Grades are in: Bryant's big game propels Illinois past Central Michigan

Illini running back Chase Brown leads the way with another 100-yard game

Josh McCray returns an interception for a touchdown

Chase Brown ran for 124 yards and a touchdown on Saturday, leading the Illinois Fighting Illini to a 38-17 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas. Brown's performance marked his sixth 100-yard game of the season.

The Illini also got a big play from their defense in the second quarter when Josh McCray returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown, giving Illinois a 24-3 lead. Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, while Daniel Barker ran for 56 yards and a touchdown.

With the win, Illinois improved to 5-1 on the season, while Central Michigan fell to 3-3. The Illini will next face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road next Saturday, while the Chippewas will host the Western Michigan Broncos.

Key Stats

• Chase Brown: 24 carries, 124 yards, 1 touchdown
• Tommy DeVito: 14 of 23 passing, 186 yards, 1 touchdown
• Daniel Barker: 11 carries, 56 yards, 1 touchdown
• Josh McCray: 1 interception, 65-yard return for a touchdown

Quotable

"I'm really proud of our guys," said Illinois head coach Bret Bielema. "They came out and played hard for four quarters. We had some big plays on both sides of the ball, and that was the difference in the game."

"We didn't play well enough today," said Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain. "We made too many mistakes, and we didn't execute our game plan. We need to learn from this and get better."

Conclusion

Chase Brown's big game propelled Illinois to a victory over Central Michigan on Saturday. The Illini are now 5-1 on the season and will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers next Saturday. Central Michigan fell to 3-3 on the season and will host the Western Michigan Broncos next Saturday.