COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Illini cruises in season opener

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CHAMPAIGN — With a new defense and a new scoreboard, the University of Illinois football team also showed the debut of a new quarterback.

Katin Houser made a big first impression, going 13-of-17 with 211 yards passing with a rushing touchdown and three passing touchdowns — including a 54-yard Hail Mary pass to Ty Robinson to end the first half — as Illinois beat UAB 42-23 on Thursday at Gies Memorial Stadium.

Collin Dixon had six catches for 70 yards with two touchdowns, while Ca'Lil Valentine had 88 yards on the ground with a score. Ismeal Kante had an 59-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth to finish the scoring for Illinois.

The Illini are 1-0 and will continue its homestand on Sept. 12 against the defending ACC Champions, the Duke Blue Devils.

More on the game will be in Saturday's Commercial-News.

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