By: The Scots scored touchdowns on their first six drives and took a 49-0 lead into halftime, eventually going home with a 69-7 victory.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College football team understood the challenge ahead of it with No. 20 and undefeated Monmouth College coming to town, but the Fighting Scots proved to be too much for the Blueboys on Saturday, scoring touchdowns on their first six possessions to pull away for a 69-7 win. With the loss, IC moves to 5-3 (4-2 Midwest Conference) while Monmouth keeps its postseason aspirations alive and well at 7-0 (5-0 MWC).
Illinois College took possession of the ball first, but was forced to punt after three plays. Pressure on punter
Nick Montrey resulted in a one-yard punt, giving Monmouth the ball on IC's 30-yard line to start. After a three-yard loss on first down, Tanner Matlick hit Brock Thoms for a 33-yard touchdown pass and the rout was on.
In the first quarter, the Scots added touchdowns on a four-yard DeAndre Wright run, a two-yard Matlick run and a 14-yard Yansay Williams reception.
In the second quarter, Monmouth added onto its lead with a one-yard Trent Rains touchdown, another pass to Thoms, this one for 25 yards and a score, and finally on a six-yard Jacolby Maxwell reception. At the half, the Scots led 49-0.
Monmouth extended its lead to 59-0 in the third quarter before Illinois College got on the board. After a good kickoff return from
Logan Uyetake gave the Blueboys the ball near midfield,
Greg Cross busted off an 18-yard run to move into Scots' territory. Three plays later, on third down,
Blake Matson hit
Andy Webb across the middle and Webb went untouched for a 30-yard touchdown pass.
The Scots were more than happy to milk the clock throughout the second half and after Webb's touchdown, the only other score for Monmouth came on a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone by Austin Ray. The Scots booted a field goal late in the game to reach the final of 69-7.
Matson ended the day 13-of-30 for 107 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Cross was the leading rusher for the Blueboys with 23 yards on eight carries and he added four receptions for another 23 yards. Defensively,
Ryan Torrance had 13 tackles (six solo) and
Matt Graef added 11 tackles (three solo).
Illinois College goes on the road next weekend, traveling to face St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis. on Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
