Week 1, 2026

played in Denver, CO

52 degrees, fair, 1 mph wind

Champaign Thunder001470-21
Denver Death000213-24

Scoring Summary
3Q: 12:49 CHM - C.J. Emmons 13 pass from J.R. Carpenter (Sam Linquist extra point)
3Q: 08:43 CHM - Bennie Sandlin 4 pass from J.R. Carpenter (Sam Linquist extra point)
4Q: 13:49 CHM - Carlos Hines 99 interception return (Sam Linquist extra point)
4Q: 12:04 DEN - Omar Jacobs 55 pass from Cory Sanders (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)
4Q: 05:03 DEN - Les Cortez 11 pass from Cory Sanders (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)
4Q: 02:04 DEN - Omar Jacobs 19 pass from Cory Sanders (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)
OT: 10:16 DEN - Jimmy O'Neill 21 field goal

Team StatisticsCHMDEN
Record0-11-0
First Downs1022
- by Rushing37
- by Passing714
- by Penalty01
Total Net Yards202418
- Offensive Plays5776
- Yards per Play3.545.50
Net Rushing Yards61139
- Rushing Attempts2341
- Yards per Rush2.653.39
Net Passing Yards141279
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt34 - 13 - 233 - 22 - 2
- Gross Passing Yards141292
- Sacks/Yards Lost0/02/13
- Yards per Pass Play4.157.97
Fumbles/Lost0/04/2
3rd Down Conversions5/166/16
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down8.06.4
4th Down Conversions0/00/0
Penalties/Yards5/315/35
Punt Returns/Yards4/384/54
Kick Returns/Yards2/413/87
Interception Ret./Yards2/1122/10
2pt Conversions0/00/0
Red Zone Visits24
- Red Zone TDs/FGs2/02/1
Avg. Drive StartOWN 31OWN 30
Time of Possession25:3639:15

Drive Charts

Champaign Thunder
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
115:002:12OWN 3536Punt
111:171:53OWN 4656Punt
17:561:06OPP 4532Punt
15:100:13OWN 3110Interception
12:382:45OWN 20625Punt
210:272:24OWN 22616Punt
26:432:45OWN 7629Punt
21:501:32OWN 24413Punt
314:211:38OPP 34534Touchdown
311:192:45OPP 45545Touchdown
33:521:11OWN 303-1Punt
30:510:12OWN 1110Interception
411:491:34OWN 2031Punt
44:571:08OWN 203-2Punt
41:561:40OWN 3638Punt
Denver Death
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
112:481:31OWN 1936Punt
19:241:28OWN 138Punt
16:501:40OWN 2032Punt
14:572:19OWN 4239Punt
214:534:26OWN 14839Punt
28:031:20OWN 3534Punt
23:582:08OWN 2338Punt
20:180:18OWN 17114Half
315:000:39OWN 20214Fumble
312:431:24OWN 4520Fumble
38:344:42OWN 41724Interception
32:411:50OWN 25417Punt
30:392:00OPP 1669Interception
413:391:50OWN 34366Touchdown
410:155:18OWN 481152Touchdown
43:491:53OWN 45555Touchdown
40:160:16OWN 922Half
OT115:004:51OWN 20876Field Goal

Game MVP: Omar Jacobs, Denver Death

Rushing Statistics

ChampaignAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Jeffrey Donovan14443.141320
Corey Sybrowski850.63500
J.R. Carpenter11212.001210
DenverAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Rondell Farley21552.62800
Randal Heintz8283.501110
Otis Canada6406.671210
Cory Sanders4164.00700
Jamal Kelley200.00100

Passing Statistics

ChampaignAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
J.R. Carpenter34131410/0229246.3
DenverAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Cory Sanders33222922/13355299.5

