Quick hits: Jacas, Beatty lead No. 12 Illini to breezy 52-3 season-opening win over Western Illinois

CHAMPAIGN — Friday was really just a tune-up, but No. 12-ranked Illinois looked like a fairly well-oiled machine against an inferior opponent.

The Illini wasted little time and left no doubt in dominating FCS opponent Western Illinois 52-3 in its season opener at Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

Illini senior wide receiver Hank Beatty starred with a career-high 241 all-purpose yards and broke an Illinois record with 133 punt return yards in a single game, highlighted by a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown. He had a career-high five receptions for a career-high 108 receiving yards.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer looked in command for most of the game, completing 17 of 21 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Ball State transfer Justin Bowick had two touchdown receptions in his Illinois debut.

Aidan Laughery ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including a 57-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Kaden Feagin rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and Ca'Lil Valentine added 51 rushing yards on eight carries.

The Illini's defense was dominant, allowing 163 total yards and 11 first downs. Gabe Jacas had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, one hurry and one pass breakup. Florida State transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye added four tackles and 1.0 sack.

The Illini scored on their first five drives with Altmyer throwing 3-yard touchdown passes to Arkin and Bowick in the first quarter before Laughery found paydirt on a 25-yard rush early in the second quarter to give Illinois a 21-0 lead. After a David Olano 35-yard field goal, Altmyer found Bowick on a 13-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to give Illinois a 31-0 lead at halftime.

Outside of Beatty's punt return touchdown run midway through the third quarter, the Illini had an uninspiring third period as WIU outgained them 68-55 in the third quarter, setting up a 20-yard field goal by Antonio Chadha early in the fourth quarter to end the Illini's shutout bid.

But the Illini dominated the rest of the fourth quarter on the ground, rushing for 129 yards in the final frame, highlighted by Feagin's tough seven-yard touchdown and Laughery's 57-yard breakaway late in the quarter.

What it means: Illinois closed Friday evening as 48.5-point favorites, so it simply did what it was expected and should do as the No. 12-ranked team in the country against an OVC-Big South opponent. An easy win was encouraging to see, and Illinois largely played clean football. Though Altmyer and his transfer wideouts failed to connect on some deep balls, the run game wasn't completely dominant, Altmyer took a few sacks late in the second quarter and Illinois had a few special teams miscues.. All told, however, it was a successful tune-up game that showed positive signs and areas the Illinois staff will address with teach tape. That's exactly what you want out of a game like this heading into a much tougher opponent next week.

Star of the game: Gabe Jacas is an NFL player playing in college football, so of course, Western Illinois had no chance against the All-Big Ten edge rusher. Jacas had a great start to his All-America campaign, playing the role of game-wrecker with five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Jacas is now tied for fifth all-time in career sacks at Illinois with 18.0 and is 5.5 away from second place in Illinois history behind Simeon Rice, who has an all-but-untouchable record of 44.5 career sacks.

But we have to split the honors here because Hank Beatty had a career game and potentially a big step toward his own path to the NFL with the start of a potentially breakout senior season. Beatty was Altmyer's most trusted target, catching five receptions for 108 yards on five targets, including a game-long 59-yard deep ball. Beatty then became the first Illini since V'Angelo Bentley to return a punt for a touchdown with a 69-yard touchdown return in the third quarter, where he broke a tackle inside the 10-yard line to finish in the end zone, and he nearly housed another one late in the fourth quarter with a 43-yard return to the 23-yard line.

Stats of the game

Western Illinois was 5-for-14 on third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth downs.

Illinois out-rushed Western Illinois 209 yards to 29 yards.

Altmyer was sacked three times.

Illinois had nine tackles for loss.

Don't overlook: Game One wasn't a clean game for the Illini specialists. The first punt by Purdue transfer Keelan Crimmins went just 29 yards, and David Olano's 28-yard field goal in the third quarter was blocked as a WIU defender split two Illini blockers and blocked a low kick. Those types of plays could be more costly against a better opponent.

What's next: The real season starts as Illinois heads to Duke (receiving votes) for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff (ABC or ESPN) at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Blue Devils did not look good for three quarters as they were up just 24-17 against Elon early in the fourth quarter on Thursday night, but the Blue Devils pulled away with 21 unanswered points in a 45-17 win. Manny Diaz's defense struggled more than expected, but Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah looked more than worthy of the offseason hype, completing 27 of 34 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Illinois should be road favorites, but the Blue Devils provide a legitimate early road test for the Illini.

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