CHICAGO (AP) — Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season.
Pat Bryant dashed in to score off Luke Altmyer’s 43-yard pass early in the third quarter as Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) struck for touchdowns just over 4 minutes apart early in the third quarter to open a 28-10 lead in what had been a tight game. Bryant's 10th receiving touchdown tied a school record.
Altmyer, who threw for 170 yards, had a TD himself on a keeper from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter. David Olano added a field goal in the fourth to cap Illinois' scoring.
Laughery, a sophomore running back, rushed for a career-best 172 yards and topped 100 for the first time. He entered with only one TD this season and two for his career. He had a career-long 64-yard run for a score early in the second half.
Coach Bret Bielema said he wasn't surprised by Laughery's explosive performance as the Gibson City, Illinois product rounded back into form after being hampered by a hamstring injury earlier this season.
“I thought today would be a day that could happen,” Bielema said. “Today some of those turned into big home run hits we've kind of been waiting on all year.”
Laughery said he's been prepping for this kind of game, when he carried the ball 12 times for an average of 14.3 yards.
“Finally, the opportunity was there,” said Laughery, who got the game ball. “You know you gotta' hit one and it came together today.”
He credited the Illini offensive line with opening space for his breakout performance.
“Those guys were covering them (Northwestern's defense) all day long,” Laughery said. “It was awesome running behind the looks we were getting”
Northwestern’s Devin Turner intercepted Altmyer twice, including for a 13-yard touchdown return late in the first quarter. Thomas Gordon caught Jack Lausch's 15-yard TD pass with a minute left, then the Wildcats added a two-point conversion to complete the scoring.
Northwestern (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten) didn’t pack it in as hosted its second game this season at Wrigley Field, this time on a breezy sunny day with game-time temperature of 20 degrees.
It looked like the Illini might run away after Bryant’s 10th receiving touchdown 4:52 into the third. He entered tied for the Big Ten lead.
But Luke Akers kicked his second field goal of the game, a 34-yarder, with 5:35 left in the third quarter to cut it to 28-13. Lausch led the Wildcats on their next possession and finished it with an 11-yard touchdown toss to A.J. Henning to narrow the Illini lead to 28-20.
Then Mac Resetich intercepted Lausch’s pass 50 seconds into the fourth quarter. Laughery powered up the middle for 31 yards and his third TD about two minutes later to quell the Wildcats' momentum.
Northwestern dominated in possession time — 34:32 to 25:28 —and plays — 90 to 53.
The margin was even more pronounced in the first half, but the Wildcats settled for a 13-yard touchdown return on Turner’s second pick of the game with 2:14 left in the first quarter and Akers’ 21-yard field goal that opened the scoring 6:29 in.
Illinois led 14-10 at the half on Laughery’s 30-yard TD run midway through the first quarter and Altmyer’s keeper 1:39 into the second. Akers missed wide to the right on a 44-yard attempt as time ran out in the half.
Both teams’ leading pass receivers were injured. Northwestern’s Bryce Kirtz was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a lower-body injury after two receptions that upped his total yards to 598.
Illinois’ Bryant went to the locker room with about 5 minutes left in the first half after Turner collided with him as he plucked his second interception. Bryant returned, however, for the second half.
Illinois: Is in line for a prestigious bowl game appearance and a chance to tie the school record of 10 wins, most recently set during their 2001 Sugar Bowl season. “We wanted to put ourselves in a good position on this day to get to nine wins and see where it can go,” Bielema said. “Just a fun day overall. I don't know what the future holds. It think we're a team that can play with anybody in the country.”
Northwestern: Finished its second season under coach David Braun at 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats dropped their final three and five of the last six.
Illinois is headed to a bowl game.
Northwestern opens its 2025 season at Tulane on Aug. 30.
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Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (8) passes against Northwestern's Michael Kilbane (47) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Liga leader was stunned by Las Palmas 2-1 on Saturday.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphinha’s equalizer to give Las Palmas its first win at Barcelona in more than 50 years.
Barcelona played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and was flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League. It had won all eight of its home games.
But it has gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Before Las Palmas, it fell at Real Sociedad 1-0 and drew at Celta Vigo 2-2 after squandering a two-goal lead in the final minutes.
The dropped points mean Madrid, despite its own troubles, especially in the Champions League, can move ahead of Barcelona in La Liga. It trails Barcelona by four points with two games in hand.
“I don’t care about scoring, I care about winning,” Raphinha said after his standout performance was unable to end Barcelona's slump.
“We have to take a hard look at what we are doing wrong. We have slipped in our form and are letting games get away form us. We have our next game on Tuesday (at Mallorca), and we need to turn this around so we can win the league.”
Atletico Madrid was only two points behind Barcelona in second place — and with the same number of games played — after Antoine Griezmann scored a gem of a goal in a 5-0 demolition of last-placed Valladolid.
Las Palmas savored its first victory at Barcelona since the 1971-72 season and just its third victory at the Catalan club overall. The other visits by the modest side that wears all yellow uniforms to Barcelona have ended in 34 defeats and three draws.
“We are thrilled because we have made history,” Sandro said. “When you start the season you think that these games are usually going to end in wins for the bigger side, but if there is one thing we believe in is our capacity to work hard all week to get results like this.”
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that sidelined him for three weeks. Yamal appeared as a halftime substitute and Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also palmed a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.
Sandro, a former Barcelona youth player, capped a fine five-pass buildup by Las Palmas from its own box as it masterfully undid Barcelona’s high pressure in the 49th minute.
Raphinha had already hit the crossbar in the first half before he equalized in the 61st. The Brazil forward took a short pass from Pedri just outside the area, skirted across the edge and drilled a shot between two defenders.
But Barcelona was caught pushing forward for a second goal when Silva controlled a ball from Javi Muñoz and sent in a shot bouncing past Iñaki Peña in the 67th.
The unexpected loss dampened Barcelona’s celebration of its 125th anniversary, which included the debut of its new mascot “Cat,” a large, yellow feline wearing its team kit.
Barcelona lost left back Alejandro Balde early in the game when he couldn’t continue after he crashed into Sandro at full speed. Balde appeared to hurt his upper chest or neck area when he ran into Sandro’s shoulder. He was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Gerard Martín.
Griezmann scored one of the goals of the season when the forward exchanged a quick one-two with Julián Alvarez and used a sleek touch of the inside of his boot to roll the ball with him as he spun before dinking it over the Valladolid goalkeeper.
That was the visitor's fourth goal. Shortly after, Valladolid fans stood up and applauded when Griezmann was substituted.
“That is what every players wants, to make people enjoy what we do. So I appreciate their warmth,” Griezmann said.
Atletico also got goals from Alvarez, Clement Lenglet, Rodrigo de Paul, and Alexander Sorloth.
Espanyol beat Celta 3-1 to end a streak of four losses in the league and relieve pressure on coach Manolo González.
Alaves also drew with Leganes 1-1 at home.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Las Palmas' players celebrate their team's 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' players celebrate after their teammate Sandro Ramirez scoring the opening goal against Barcelona during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's mascot Cat waves a flag prior to a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Las Palmas at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha kicks a ball challenged by Las Palmas' Mika Marmol during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's players react after the second goal of Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' Fabio Silva celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Barcelona during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha, right, and Las Palmas' Mika Marmol fight for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Las Palmas at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick waits for the beginning of the the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Las Palmas at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' Viti Rozada, front, and Barcelona's Pedri fight for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Gavi reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' Fabio Silva, left, and Barcelona's Inigo Martinez fight for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, right, reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
