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‘Routine for him’: Illinois’ receivers showed up when it mattered most

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‘Routine for him’: Illinois’ receivers showed up when it mattered most


Goooood afternoon, Illini fans. If you’re reading this on Sunday, it’s the one-year anniversary of the Illini’s loss to Kansas in Lawrence. It’s also the one-day anniversary (not sure if that’s a thing) of the win over No. 19 Kansas in Champaign. There were plenty of positives to take away from the game, including but not limited, to our receiving game.


“Holy cow, did you see that catch?”

That’s a question you could’ve asked a handful of times during Illinois’ 23-17 upset win over the Kansas Jayhawks, but for the most part, you said it while pointing at the players wearing 13 or 4.

While even the more pessimistic Illini fans might point to the team’s slow start and argue that a better first quarter may have made things easier, we’d like to argue it wouldn’t have made the game as fun as it was.

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The Illini exited the gates playing great defense, with a Xavier Scott interception and a turnover on downs keeping the game close despite a Zakhari Franklin fumble in Illinois territory.

Just when Illini fans started hoping for Luke Altmyer to start slinging it, he did. With around two and a half minutes left in the second quarter, it looked like Barry Lunney Jr. made the call to start slinging it to a target the OC is very familiar with.

Franklin, who knew Lunney from his days at UTSA, made this catch look easy.

“It was third down. I saw Luke scrambling, and I just wanted to stay in bounds. Keep my feet in and make the catch,” Franklin said, reminiscing on the catch. He’s a man of few words, and when asked what the key to making a grab like that, he said: “Concentration. Focus.”

On the play following the catch, Franklin was called for an offsides, turning 1st and 10 on the 28 to a 1st and 15 on the 33. The drive would end with David Olano sinking a 50-yard field goal into some wind.

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“Flush it. Mistakes are gonna happen, so [I] just play the next play,” Franklin said on the mindset following the earlier fumble and the penalty. He says that’s been his mindset when handling in-game mistakes, something that’s developed as he’s matured. He’s a journeyed veteran and is currently college football’s active career leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. When asked when that ability to simply ‘flush it’ came to him, he said: “Man, I don’t even know man. It just happened over time.”

While Illini fans may be quick to label Franklin to be as good as advertised, Bielema says there’s much more left to come from him.

“I think he’s only going to begin to get better,” he said. Franklin was a late addition to this recruiting class, committing in June. “He’s understanding how we do things here, and [he’s] put himself in a position to not only help us this year but also for the future.”

Following a quiet third quarter that saw Kansas reclaim its lead, Altmyer’s arm got back to slinging, leading the charge on an eight-play, eighty-yard drive looking to reclaim the lead.

A big 37 yards. The hesitation, acceleration and separation before the catch were perfectly orchestrated by the veteran.

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Directly following that pass, Illini fans wouldn’t be blamed for having a feeling of déjà vu: a chunk of that big gain was taken away by a seven-yard sack.

The passing game was on line and in the heads of the Kansas defense. That success through the air opened the door for Luke Altmyer on the ground. He’d scramble for 18 yards to convert the 2nd-and-17 and threw another dot to Bryant two plays later.

TCR staff photographer Brad Repplinger got a great shot of Bryant’s stretch for the pylon, too:

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TCR // Brad Repplinger

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“He does it every day in practice man, it’s just like routine for him,” fellow wideout Franklin said on Bryant’s pass-catching ability after the game.

The following play would be a one-yard punch-in for running back Kadin Feagin, giving Illinois its first lead since going up 13-10.

A 15-play, 42-yard and nearly seven-minute drive burned plenty of clock and gave Illinois a 23-17 lead, which featured true freshman running back Ca’Lil Valentine. The back, who Bielema says is as “quick as a hiccup”, finished with eight rushes and 25 yards, including two crucial first downs to set up Olano from 43 yards out.

After that, the game boiled down to letting the defense do what the defense had been doing for the past three quarters.

Illinois might not have had a ton of yards through the air (just 192) or any receiving touchdowns, but Altmyer, Franklin and Bryant made the passing game look good when it mattered most.

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Illinois is off to its first 2-0 start since 2019. Next week, they’ll be chasing their first 3-0 start since 2011. If they can do that and grab one or two road victories, Kansas might not be the last sellout of the season.

“I look forward to playing in [front of] some more sellout crowds here,” Franklin said.

Saturday will be a September Homecoming at home against the Central Michigan Chippewas. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium be at 11 a.m., and the game can be seen on Peacock.



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Frost advisory overnight in Illinois, with even cooler temps possible Friday

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Frost advisory overnight in Illinois, with even cooler temps possible Friday


Temperatures are expected to dip considerably overnight Wednesday and into Thursday, with a frost advisory in effect for swaths of the area.

According to the National Weather Service, that advisory will go into effect at midnight and run through mid-morning Thursday in DeKalb, LaSalle, Grundy and Kankakee counties.

Temperatures are expected to hover around the freezing mark in those counties, which could produce frost that could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation, according to the alert.

Residents are advised to cover sensitive plants, or to bring them indoors if possible.

