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The opening stats suggest quarterback Jon Beutjer will get along fine without the four receivers who caught 191 passes for 2,769 yards and 21 TDs last season. Beutjer completed a career-high 31 passes in 44 attempts for 284 yards and one touchdown in Saturday’s 22-15 loss to Missouri. Three newcomers caught 15 passes for 138 yards and a TD–freshman running back E.B. Halsey (6), freshman wide receiver Lonnie Hurst (5) and junior-college transfer Kelvin Hayden (4, TD). . . . The llini made only two ball-handling mistakes. One was a fumble and one was an off-target snap in a punting situation that forced Matt Minnes to run with the ball rather than kick it. He was brought down on the Illinois 3-yard line, leading to the Tigers’ first TD.
