UI-Purdue notes: Charest 'did a nice job'

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Jacob Charest played for the first time in his college career on Saturday. It apparently won't be his last appearance.

"I thought he did a nice job," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "He made some nice plays.

"I would say there's a pretty good chance we'll be a two-quarterback team. That's about as far as I'll go with that."

Charest entered the game on the first drive of the second quarter. The previous series ended on a Juice Williams interception.

Charest wasn't able to move the team on his first drive but had good success on his second. Taking over at his own 31, Charest led the Illini to the Purdue 1, completing 4 of 4 passes on the drive for 52 yards.

Williams went back into the game with the ball at the 1, a move Charest didn't argue. But a holding penalty and incompletion forced a field goal try that went wide left.

"Juice is experienced," Charest said. "They were running a play that I hadn't really practiced in a couple of months. They're going to let him get in there and take the snap."

Charest returned in the second half and finished the game 4 of 8. He ran once for 1 yard.

"I definitely have a lot of room to grow," Charest said. "I've got to make a couple of throws. Overall, it was a decent coming out. I could have done better, could have done worse."

Charest's parents, Scott and Cindy, weren't able to make it to Saturday's game. His younger brother, Nate, had a high school game Friday night for Butler High School, the top-ranked team in North Carolina.

"They're going to come up for Michigan," Charest said.

Charest talked to his parents Friday night. He got a text from his brother Saturday morning.

Charest is happy to be on the field. And he hopes for a greater role. Until this week's practices, he hadn't been getting many snaps with the first two units. That has changed.

"I'd love to start, of course," Charest said.

How does the offense change when Charest is in the game?

"It's kind of a secret," Charest said.

Charest said he was hoping he would get a chance to play this season.

"Finally, it came," Charest said.

The offense doesn't change that much with Charest on the field.

"I think a lot of people think I'm kind of the slow white guy," Charest said. "I can run if I have to. I'd like to be able to run the ball a little bit more."

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The last two weeks, Mikel Leshoure has been the main ballcarrier for Illinois, and the sophomore from Centennial has produced. Leshoure ran for 122 yards on 15 carries Saturday, marking the first time in his collegiate career he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark.

"I feel like the more opportunities I get, the more rhythm I can get in and the better I can do," Leshoure said.

His big day was aided by a 65-yard option play that he took deep into Purdue territory to set up Illinois' first touchdown. Initially it was ruled that the play was a pass, but it was later switched to a rush after it was determined the pitch from Williams was a lateral.

"That felt good. I wish I could have got it in (the end zone)," Leshoure said. "It was a good run, the receivers held their blocks on the edges and that's what broke me free."

For much of the early part of the season Illinois rotated five backs: Leshoure, Daniel Dufrene, Jason Ford, Justin Green and Troy Pollard. But it appears that Leshoure has established himself as the go-to guy.

"We went away from rotating the backs as much. We're going with a main guy and we're subbing in when that guy gets tired, and that allows you to get in your rhythm a little more," Leshoure said.

"Mikel ran great today, he did a great job," center Eric Block said. "That fourth-down play when he just kept moving, that was impressive. He had a great day and I'm proud that he ran for 100 yards, but the bottom line is we need to get the W."

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Williams was 9-of-18 passing for 77 yards in Saturday's game, with one interception. He ran 14 times for 38 yards and a touchdown. With his 115 yards, Williams passed former Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton for sixth on the Big Ten's career total offense list.

What did Williams think of his performance? The senior declined to comment after the game.

Zook said Williams is "not letting it loose and letting it fly. I told him at halftime, 'Juice, you can't worry about mistakes.' "

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Arrelious Benn caught three passes for 16 yards Saturday and was as upset as any Illini after the latest defeat. Not necessarily at his lack of touches, but just the way things have played out in general this season.

"We're hanging in there, we got to keep going at this point," Benn said. "We just need to stick together, keep head up and get it done. The coaches can't do it, we've got to do it ourselves."

When he got word that athletic director Ron Guenther gave coach Zook a vote of confidence Saturday, Benn didn't have much of a reaction.

"That wasn't our concern. That's Coach Zook's concern as the head of the team," he said.

With Charest getting his first action at quarterback and Williams in the mix, Benn doesn't expect to do anything differently than he has in his three years at Illinois.

"Jacob and Juice are two great quarterbacks and both of them are going to get the job done," Benn said. "We get the reps with Jake and get the reps with Juice. It's not like I don't know where the ball is gonna be at when Jacob is out there or if Juice is out there, everyone's on the same page.

"At this point I just do my job to the best of my ability and go out there, do what the coach tells me to do and I do it."

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Eddie McGee played receiver Saturday for the Illini but didn't have any catches. He threw one option pass for 13 yards.

McGee said he plans to "stay optimistic" about the season. The players were upset after Saturday's game.

"It was probably worse," McGee said. "I don't know, man. I don't know. I don't know."

Zook said he wants to have McGee on the field.

"I think he's a guy who can help this football team," Zook said. "He's a passionate guy."

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Illinois tight end Michael Hoomanawanui suffered a sprained ankle during the game, Zook said.

Linebacker Ian Thomas left the game with bruised ribs but returned to the field.

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Matt Eller missed a 23-yard field goal at the end of the first half. He is now 3 of 7 for the season.

Derek Dimke tried the only placement in the second half for the Illini, hitting an extra point.

"Derek's a good kicker and has done a good job," Zook said.

Would Dimke have tried any field goals in the second half if needed?

"Probably," Zook said.

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Converted safety Nate Bussey started at linebacker. He finished with six tackles.

"It's always fun when you're out on the field, trying to make plays and help the team out," Bussey said.

Bob Asmussen and Marcus Jackson

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