The University of Illinois football program continues to search for consistency, and victories. The Illini, 2-10 last season, will take a 1-0 record into a 6 p.m. Saturday game at home against Western Illinois University. The victory in the season opener at home Saturday was a narrow escape, with a 31-24 comeback rally against Kent State of the Mid-American Conference.
Western Illinois will bring an 0-1 record to Champaign Saturday, following its opening defeat, 26-23, at Montana State University. Prospects for the Illini by most observers were for a 2-0 start in non-conference games, however, Kent State made it difficult.
It was the timely play of the oft-injured Mike Dudek, an athletic 5-11 and 195 receiver and return man, more than anything that was the key for the Illini victory following a 17-3 halftime deficit. Dudek suffered a season-ending injury again Saturday which was announced Sunday. A knee injury against was the culprit.
With the score 24-all early in the fourth quarter, Dudek, a fifth-year senior from Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, a District 204 school, returned a Kent State punt 26 yards to give Illinois good field position. With the ball on the Kent 34, Dudek hauled in a 24-yard pass from Illinois’ first-year, but, senior quarterback A.J. Bush to put the ball on Kent’s 10. Three plays later the Illinois punched across what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
After a stellar freshman season in 2014, Dudek, rushed for seven yards Saturday as well as caught passes against Kent. He has suffered college career injuries. Both 2015 and 2016 seasons by Dudek were lost to injuries. Last season was shortened by injury.
Bush, 6-4 and 225, is a graduate of Virginia Tech last Spring, who qualified to play one more season. He runs well and won the Illini QB job.
Kent State made a valiant bid to come back late in the game by driving inside the Illini 20 which was squelched by an Illinois pass interception.
At halftime when Kent led, 17-3, the Illini were met with a chorus of boos.