While the snow falling from the sky may have been a thing of beauty, the opening quarter between Illinois and Penn State certainly wasn't. If you are a fan of offensive football, the first quarter certainly wasn't for you, as Illinois managed to accumulate -5 yards of offense over the first 15 minutes. Penn State certainly wasn't an offensive juggernaut, with the Nittany Lions gaining 63 yards.
Illinois starting QB Nathan Scheelhaase couldn't get anything going in the opening quarter, throwing for -8 yards and rushing for -12. Senior RB Jason Ford was able to find some success on the ground, rushing for 16 yards on five carries in the opening quarter.
Penn State continues to receive consistent production from Silas Redd, with the sophomore running back gaining 32 yards on eight carries. With the weather making it difficult for either quarterback to find much of a rhythm, it seems that Redd will be the focal point of the offense.
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