Despite making some glaring mistakes, Illinois passed the test with relative ease, seizing an early two-touchdown lead in a 42-17 victory that ended its nine-game losing streak.
Senior quarterback Tim Brasic played a productive all-around game and running backs Pierre Thomas, E.B. Halsey and Rashard Mendenhall had a field day.
EIU suffered a devastating injury on the first play of the game when the Panthers' Clint Sellers brought down Halsey, who returned the kickoff to the Illinois 29.
The Panthers also were without their 20-year coach, Bob Spoo, who is expected to spend four to six weeks recovering from surgery for an undisclosed ailment. In his absence, offensive coordinator Mark Hutson is acting coach.
Illinois took the lead on its second possession when Halsey broke away on a 39-yard touchdown run. It then drove 90 yards on 12 plays to increase its lead to 14-0 on its third possession with the touchdown coming on Thomas' 6-yard run.
Led by quarterback Mike Donato and receiver Michah Rucker, Eastern Illinois scored 69 seconds into the second quarter. They collaborated on a 38-yard pass play to the Illinois 24-yard line and then teamed on a 20-yard TD pass.
In accordance with Zook's game plan, Juice Williams, the heralded freshman quarterback from Chicago Vocational, replaced Brasic and made his college debut after the Panthers kicked off to Illinois.
Williams gained 15 yards on two runs and, after incompletions on his first two passing attempts, connected on a 16-yard pass to Mendenhall, putting the ball at the 2. Two plays later Mendenhall scored.
The next time the Illini had the football, however, Williams fumbled after a 9-yard gain. Seymour Loftman recovered for Eastern at the Illinois 33.
Two plays later the Panthers scored on a trick play, a 33-yard pass from wide receiver Justin Duhai to Ryan Voss, who wrestled the ball away from Illinois cornerback Alan Ball. Zach Yates' extra point reduced the Eastern Illinois deficit to 21-14 with 5:29 to play in the half.
Brasic then went back into the game and directed a 73-yard scoring march. His scrambling, 25-yard pass to Jacob Willis was one of two big plays on the drive. The other was Thomas' 38-yard run.
Thomas wound up scoring the touchdown with 31 seconds left in the half, hurdling the line from the 1-yard line after being stopped on the previous play.
Eastern Illinois began the second half by driving to the Illinois 2-yard line before freshman cornerback Vontae Davis made an interception in the end zone, paving the way for an 80-yard touchdown drive.
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