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CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- Kurt Kittner threw touchdown passes to three different receivers as Illinois improved to 2-0 for the first time in seven years with a 38-10 pasting of San Diego State. Kittner completed 16-of-25 passes for 230 yards without an interception for the Illini, who have won their first two games for the first time since 1992, when Lou Tepper guided them to a 6-5-1 mark. Coach Ron Turner, in his third year, almost has as many wins this season as he did in his first two after going a combined 3-19 in 1997 and 1998. Illinois can go 3-0 for the first time since 1982 with a win next week at Louisville. The Illini used quick strikes in a 17-point second quarter to take control. Kittner and Greg Lewis combined for a 54-yard scoring play 3:36 into the contest, and Kittner found Michael Dean on a 38-yard TD pass exactly two minutes later. A 26-yard field goal by Neil Rackers extended the Illini's lead to 17-0 right before halftime. Steve Havard added a two-yard run 2:59 into the second half before the Aztecs (1-1) finally got on the board with a 35-yard field goal by Nate Tandberg with 7:07 to go in the third quarter. Kittner added a six-yard pass to Josh Wittman and Havard raced 46 yards for fourth-quarter touchdowns around an eight-yard scoring jaunt by San Diego State's Larry Ned. Havard rushed for 98 yards on 14 carries for the Illini, who held San Diego State to 259 total yards. San Diego State quarterbacks Jack Hawley and Brian Russell were equally ineffective, combining to complete 17-of-40 passes for 179 yards. The Aztecs were denied their first 2-0 start since 1994 and lost their fourth straight game to a Big Ten opponent.
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