Football is Finally Rocking: Illini Beat Penn St

25 photos by Cary Frye

Arrelious Benn celebrates his 2nd touchdown of the day, a hard-fought tackle-shedding 29 yard reception from Juice Williams.

For the first time in years Memorial Stadium rocked all game long and Illinois won versus a ranked opponent. The Illini beat #21 Penn St 27-20 Saturday to go 2-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1991. Arrelious Benn electrified the crowd in the first half on 2 scores, a 90 yard kickoff return and a 29 yard pass reception were he broke at least 4 tackles. In the 2nd half the defense came up with big plays to halt PSU scoring drives, including interceptions by J Leman, Vontae Davis, and Kevin Mitchell to put the game away. Game thread. Recap.

More game pictures after the jump!

Photos by Cary Frye courtesy of fryeimages.


Brit Miller goes upside-down to make a tackle.


After Penn St took a 3-0 lead on the game's opening drive, Arrelious Benn returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. It was Benn's first TD as an Illini.


Juice Williams was 11-24 for 120 yd, 1 TD, 2 INT.


Arrelious Benn


J Leman


Rashard Mendenhall gained 76 yards on 18 carries and had one touchdown.


Arrelious Benn fights for yards after the catch...


...and receives help from—and gives an inadvertent facemask to—Jacob Willis...


...and breaks free to score on a 29 yard reception.


Derek Walker sacks Penn St quarterback Anthony Morelli.


Juice Williams pitches to Arrelious Benn.


Arrelious Benn


Joe Paterno





J Leman prevents a Penn St touchdown reception by knocking the ball out of Andrew Quarless' hands.


J Leman comes down with his first collegiate interception.


Vontae Davis reels in an acrobatic interception.


Eddie McGee came in to replace Juice Williams at quarterback with 9:54 left in the 4th quarter. McGee was 0-3 passing, but had an big 53 yard run that setup an Illini field goal.


Jason Reda was 2-2 for field goals (47 & 33 yards).


On 4th-and-13, Penn St QB Anthony Morelli ran 14 yards for an apparent 1st down until Justin Harrison knocked the ball loose on the hit. Penn St recovered behind the 1st down marker and Illinois took over on downs.


Rashard Mendenhall


Kevin Mitchell comes down with the game-clinching interception with less than a minute left.


The Illini players celebrate with the band and students in the North End Zone.