College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Illinois 24, Ball State 21
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 2, 2017
Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
Temperature: 64°
Head Official: Tom Stapleton
Attendance: 42505

True freshman running back Mike Epstein scored two touchdowns, including on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter that propelled Illinois to a 24-21 win over visiting Ball State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

Mike Dudek set up Illinois' winning drive with a 52-yard punt return to the Ball State 35. Quarterback Chayce Crouch hooked up with receiver Malik Turner for a 25-yard completion, and Epstein finished the drive with consecutive runs, including the winning touchdown,with 2:06 left.

Ball State drove inside Illinois territory in the final minute, but the Illini blocked Morgan Hagee's 54-yard field goal attempt to seal the win.

In addition to his impactful punt return, Dudek caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Crouch in the first half.

Crouch completed 10 of 19 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Epstein carried 11 times ofor 54 yards.

Ball State freshman tight end Nolan Givan caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Riley Neal in the first quarter that gave the Cardinals a 7-6 lead.

Illinois answered with a 12-play, 69-yard drive, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Epstein that gave the Illini the lead back.

Illinois tacked on a 40-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin late in the first half to send the Illini into the locker room with a 16-7 lead.

Ball State wasn't going away, though, and opened the third quarter with consecutive, long touchdown drives. Malik Dunner's 3-yard touchdown run capped a 15-play, 75-yard drive for the Cardinals. James Gilbert finished off the Cardinals' next drive with a 3-yard touchdown run that put Ball State ahead 21-16 heading into the fourth quarter.

Expectations are once again low for the Illini, entering their second season under coach Lovie Smith. Illinois went 3-9 last year and was picked to finish in the bottom of the Big Ten West Division, along with Purdue, by the media in the offseason.

Ball State went 4-8 last season and was picked to finish last in the MAC West Division.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Ball State   Illinois
James Gilbert Player Mike Epstein
19 Attempts 11
74 Yards 54
3.9 Avg Yards 4.9
1 Touchdowns 2
0 Long 0
Receiving
Ball State   Illinois
Riley Miller Player Malik Turner
7 Receptions 4
86 Yards 48
12.3 Avg Yards 12.0
0 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Ball State 375 171 204 3 0 1 4.0 1
Illinois 216 71 145 3 1 1 3.0 1