Foster Runs Wild in Lovie’s Illini Debut

IL wide receiver Malik Turner (11) runs the ball after a catch during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Murray State Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. For Smith, Illinois marks his entry into the head coaching ranks of college football.

MURRAY STATE: The Racers open their home schedule against Missouri State on Saturday. Early, the Racers looked a little overwhelmed with dropped passes, stumbles by receivers and Humphries’ risky throws, including the two first quarter interceptions.

IL head coach Lovie Smith touches Grange Rock before entering the field for warm ups before an NCAA college football game between IL and Murray State Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

Peoria’s Kendrick Foster broke free for two 56-yard touchdowns in the first half of Illinois’ 52-3 season-opening win over Murray State in Lovie Smith’s college head coaching debut. IL took a 35-3 lead at halftime after a field goal from Racer kicker redshirt senior Connor Mitchell.

Defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson said his team missed a few tackles that they can’t afford to do against a big-time opponent like North Carolina this Saturday. Tim Beckman was sacked just before the 2015 season opener, and Smith replaced the man who took over for Beckman, Bill Cubit.

“I thought they filled in well”, Smith said. “But we realize it’s one, and tomorrow we’ll be right back at it”.

The North Carolina Tar Heels look for a bounce back win after losing a heartbreaker to the Georgia Bulldogs.

On Saturday, the Illini heeded his words early and took control of the game.

On the second play, Julian Hylton intercepted quarterback KD Humphries to give the ball to IL deep in Murray State territory.

Smith, along with his assistants, have brought almost six decades of National Football League experience to Champaign, and it showed early and often against the Racers.

IL held the Racers to a total of minus-10 yards rushing while the Illini accounted for 287 yards on the ground.

“All the older guys I’ve talked to that played in that game, there’s a little bit of bitterness in their mouth about what happened a year ago”, Nickerson said. The Racers’ defense stepped up in the second half, allowing 17 points in the final two quarters.

ILLINOIS: Illinois showed it can force turnovers, as Smith preaches, and turn them into points.

A big question for the Illini heading into this season was whether or not the team would have a viable second option at tailback behind Vaughn. But even with 287 rushing yards, IL never really opened the holes in the Murray State defense Smith has said he wants to see for starting tailback Ke’Shawn Vaughn. And tougher opposition is on the way in North Carolina and Western Michigan before the Big Ten opener against Nebraska. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Saturday.

For Saturday’s game against North Carolina, a team that played for the ACC championship a year ago, IL is calling this game a “Hail to the Orange Night” as fans will be encouraged to wear Orange.

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“You have to look at it that way”, he said.

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