Illinois

Nebraska’s Maturity Will Be Tested Following Crushing Illinois Loss

Published

1 year ago

September 24, 2024

Nebraska’s Maturity Will Be Tested Following Crushing Illinois Loss

Before the Illinois game, Nebraska football fans and players were seemingly on top of the world.

Everything was going perfectly so far during the 2024 season. The Huskers were 3-0 and were the talk of college football. True freshman phenom Dylan Raiola could seemingly do no wrong, and the Huskers were ready to make another national statement against Illinois on Friday night in a primetime-ranked showdown. Instead, the Huskers showed the entire country that they were not yet ready to take that next step.

The 31-24 loss to the Fighting Illini was frustrating for a number of reasons. It felt like Nebraska was the better team for most of the game but they could not put any separation between themselves and Illinois. Anytime they had a chance to go up by two scores, they failed to take advantage. It all culminated in a disastrous overtime period that led to Illinois players celebrating all over the field at Memorial Stadium. The sea of red in the crowd could only watch in disappointment.

The Huskers’ fan base is used to this kind of disappointment. After all, Nebraska has not beaten a ranked team since 2016. But there was a hope that this team would be different, and not subject the fan base to the familiar disappointment that they have associated with Nebraska football for the last several years. But despite the loss and the familiar feeling that fans have this week, there is still plenty of time to turn things around.

Despite the gloomy atmosphere surrounding the Huskers this week, the team still has everything to play for. Losing the conference opener is certainly not an ideal way to begin the season, but there is plenty of time to make up for it. Nebraska’s next three games are against unranked conference opponents. They play Purdue on the road before returning home to face Rutgers. Then they will get a much-needed bye week before facing off against Indiana on the road.

None of those games will likely be easy for the Huskers, but each one is a great opportunity to get a conference win. If Nebraska can take care of business and win all three of those games, then they will set up another ranked match-up with Ohio State on Oct. 26 in Columbus. That will be the best opportunity that Nebraska has all season to get a marquee victory.

Sure, it will be a tall task to win that game, but the Huskers have four weeks and three games to work out the issues that were apparent in the Illinois game. Coach Matt Rhule’s ability to improve his team and prepare them for the upcoming slate will say a lot about him as a head coach. How the Huskers respond to their first loss of the season will also say a lot about the maturity level of the team.

It is going to take a lot of maturity to turn this season around after a loss like that. The Illinois game is not the end of the world unless the Huskers allow it to be.

MORE: Punched in the Mouth? Learn From It, Says Nebraska Football’s MJ Sherman

MORE: Nebraska Basketball Listed as First Team Out in First ESPN Bracketology Release

MORE: Nebraska Football vs. Illinois Sets Friday Night Viewership Record for FOX Sports

MORE: WATCH: Nebraska Men’s Basketball Open Practice Highlights

MORE: Doc’s Diagnosis: A Look at Purdue Football

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Illinois

Central Illinois couple spends golden years serving others

Published

5 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

Central Illinois couple spends golden years serving others

PEORIA (25News Now) – One Central Illinois couple is spending their golden years trying to make the world a better place.

Sandy and Phillip Anton have been volunteering at Midwest Food Bank since 2022. Sandy interacts with clients, helping them get checked in and pick out good food. Phillip is the one who operates the overhead door so that volunteers can load up the vehicles. Both of them are trained in other roles as well.

“We’ve been aware, through family and community connections, of the need, of food insecurity. We know the need is out there. We made a purposeful decision to focus our retirement on food insecurity,” Sandy said.

The food bank praised the couple for their skill at interacting with the community. The organization do much of their work with the help of volunteers like the Antons.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.

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Illinois

Authorities: Woman’s BAC was nearly 3 times legal limit in Lombard, Illinois crash that injured family of 4

Published

17 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Authorities: Woman’s BAC was nearly 3 times legal limit in Lombard, Illinois crash that injured family of 4

A woman was released on electronic monitoring Wednesday after authorities said she drove drunk and caused a crash that injured a family of four in Lombard, Illinois.

Among the injured was a 10-year-old boy.

Jaquelin Onofre Reyes, 27, appeared in DuPage County First Appearance Court on Wednesday morning. The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office had asked to have Reyes detained on a charge of felony aggravated driving under the influence causing great bodily harm, but Judge Joshua Dieden denied the motion.

Onofre Reyes was instead released on electronic monitoring — with conditions that she may not possess or consume any alcohol or drugs.

Lombard police were called at 12:12 p.m. Tuesday for the crash at Route 53 and the Illinois Prairie Path.

Authorities said Onofre Reyes was driving a Hummer sport-utility vehicle south on Route 53 when she veered into the northbound lanes in an attempt to pass traffic in front of her. When Onofre Reyes tried to get back into the southbound lanes, she hit another car, crossed back into oncoming northbound traffic, and hit an Infiniti sport-utility vehicle headed north, authorities said.

Inside the Infiniti were a family of four, with two children ages 7 and 10. Everyone in the family was taken to the hospital, authorities said.

The 10-year-old boy suffered serious injuries and has been taken to another hospital for surgery, authorities said.

Police found that Onofre Reyes had two open containers of alcoholic beverages in her car at the time of the crash, authorities said. Her blood alcohol level was .238 — nearly three times the legal limit, authorities said.

“This incident involved a reckless and irresponsible individual who allegedly chose to operate a motor vehicle while impaired with complete disregard for the safety of others,” Lombard police Chief Joe Grage said in a news release. “Unfortunately, this decision led to a crash that caused significant injuries to innocent people.”

Onofre Reyes is due back in court on Jan. 20 in front of DuPage County Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.

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