Record received

Back at home after two straight road losses, the Illinois College Blueboys (2-3, 2-2 Midwest Conference) defeated rival Lawrence University 28-16 in a record-setting game for wide receiver Michael Jennings.

“I had the privilege to play with the past two record holders for my first two years here,” Jennings said. “It feels great to break the record.”

Jennings was the go-to receiver for the Blueboys Saturday, with 12 catches for 217 yards, including two touchdown receptions. Nine of his catches came in the first half. His final catch of the day, a 61-yard touchdown grab, set a new school record for receptions in a single season at 57.

“It’s a big win and we needed it big time,” Jennings said. “We needed to get some momentum going and keep it up next week.”

Illinois College fell behind briefly and led only 12-10 at the half, but three straight scores in the second half, including Jacob Szetela’s TD pass to Jennings, gave the Blueboys a 28-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“We played for 60 minutes,” IC first-year coach Garrett Campbell said. “I thought we played very well at times, shot ourselves in the foot at times, but that was the first time we put together a complete game.”

While the Lawrence Vikings managed to get on the scoreboard first, they trailed the rest of the afternoon. Lawrence scored on a 23-yard field goal midway through the first quarter after Blueboy quarterback Mitch Niekamp threw the first of his two interceptions. The Vikings then used a nine-play drive to score the game’s first points.

On the Blueboys’ next possession, they used a mix of passes and runs to go 65 yards, also over nine plays, to take the lead. The drive stalled briefly when Illinois College lost 15 yards on an offensive pass interference call, but two plays later, Niekamp completed a 23-yard pass to Jennings.

Illinois College extended its lead on a 16-yard Niekamp pass to Justin Darwent midway through the second quarter.

Two minutes later, the Vikings cut the lead to 12-10 when Nick Maxam completed a 49-yard pass to Jeremiah Johnson.

To start of the second half, the Vikings tried to catch the Blueboys off-guard with an onside kick. IC recovered, and the Blueboys started the half with the ball at their own 46.

Five plays and 54 yards later, Illinois College had an 8-point lead. Matt Williamson scored the Blueboys’ only rushing touchdown of the game on a 14-yard run.

As the third quarter wound down, Mitch Brasher kicked a 31-yard field goal to give the Blueboys an 11-point lead.

The Blueboys got their final touchdown on Jennings’ record-setting catch at the beginning of the fourth quarter. With five games left, Jennings has a chance to add many more receptions to his record.

“Mike Jennings is an excellent football player who is truly starting to buy into everything we are asking him to do,” Campbell said. “He is having the results to show for it.”

Vikings running back Jesse Peterson scored the game’s final touchdown on a 3-yard run.

The Blueboys finished the game with two drives. The first one ended on a missed field goal. When the Vikings took over, IC’s Jason Murphy made an interception on the first play to effectively end Lawrence’s chances.

“We talked all week about needing to step up and not wait for others to do so,” Campbell said. “Murphy had a chance to step up and seal the game, and he did.”

Next week Illinois College hosts Carroll University for its homecoming game.