CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Nathan Scheelhaase won a matchup of freshmen quarterbacks, rushing for 118 yards and throwing for 195 and four touchdowns Saturday to lead Illinois past Purdue, 44-10.
Purdue quarterback Sean Robinson was 7 of 20 for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Boilermakers struggled in a chilly wind and had just 64 yards at halftime.
Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) led 14-0 before Purdue had run its fifth play and was ahead 30-0 midway through the third quarter.
Scheelhaase was 16-20 passing with touchdowns to A.J. Jenkins, Mikel Leshoure, Darius Millines and Chris James.
Purdue (4-4, 2-2) quarterback Rob Henry, another freshman, started but didn’t throw a pass. He played with a lacerated forefinger suffered a week earlier.
