Football: Illinois, Illinois State reign victorious Saturday; soccer, cross country updates

Fighting Illini take down Virginia in dominant performance, Redbirds soar past Butler

College football teams in the state of Illinois enjoyed success across the board on Saturday, Sept. 13, as both the University of Illinois and Illinois State University earned hard-fought victories. The Fighting Illini, coming off an impressive season-opening win over Wyoming, continued their strong start, taking down the University of Virginia 24-3 at home. Quarterback Tommy DeVito's experienced playmaking and a stingy Illini defense set the tone for the victory, proving that the team's early success is no fluke. Meanwhile, the Illinois State Redbirds showcased their own grit and determination, securing a 23-14 road win over Butler University. Running back Cole Mueller led the charge for the Redbirds, while the defense stepped up with clutch tackles and forced turnovers to secure the victory.

Soccer: Illini women secure two wins, Redbird men suffer narrow loss

The University of Illinois women's soccer team continued its impressive start, notching two more wins last week. On Thursday, Sept. 8, they defeated Indiana State 3-2 at home, with sophomore forward Kate Wiesner scoring two first-half goals. The team followed that up with a 1-0 road shutout victory over Illinois State on Sunday, Sept. 11, thanks to a goal from junior midfielder Ashley Prell. On the other hand, the Illinois State men's soccer team was unfortunate to come up short in a hard-fought 1-0 home loss to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 9. Despite a valiant effort and several scoring chances, the Redbirds were unable to find the equalizer.

Cross country: Illini, Redbirds participate in First to the Finish meet

The Fighting Illini and Redbird cross country teams took part in the First to the Finish meet, hosted by Illinois State University on Saturday, Sept. 10. The Illini men's team placed 10th out of 14 teams, while the women's team came in 12th out of 14. For the Redbirds, the men's team finished 5th and the women's team took 7th.

Conclusion: A busy and successful weekend for Illinois college athletics

Overall, it was a successful weekend for college athletics in the state of Illinois. Both the University of Illinois and Illinois State University football teams earned impressive wins, while the men's and women's soccer teams continued their seasons with strong performances. The cross country teams also showcased their talent at the First to the Finish meet, adding to the excitement of the weekend. With the fall sports seasons now in full swing, fans can expect even more exciting moments and memorable victories in the weeks to come.