BTN.com staff, September 1, 2012

With quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase injured, Ashante Williams returned an interception 60 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to help Illinois and new coach Tim Beckman hang on for a 24-7 win Saturday over Western Michigan in the season opener for both teams. The Illini opened up a 17-0 lead but their offense stalled when Scheelhaase left the game with an ankle injury late in the third quarter.

The Broncos came to life and pulled to within 17-7 with an 8-yard touchdown from Alex Carder to Jaime Wilson just before the end of the quarter. Western Michigan was driving again when Williams picked off Carder to douse the comeback.

[ AP RECAP | BOX | PLAY BY PLAY | BY QUARTER | SCORES | CONNECT | WEATHER ]

FOURTH QUARTER

Western Michigan's run game never got out of the backfield in the fourth, as Illinois held the Broncos to -5 rushing yards, and the Fighting Illini finished off Western Michigan 24-7. Illinois made the score 24-7 when Ashante Williams intercepted a Alex Carder pass and returned it for a touchdown.

EDITOR'S NOTE In partnership with Narrative Science, BTN.com posts recaps after every quarter of every Big Ten football game. Use the links above for more info on this specific game, including full Big Ten campus weather reports. And enter your zip code below to find the TV channel airing BTN football games on your TV provider. If your game isn't listed, it's on another TV network. Learn more about our TV GameFinder.

[btn-twitter-feed feed="http://tweetriver.com/mr_btn_fancent/ill-hashtag.json" title="#Illini" limit="10"]

[btn-weather-pages id="illini"]