Shrine Game Website | Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. – Fighting Illini QB Wes Lunt and LB Hardy Nickerson both had solid performances to help the West squad to a 10-3 victory in the 92nd edition of the East West Shrine Game Saturday at Tropicana Field.
Lunt started at quarterback for the Wes, completing 11-of-14 passes for 101 yards, including a long completion of 37. He was not sacked and did not turn the ball over. His 96.7 QB rating was the best among the six quarterbacks that played in the Shrine Game.
Nickerson, meanwhile, had four tackles, one TFL and one pass breakup for a dominant West defense that held the East to just three points, nine first downs and 224 total yards.
In addition to Lunt and Nickerson, Illini DT Chunky Clements also is in St. Petersburg, but did not play in the game due to injury.
Next week, two more Illini – DE Carroll Phillips and DE Dawuane Smoot, are slated to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl. Practices begin on Jan. 24, with the game scheduled for Jan. 28, 2017 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Two Illini played in last year's senior bowl – DL Jihad Ward (currently with the Raiders) and WR Geronimo Allison (currently with the Packers).