Receiving Statistics

ChampaignCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
WR C.J. Emmons5118416.802291
WR Bennie Sandlin27115.50071
RB Corey Sybrowski2252.50030
TE Ross Deskins1377.00770
WR Rufus Mularkey1477.00070
RB Jeffrey Donovan111616.0016160
WR Butch Bostic141111.000110
TE Fred Lohr0200.00000
DenverCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
WR Omar Jacobs71015021.4370552
WR Randal Schulz59346.80490
TE Les Cortez445213.000271
WR Jim Richmond353411.330230
RB Otis Canada1155.00150
RB Randal Heintz1177.00070
WR Junior Krykhtine121010.000100
FB Jamal Kelley0100.00000

Interception Statistics

ChampaignIntsYardsAvgTD
CB Carlos Hines19999.001
S Rod Rockett11313.000
DenverIntsYardsAvgTD
S Rico Byrum100.000
OLB Grady Madison11010.000

Fumble Statistics

ChampaignFumbRecovForceTD
David Jackson0110
Kyle Jeffries0100
Carlos Hines0010
Walt Borders0010
Heath Warren0010
DenverFumbRecovForceTD
Randal Heintz1100
Cory Sanders1000
Otis Canada1000
Jim Richmond1000
Junior Krykhtine0100

Punting Statistics

ChampaignPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Brandon Baxter1150045.538.7496
DenverPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Gabe Farley837046.339.0554

Kicking Statistics

ChampaignFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Sam Linquist0/00/00/003/3
DenverFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Jimmy O'Neill1/10/00/0213/3

Punt Return Statistics

ChampaignRetYardsAvgTD
Kirk Nobles4389.50
DenverRetYardsAvgTD
Matthew Erwin45413.50

Kick Return Statistics

ChampaignRetYardsAvgTD
Gary Zytniak11616.00
Gerald Battle12525.00
DenverRetYardsAvgTD
Matthew Erwin38729.00

Defensive Statistics

ChampaignTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
ILB Charlie Poloski940.02824
CB Carlos Hines700.03328
OLB Kyle Jeffries620.03325
OLB Jared Shimada550.03832
S Jeff Marion520.03833
CB Jason Vance510.03428
S Rod Rockett500.04135
DE Ben Banks421.04135
DE Walt Borders420.53626
DT David Jackson310.02615
DT Rich Westbrook310.02923
DE Heath Warren300.01624
DT Kelvin Mealey110.51212
CB Gary Zytniak110.02122
OLB Tom Meier100.01311
WR Rufus Mularkey10---------
OLB Anthony Wheeler100.020
RB Jeffrey Donovan10---------
CB Horace Nelson100.033
DenverTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
S Rico Byrum550.02124
CB Mario Cochrane400.01821
OLB Oliver Keith400.01924
CB Rufus DeWoody400.01319
ILB Carlos Roland400.01315
ILB Scottie Harmon340.01829
DE David Grillo200.01419
CB Cary Chustz120.01226
DT Nolan Grunow110.01014
OLB Grady Madison110.0812
TE Les Cortez10---------
DE Kelvin Ingram100.01319
OLB Eric Staple100.01528
DT Jessie Sullivan100.01320
ILB K.C. Cuviello100.001
S Kennedy McWilliams100.01421
OLB Lee Fountaine010.0118
DE Michael Lincoln010.01115
DE Terry Desjardins010.0915

Pass Rush Statistics

ChampaignSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DE Ben Banks1.001235
DE Walt Borders0.531126
DT Kelvin Mealey0.500012
DE Heath Warren0.001124
DT David Jackson0.001015
DT Rich Westbrook0.001023
DenverSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
OLB Eric Staple0.023128
DE David Grillo0.010019
DE Kelvin Ingram0.001019

Pass Defense Statistics

ChampaignCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
OLB Kyle Jeffries60025
ILB Charlie Poloski40024
CB Carlos Hines31128
CB Jason Vance30028
S Jeff Marion20033
OLB Jared Shimada20032
DE Heath Warren10024
OLB Tom Meier10011
S Rod Rockett00135
DenverCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
S Rico Byrum31124
CB Rufus DeWoody20019
CB Cary Chustz12026
S Kennedy McWilliams11021
OLB Grady Madison10112
CB Mario Cochrane10021
OLB Oliver Keith10024
ILB Carlos Roland10015
ILB Scottie Harmon10029
ILB K.C. Cuviello1001
S Matthew Erwin01017

