JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College football team used an explosive offense and timely defense to post a 50-37 victory over the University of Chicago in a Midwest Conference contest on Saturday night at England Stadium.
With the victory, IC improved to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while Chicago fell to 2-3 and 2-2.
IC 50 Chicago 37
The game got off to an explosive start as the teams combined for 38 points in the first quarter. The Blueboys started the scoring when quarterback
Destin Chance plunged in from a yard out.
Toby McTamney added the PAT and it was 7-0 IC just over three minutes into the contest.
The Maroon didn't waste any time evening the game as Josh Minton returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a score to make it 7-7.
IC returned the favor just 43 seconds later when Chance found
Collin Brunstein from 57 yards out to make it 14-7 after McTamney's PAT. After a Chicago 48-yard field goal cut the IC lead to 14-10, the Blueboys closed out the quarter when Chance and Brunstein hooked up again, this time from 71 yards out. McTamney's PAT made it 21-7 at the end of the opening quarter.
Trey Birdsong started the second quarter scoring IC when he caught a 7-yard pass from Chance.
Tanner Spencer closed out IC scoring in the half with a 2-yard run as IC led 34-24 at halftime.
The Blueboys got a 32-yard field goal from McTamney before UC added another touchdown to make the score 37-31 at the end of the third quarter.
IC put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Chance scored on a 38-yard run and
Kyle Leonard hauled in a 31-yard TD pass from Chance. The Maroon scored in the waning minutes to close out the scoring for the night.
Chance finished the night 22-for-37 for 327 yards and fourth touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 86 yards and two scores.
Birdsong had a game-high nine catches for 51 yards and a score while Leonard added seven catches for 97 yards and a score. Brunstein added four receptions good for 149 yards and a pair of scores.
The ground game was led by Spencer who rumbled for 97 yards on his 27 carries.
IC's defense was paced by
Cam Dailey who had 16 tackles.
Cory Walbert added 10 and
Drake Stuart chipped in with nine.
Malik Byndom had IC's lone interception.
Blue Notes
Tonight's game started a stretch for the Blueboys that will see them play four of their final six games at home... Chance has 54 career TD passes and needs four to move into a tie for 5th place with his brother Drew on IC's all-time list… Brunstein, already IC's all-time leader in receiving yards, increased his total to 4,089 today. He is now the first receiver in IC history to have 4,000 yards in a career. Brunstein's two touchdown receptions increased his career record to 57. Collin now needs 35 receptions to move into third place on IC's all-time list.
Up Next
The Blueboys hit the road next week, traveling to Knox on Saturday. The Midwest Conference contest will kick off at 1:00 p.m.
