Sept. 11, 1999
By TARA BURGHART
Associated Press Writer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Kurt Kittner passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns as Illinois defeated San Diego State 38-10 Saturday, giving the Illini consecutive victories for the first time in three years.
Illinois, which led 24-0 before the Aztecs scored in the third quarter, are 2-0 for the first time since 1992. The Aztecs (1-1) have lost 25 straight nonconference road games.
The game was scoreless early in the second quarter as the Aztecs went three-and-out. On Illinois' next play, Kittner hit freshman receiver Greg Lewis with a 54-yard touchdown pass.
The Aztecs went three-and-out again on the next series, and Illinois responded with a 64-yard, five-play march that ended with Kittner connecting on a 38-yard pass to Michael Dean, who pulled his defender into the end zone with him to put Illinois up 14-0.
Kittner, a sophomore, finished 16-of-25 with no interceptions.
Neil Rackers kicked a 26-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the half to give Illinois a 17-0 lead.
San Diego State quarterback Brian Russell was just 8-of-21 for 93 yards and backup Jack Hawley was 9-of-19 for 86.
Freshman Eugene Wilson, who scored on a 65-yard punt return for the Illini last week, almost had another one in the third quarter.
Wilson sped up the left sideline for 56 yards but was pushed out of bounds at the 2. Havard scored two plays later to put Illinois up 24-0.
The Aztecs scored for the first time on Nate Tandberg's 45-yard field goal later in the third quarter.
After Illinois went up 31-3 on a 5-yard pass from Kittner to Josh Whitman in the fourth quarter, the Aztecs scored on Larry Ned's 8-yard run.
Havard added a 46-yard TD run with three minutes to play.