SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 1, 2012

Illinois 24, Western Michigan 7: Junior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase threw for one touchdown and ran in another as Illinois raced to a big early lead, then used its dominating defense to overpower visiting Western Michigan in the season opener for both teams.

The win marked the seventh straight home opening victory for the Fighting Illini, while WMU dropped its eighth straight season opener.

Scheelhaase, who left in the third quarter with an ankle injury and did not return, had both his scores in the first half as Illinois led 17-0 at the break.

The Fighting Illini wasted little time getting started as Scheelhaase threw a 64-yard TD pass to Ryan Lankford on the fourth play of the game.

Illinois forced four WMU turnovers and held Broncos quarterback Alex Carder to just 239 yards passing while intercepting him three times, including a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ashante Williams in the fourth quarter to give Illinois a 24-7 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Illinois defense held WMU to minus-6 yards rushing. ... Reilly O'Toole relieved Scheelhaase and completed 2 of 3 passes for just 7 yards. ... The Illini won the time of possession 35:02 to 24:58. ... Of the eight straight losses in season openers by Western Michigan, six have come against teams from the Big Ten.