JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The Illinois College football team scored three touchdowns, including one in the final seconds, in the second quarter, and pulled away for a 56-20 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday at England Stadium.
Quarterback Michael Bates was 19 of 31 passing for 315 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions for the Blueboys (4-0, 3-0 MWC). Dakota Lammy carried the ball 19 times for 160 yards and a touchdown for Illinois College.
Illinois College piled up 613 yards of offense, including 292 on the ground.
Quarterback Luke Barthelmess completed 19 of 30 psses for 174 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Lawrence (1-3, 1-3).
Illinois College jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but linebacker Jon Hope got his first of two interceptions and returned the ball 18 yards to the Illinois College five-yard line. Barthelmess hit Dominique Dirden with a touchdown pass on the next play to trim the lead to 14-7.
The Blueboys then pushed the lead to 28-14 in the second quarter, but the Vikings answered. Lawrence drove 60 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. Barthelmess completed key passes to both Tyler Mazur and Scott Vandeloo, and Barthelmess then ran it in from three yards out.
Lawrence got another interception from Hope and drove to the Illinois College 13 before being pushed back and turned the ball over on downs. The Blueboys then drove 71 yards on seven plays, with Bates completing a 26-yard touchdown pass with one second left in the half. Illinois College led 35-14 at the half.
The Vikings took their opening possession of the second half and moved 67 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. Barthelmess hit Mazur with a 14-yard scoring pass to cut the margin to 35-20.
Illinois College got a touchdown after a Lawrence turnover to push the lead back to 42-20, and the Blueboys added a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to complete the scoring.