Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College football team achieved a decisive 64-14 win over Knox College in a Midwest Conference game held Saturday at England Stadium in Jacksonville, Illinois. The Blueboys now hold a 4-2 overall record and are 3-2 in conference play, while Knox falls to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the league.

Illinois College quickly established a 16-0 lead. Timo Kato returned a punt for a 64-yard touchdown, followed by a field goal from Toby McTamney and a 40-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Elliott to Kyle Leonard. Knox narrowed the gap to 16-7 in the second quarter, but Tanner Spencer’s six-yard touchdown run gave IC a 24-7 halftime advantage.

In the second half, Illinois College scored 28 unanswered points over about nine minutes. Lleyton Miller started the run with a 50-yard touchdown. Landon Grapperhaus returned an interception for another score. Spencer added another touchdown with a 54-yard run, and Justin Gipson contributed with an 18-yard rushing touchdown. Knox managed to score late in the third quarter before Skyler Young added a one-yard touchdown and Ki'on Carson finished with a 50-yard run.

Illinois College totaled 539 yards of offense, including 372 rushing yards. Gipson led with 94 yards on 13 carries. Spencer had 84 yards on seven attempts, Miller ran for 83 yards on five carries, Carson gained 61 yards on two carries, and Young added 30 yards on two carries.

Defensively, the Blueboys limited Knox to just 149 yards. Drake Stuart led with eight tackles, Connor McDowell made six, and Blaze Helton had five.

According to team records, Illinois College has now won 19 of its last 23 regular-season games, as well as 24 of its last 30 games overall. The Blueboys have also won their last 11 home games at England Stadium.

Illinois College will travel to Ripon next week for their longest road trip of the season. The Midwest Conference game is scheduled to begin at noon.