and the Illinois protection stifled Virginia’s once-potent assault to steer the Preventing Illini to a 24-3 victory on Saturday.
Issues regarded dicey for Illinois (2-1) after DeVito threw an interception on his first cross try of the day and when Brown fumbled after a first-down run.
Nevertheless, a dominant protection cleared the trail to victory because the Illini held Virginia (1-1) to 1 of 16 on third-down conversions.
“This was an enormous assertion to me about the place we had been a 12 months in the past to the place we at the moment are,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema mentioned. “Clearly, they have new coaches and every thing, however the majority of lots of there gamers had been there, a few of ours are again and I wished to see the place we’re as a program.”
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon shined with seven tackles and three cross breakups and defensive finish Keith Randolph got here up with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and 7 tackles.
DeVito bounced again to finish 17 of 25 passes, together with 39- and 2-yard landing throws to tight ends Michael Marchese and Tip Reiman, respectively, to assist the Illini take a 21-3 lead into halftime.
“We have now lots of belief in all people that is on the market, however to see them flourish and actually have the ability to transfer the chains, get some touchdowns and maintain that going was superior,” DeVito mentioned.
True freshman Matthew Bailey put Illinois forward 7-3 by recovering a muffed punt that bounced into the tip zone for a landing with 5:38 left within the opening quarter.
“I had goosebumps all over the place, to be trustworthy,” Bailey mentioned. “Operating, taking a look at all of the followers, the band … it was a loopy feeling.”
Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong struggled to search out his receivers, finishing simply 13 of 32 passes for 180 yards with two interceptions. He threw for 405 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 42-14 win towards the Illini in 2021.
“They simply flat out beat us on each one-on-one, that is all I can actually say,” Armstrong mentioned.
Cavaliers working backs mixed for 42 speeding yards on 29 carries.
Brendan Farrell put Virginia forward within the first quarter with a 42-yard subject objective for the Cavaliers’ lone rating.
Virginia’s Tony Elliott shouldered the blame for a “tough day on the workplace” in his first loss and first street journey as a head coach.
“Hopefully this would be the catalyst that sparks us to guarantee that we do not take something without any consideration,” Elliott mentioned. “I additionally mentioned final week, particularly after halftime of the (Richmond win) offensively, ‘Don’t take a look at the stats.’ We have now lots of room to enhance, we have got to get higher and might we deal with success? Offensively, we didn’t deal with success properly.”
Bailey and security Kendall Smith intercepted Armstrong twice within the fourth quarter to halt a pair of Virginia drives.
Illinois transformed on 5 of 14 third-down makes an attempt and out-gained Virginia by 172 yards.
The protection bailed Illinois out repeatedly as Ryan Walters’ crew allowed simply three factors off 4 first-half turnovers. Virginia gained 11 yards on two drives that began in Illinois territory after takeaways.
“Protection gave us the ball in plus territory twice,” Armstrong mentioned. “What else might you ask for?”
Bielema credited his protection for standing up the Cavaliers when put in some precarious positions.
“After we threw that first choose, to me, that is a defensive alternative,” Bielema mentioned. “We need to put out a fireplace and so they did that precise deal.”
Caleb Griffin tacked on a 23-yard subject objective within the third quarter for Illinois.
DEVITO DELIVERS
Do not look now, however Illinois would possibly lastly have a succesful quarterback after biking via mediocre and subpar expertise on the place during the last decade.
“Any means form or kind, I’ve to discover a option to give the crew an opportunity to maneuver the ball and maintain the sticks shifting on third down,” DeVito mentioned.
DeVito has accomplished 67% of his passes for 622 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions via three video games.
These numbers are an enormous enchancment for a program that hasn’t seen a quarterback surpass 2,000 passing yards in a season since Wes Lunt threw for two,761 yards in 2015.
THE TAKEAWAY
Elliott has a gifted quarterback and succesful receivers, however the Cavaliers might want to enhance alongside its offensive line all through the season to compete within the ACC.
He mentioned he must “problem the employees, myself and the gamers” to verify Virginia can proper the ship earlier than convention play begins with away video games at Syracuse and Duke.
“All of the issues I noticed within the recreation are correctable,” Elliott mentioned. “It is only a matter of creating certain all through the course of the week that you’ve a proper mindset from a preparation standpoint. Perceive that the separation is within the preparation.”
The Illini seem like they received’t be a pushover in a Large Ten West division that noticed regular front-runners like Wisconsin and Iowa lose on Saturday.
Brown and DeVito have breathed new life into the offense and the protection has held Wyoming, Indiana and Virginia to a mixed 29 factors.
UP NEXT
Virginia: The Cavaliers welcome Previous Dominion to Scott Stadium subsequent Saturday.
Illinois: The Illini have a bye subsequent week earlier than internet hosting FCS opponent Chattanooga on Thursday, Sept. 22 in Champaign.
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