Posted: 11/5/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brad Vest Rashard Mendenhall runs for his second touchdown of the night during the fourth quarter of Saturday night's game against Minnesota at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Mendenhall had 201 yards rushing with two touchdowns, helping the Illini top the Gophers 44-17.

MINNEAPOLIS - As far as offensive performances go, the Illini put on a show.

The Illini offense assaulted Minnesota in the Metrodome to notch its seventh victory of the year. Illinois racked up 44 points and amounted 655 yards of total offense.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall continued his dominant play and broke into the record books. His two rushing touchdowns gave him 16 total touchdowns on the season, breaking Howard Griffith's mark of 15 set in 1990.

"I called (Mendenhall) in before the Big Ten meetings and I said, 'Rashard, I'm going to put a little pressure on you, and I'm going to make a statement. If you have the kind of year like I know you can have, then we have a chance to have a special year.' And I said I don't want to say it if it's going to put too much pressure on you. And he said, 'Coach, that's what I want,'" head coach Ron Zook said.

Mendenhall carried the ball 17 times and averaged 11.8 yards per carry for 201 yards. Saturday night marked the second time this season Mendenhall rushed for more than 200 yards in a game. On the season he has 1,314 rushing yards, which is 16 yards short of Antoineo Harris' Illinois single-season rushing record.

"I'm aware of it and I know I'm getting close," Mendenhall said. "The coaches heard I was getting close to the season rushing record and wanted me to go back in there, but I told them I'd rather have my (brother Walter) get an opportunity.

"It means a lot, especially with some of the names I'm up for with the guys that hold these records. I look forward to it if I get the opportunity to break it."

In the second quarter the junior tailback broke free down the Minnesota sideline before cutting back to midfield to cap a 64-yard touchdown run to increase the Illini lead to 21-3.

Continued...

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