Oberlin’s Hugh Thornton paved the way for freshman running back Donovonn Young, who ran for a pair of touchdowns, while Nathan Scheelhaase ran for two more on Saturday in a 56-3 blowout over South Dakota State.

Illinois hadn’t won this big since 1944, in a 79-6 crushing of Illinois-Normal played in front of 5,000 fans.

The 42,000 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday saw the Illini (2-0) score on seven consecutive drives between their first possession early in the opening quarter and a punt with 22 seconds left in the third, when they were already up by a comfy 46 points.

Illinois rolled up 519 yards of offense and allowed the Jackrabbits (1-1) just 96.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

An Illinois football spokesman reports that Oberlin graduate Hugh Thornton, an offensive lineman, suffered a strained neck during Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois.

Thornton underwent tests at a local hospital after being carted off the field during the third quarter. Brown says all the tests were negative.

Thornton was blocking ahead of running back Mikel LeShoure when he appeared to drop his head and make helmet-to-helmet contact with a Northern Illinois defender.

Athletic trainers on the field took several minutes to stabalize his neck before teammates helped lift the stretcher onto the cart.

Thornton pumped his fist as the crowd applauded on his way to the locker room.

swalker@MorningJournal.com