football

Northwestern Beats University of Illinois, 24-14

Wildcats move to 10-2 on the season, scoring 10 wins for the fourth time in program history

It was the battle of the Big Ten in Illinois Saturday, as the University of Illinois (with newly-official head coach Bill Cubit) took on #16 Northwestern at Soldier Field for the Land of Lincoln trophy.

Illinois got on the board first with quarterback Wes Lunt punching into the endzone from a yard out. The Wildcats answered with a touchdown pass from quarterback Clayton Thorson to Dan Vitale, somersaulting into the end zone and tying the game 7-7.

After a roughing the kicker penalty on Illinois, Northwestern cashed in, sending running back Warren Long into the end zone. A third Wildcat touchdown thanks to running back Justin Jackson in the second quarter pushed Northwestern to 21-7 over the Illini.

NU’s Thorson’s pass was deflected into linebacker Mason Monheim’s open arms, who ran for a 54-yard touchdown. 21-14, Northwestern entering the fourth quarter.

Kicker Jack Mitchell put up a field goal to give Northwestern an additional 3-point edge, 24-14 Northwestern in the final minutes, and that’s where the score stayed.

The Land of Lincoln trophy and bragging rights go to Northwestern, who move to 10-2 on the season, recording 10 wins for the fourth time in program history. The Illini end at 5-7.  

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