Sept. 4, 2004

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Pierre Thomas ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns, leading Illinois to a 52-13 win over Florida A&M on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

The Illini built a 31-0 lead by halftime against the Division I-AA Rattlers, who played without four starters serving suspensions for playing games while academically ineligible.

Thomas, backing up starter E.B. Halsey, carried 14 times, had scoring runs of 2 and 24 yards and had another 60-yard run. The Illini rolled up 554 yards to win for the first time since defeating Illinois State 49-22 last Sept. 6, ending a string of 10 straight losses.

Halsey also scored two touchdowns and rushed for 79 yards on 16 carries.

Jon Beutjer hit Melvin Bryant for a 2-yard score, fullback Jason Davis scored on an 11-yard run and Kelvin Hayden returned one of his two interceptions 23 yards for a touchdown. Hayden, who switched to defense after leading the Illini with 592 receiving yards last season, also forced a fumble that led to Halsey's first touchdown, and freshman Jason Reda added a 35-yard field goal.

Illinois' two interceptions were as many as it had all last season.

Beutjer was 16-for-18 for 228 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter. He had completions of 52 and 45 yards to Kendrick Jones.

Florida A&M didn't score until 10:21 remained in the game, when backup quarterback Josh Driscoll dived in from 1 yard out to complete an 11-play, 80-yard drive against Illinois' third-string defense. Driscoll added a second 1-yard TD dive with 5:13 remaining.

The Rattlers' starting quarterback, Ben Dougherty, completed his first eight passes of the game, but after getting to the Illinois 26, two penalties stopped the drive and forced FAMU to punt. Dougherty finished 22-for-34 passes for 144 yards.