CHAMPAIGN, Ill. _ After starting the year 2-3, Northwestern finished the regular season with an emphatic 42-7 victory Saturday afternoon at Illinois.
The bowl-bound Wildcats recorded their seventh-straight victory in a row, tying the team's longest win streak since 1996.
The Illini ended their season with 10 straight losses in front of a mostly empty Memorial Stadium, relinquishing the Land of Lincoln trophy for the third straight season to their rivals.
After the first two drives of the game, Northwestern dominated.
A third-quarter fumble recovery and 3-yard touchdown run by Samdup Miller, following a sack by Joe Graziano that popped the ball loose from Illini quarterback Cam Thomas, to take a 21-7 lead. Linebacker Paddy Fisher's fourth-quarter interception set up a four-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Larkin for a 35-7 lead.
Running back Justin Jackson finished the regular season with seven 100-yard games, picking up 144 yards on 18 carries against the Illini. He ripped off a career-best 79-yard run from scrimmage in the third quarter and ran it in from a yard out on the ensuing play for his lone touchdown of the game.
Despite starting on fire with a 7-0 first quarter lead, the Illini couldn't sustain their production.
The Illini scored on their first drive with a 23-yard Cam Thomas touchdown run. On Northwestern's first drive, Illinois freshman safety Bennett Williams intercepted Clayton Thorson near the goal line.
The Wildcats kept Illinois from getting another first down until their last drive before halftime.
Thorson finished on 13 of 21 with 140 yards and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Dickerson.
Illinois defensive tackle Tito Odenigbo was ejected from the game for tossing a flag at an official.