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Thursday is expected to be a mostly sunny day, but cool temperatures are still expected, with high temperatures in the low-to-mid 50s across the area, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

While temperatures are expected to remain above the freezing mark on Wednesday night and into Thursday in communities closer to Chicago, virtually the entire area could be at risk of frost Thursday night and into Friday, according to forecast models. Temperatures in outlying areas away from the urban heat island could even see lows in the upper-200s, which could result in a freeze, according to the National Weather Service.

Areas closer to Chicago could still see frost overnight into Friday morning before a small warming trend takes hold.

After another day in the low-to-mid 50s Friday, Saturday’s readings could be warmer, potentially approaching 60 degrees during the day. Conditions will still be on the cool side overnight, but lows will likely be in the upper-30s or low-40s, according to forecast models.

Late Sunday, a round of showers could arrive in the area and stick around until Monday morning, with the accompanying front potentially causing temps to drop back into the mid-to-upper 5s across the area. More rain could arrive Tuesday, and that system could stick around through Wednesday, producing rain and cloudy skies in the region.

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While the Halloween forecast is still being evaluated, there is a chance readings could be in the upper-50s for trick-or-treaters, with partly-to-mostly cloudy skies in the forecast for the big night.

Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and forecasts, and download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent directly to your phone.



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Opening statements Wednesday in trial of ex-Illinois officer who killed Sonya Massey

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Opening statements Wednesday in trial of ex-Illinois officer who killed Sonya Massey


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Fifteen months after Sonya Massey, a Black woman who had called 911 for help, was killed in her home, the former police officer who fired the fatal shot is set to go on trial.

Sean Grayson, 31, a former deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department in central Illinois, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.

The trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday with opening statements. If convicted of murder, Grayson faces a sentence of 45 years to life in prison. Prosecutors dismissed single counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

On July 6, 2024, Massey, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers who struggled with mental health issues, called emergency responders over a suspected prowler. When Grayson, who is white, and another deputy entered her Springfield home to report finding no one, Grayson noticed a pan of hot water on the stove and ordered it removed.

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According to body-camera video that is certain to play a key role in the trial, Grayson and Massey joked about how the deputy backed away as she moved the pan before Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson later told sheriff’s investigators he thought Massey’s statement meant she intended to kill him, yelled at her to drop the pot and in the subsequent commotion, fired three shots, striking her just below the eye.

The incident has prompted continued questions about U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people in their homes and generated a change in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency on the background of candidates for law enforcement jobs.

A jury of 10 women and five men, including three alternates, will hear testimony that’s predicted to end next week. The questioning of prospective jurors on Monday by Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser and defense attorney Daniel Fultz focused on attitudes toward law enforcement during a volatile time in America.

In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Uncredited

Witnesses scheduled to testify for both the state and defense are reported to be experts in police training, generally accepted police practices, use of force, body camera video, use of video in investigations and the review of incidents involving the use of force.

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The national attention the case has garnered prompted Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin to move the trial from Springfield to Peoria, 167 miles (269 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.



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When’s the best time to see fall colors in Illinois from Rockford to Carbondale

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When’s the best time to see fall colors in Illinois from Rockford to Carbondale


When it comes to fall colors, Illinois stretches the season longer than most states, with colors starting in northern Illinois in late September and peaking in the south well into November.

Each year, websites like SmokyMountains.com publish a fall foliage prediction map that shows stages such as patchy, partial, near-peak, peak, and past-peak across the country. While the map is focused primarily on the eastern U.S. and regions like the Smoky Mountains, it also provides a helpful nationwide context and visual timeline for seasonal leaf change.

Here’s what the fall color timeline looks like across Illinois.

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Northern Illinois: Late September to mid-October

If you live near Chicago, Rockford, or the Galena area, you’ll see the first hints of color before the rest of the state. Leaves in northern Illinois usually begin to change by the third or fourth week of September.

The peak display arrives around the second or third week of October. Popular spots include Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Rock Cut State Park, and the Great River Road, which runs along the Mississippi.

Central Illinois: Early to Late October

In the heart of the state, from Springfield to Peoria and Champaign, trees hold their green a little longer. Color typically starts to appear in the first half of October.

By the middle to late part of the month, central Illinois hits its stride.

City parks, forest preserves, and stretches of rural highway all light up. Spots such as Allerton Park near Monticello and the Sangamon River Valley as reliable fall color destinations.

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Southern Illinois: Late October to Early November

Farther south, warm temperatures delay the season. Expect to see changes beginning in the last two weeks of October, with the best colors holding into early November.

In Southern Illinois, you’ll find some of the most memorable fall backdrops in the state. Rock formations at Shawnee National Forest’s Garden of the Gods and the bluffs of Giant City State Park provide great viewing points.

What to Wear

Packing smart can make your fall color adventure more comfortable. Mornings in Illinois can be chilly, while afternoons often warm up quickly. A light jacket or fleece paired with a long-sleeve shirt gives you flexibility. Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots are important if you plan to explore trails in parks. Packing items such as hats, gloves, and even a scarf can come in handy if temperatures drop, especially on bluffs and overlooks where the wind picks up.

Planning Your Visit

From late September in the north to early November in the south, Illinois delivers a long season of color worth exploring. The good news is that Illinois offers a six- to eight-week window for watching the fall colors. If you miss the show in one part of the state, you can always head a little farther south and catch it there.

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Jack Ivanic is a freelance contributor to the Rockford Register Star.



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