JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College football team remained undefeated at England Stadium in 2019 with a 47-17 victory over Knox College in a downpour on Saturday afternoon. After trailing very early on, the Blueboys proceeded to score 31 straight points the remainder of the first half to grab control of the contest. The win lifts IC to 5-2 (2-1 Midwest Conference South Division) on the season.
Knox went 12 plays and 60 yards on the first drive of the game, eventually making its way into the Illinois College red zone before the Blueboy defense held. The drive resulted in a 35-yard field goal from Preston Lade to make it 3-0. IC was quick to respond. Taking over on its own 33, the Blueboys went 67 yards in eight plays to take the lead on a four-yard touchdown run from
Trevor Smalls. Smalls had big runs of 22 and 14 yards along the way and
Drew Chance found
KJ Corley for a 25-yard completion later in the drive to set IC up inside the Knox 5-yard line.
A quick-moving first quarter ended with Illinois College leading, 7-3, but the Blueboys would grow the lead to 10-3 on the second play of the second quarter when
Konner Schuckman booted home a 23-yard field goal. Following a defensive stand on a fourth-and-one play, Illinois College took possession again on its own 23-yard line and moved the ball 77 yards in another eight-play drive to take a 17-3 lead. Corley again had a big reception covering 35 yards and
Trevor Nott ran the ball in from eight yards out for the score.
Before the first half ended, Illinois College had extended its lead to 31-3 on a 28-yard touchdown catch by
Dan Bickert and a one-yard run from
Drew Chance.
The Blueboys were held scoreless in the third quarter and Knox was able to pull a touchdown back to make it 31-10 entering the final quarter of play. Midway through the fourth, Nott scored his second touchdown of the day on a four-yard carry to grow the Illinois College advantage to 38-10. Following another Prairie Fire score, the Blueboys went 41 yards on three carries from Smalls and the freshman raced in from 22 yards out to make it 45-17 with just over two minutes remaining. After a botched kickoff return left Knox on its own 1-yard line, the IC defense swarmed the backfield and ended the game with a safety.
Chance was 16-of-24 for 230 yards and one touchdown through the air. Smalls ran 23 times for 185 yards and two scores. Nott ended with 13 carries for 68 yards and two scores. Bickert led the Blueboy wideouts with four catches for 73 yards.
Mike Koos was the leading tackler in the game for Illinois College with nine (seven solo).
Vernell Bentley had two tackles for a loss.
Bobby Carr II broke up three Knox pass attempts.
Illinois College has an unexpected bye week on Nov. 2 after Grinnell College's cancellation of its season. The Blueboys return to action on Nov. 9 for Senior Day at England Stadium hosting the University of Chicago at 1 p.m.
