CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It wasn’t pretty, but the Illini came out with the win.
Illinois won its season opener against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, 31-24.
“There was never a doubt in our mind that we weren’t going to come back and win this game,” said wide receiver Mike Dudek. “[Linebackers] Jake Hansen and Del’Shawn Phillips both great leaders and linebackers for us really made everyone believe.”
After a sluggish first half, the Illini offense finally began to click in the third quarter, getting three touchdowns from three different running backs.