Final Score: Illinois 41, Syracuse 20

Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 150 yards and three scores to lead the Illinois Fighting Illini to a 41-20 victory over the Syracuse Orange in a non-conference bout from the Carrier Dome.

Troy Pollard added 92 yards on the ground on just 13 carries for Illinois (2-1), and Juice Williams completed 13-of-18 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Williams also amassed 90 yards on the ground and a touchdown for the Illini.

Andrew Robinson was 17-of-26 for 208 yards for the Orange (0-3), and Curtis Brinkley caught four passes for 89 yards in the loss.

Illinois completed its opening drive with a touchdown, as Williams completed a 22-yard pass to Jeff Cumberland and the Illini took an early 7-0 lead.

Illinois extended its lead late in the first, on a two-yard run by Mendenhall.

With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Jason Reda hit a 32-yard field goal that gave the Illini a 17-0 advantage.

Syracuse finally got on the board early in the third frame, as Patrick Shadle connected on a 44-yard field goal.

Illinois responded with a field goal of its own midway through the quarter, a 50-yard kick from Reda that extended the Illini lead, 20-3.

Minutes later, Jeremy Sellers gave Syracuse its first touchdown of the afternoon on a two-yard run, making it a 20-10 game.

The Illini pulled away 27-10 late in the third frame thanks to a 10-yard touchdown run by Williams.

With less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, Illinois scored again, as Mendenhall broke free for a 50-yard score that improved the Illini advantage to 34-10.

Mendenhall found the end zone for the third time of the afternoon early in the fourth frame on a one-yard run that gave Illinois a 41-10 lead.

Patrick Shadle made it 41-13 on a 42-yard field goal late in the fourth.

In the closing minute of the contest, Syracuse found the end zone for a second time, as Cameron Dantley completed an eight-yard pass to Jawad Nesheiwat for the final score, 41-20.