Blocking Statistics

ChampaignKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Mitch Howe27022028
Jamie Hatcher13019025
R.J. Oliver13019031
J.C. Nichols1207010
Butch Athanas120705
Irv Williamson02020027
Clay Ramsey02016029
Quentin King0105015
DenverKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Corwin Yates49035031
D.J. Peterson48036025
Bob Kelley37034132
Irving Gossett04034128
Les Cortez02034023
Jamal Kelley02021020
Leland Conlan02011017
Richard Tatum020705
Marvin Fulcher01020011
Wendell Bleeck01028026

Special Teams Tackles

ChampaignTacklesSTPlays
Ross Deskins325
Carlton Di Pietro216
Corey Sybrowski127
Gerald Battle113
DenverTacklesSTPlays
Otis Canada228
Richard Tatum29
Lee Fountaine132
Matthew Erwin120

Participation

ChampaignRPlyOffPPlyOffRPlyDefPPlyDefSTPlyTotal Plays
Ben Banks------4135783
Rod Rockett------4135379
Kyle Jeffries------33252078
Jared Shimada------3832272
Jeff Marion------3833---71
Carlos Hines------3328465
Gary Zytniak------21222265
Jason Vance------3428163
Walt Borders------3626163
J.R. Carpenter2334---------57
Clay Ramsey1629------1055
Rich Westbrook------2923355
C.J. Emmons2231---------53
Jamie Hatcher1925------953
Charlie Poloski------2824153
Fred Lohr1833---------51
Ross Deskins718------2550
Mitch Howe2228---------50
R.J. Oliver1931---------50
Irv Williamson2027---------47
David Jackson------2615647
Jeffrey Donovan1525------646
Corey Sybrowski89------2744
Bennie Sandlin1823---------41
Heath Warren------1624---40
Quentin King515------1131
J.C. Nichols710------1128
Rufus Mularkey511------1228
Sedrick Blunt63------1928
Kelvin Mealey------1212327
Morris Gordon42------2026
Tom Meier------1311125
Butch Bostic1213---------25
Carlton Di Pietro------341623
Horace Nelson------331117
Kirk Nobles00------1616
Gerald Battle02------1315
Butch Athanas75------315
Leslie Kalu00------1111
Anthony Wheeler------20911
Brandon Baxter00------1111
Robbie Wooden------33---6
Sam Linquist00------55
Marcus Reese------12---3
J.B. Mireles00---------0
A.J. Palkowski00---------0
DenverRPlyOffPPlyOffRPlyDefPPlyDefSTPlyTotal Plays
Cory Sanders4135---------76
Bob Kelley3432------975
Corwin Yates3531------672
Les Cortez3423------1370
D.J. Peterson3625------667
Jamal Kelley2120------2364
Wendell Bleeck2826------963
Irving Gossett3428---------62
Omar Jacobs2629------257
Mercury Hibbs1819------1956
Rondell Farley2719------652
Lee Fountaine------1183251
Matthew Erwin------10172047
Scottie Harmon------1829---47
Rico Byrum------2124146
Eric Staple------1528346
Otis Canada810------2846
Randal Schulz2222------145
Oliver Keith------1924245
Junior Krykhtine1812------1545
Mario Cochrane------1821140
Cary Chustz------1226240
Michael Lincoln------11151137
Carlos Roland------1315937
Kennedy McWilliams------1421136
Marvin Fulcher2011------334
Jessie Sullivan------1320134
David Grillo------1419---33
Rufus DeWoody------1319133
Alan Davison------5131533
Nolan Grunow------1014832
Kelvin Ingram------1319---32
Jim Richmond1911---------30
Leland Conlan1117---------28
Grady Madison------812828
Terry Desjardins------915125
Randal Heintz1110---------21
Richard Tatum75------921
Damon Stone10------1920
Roman Coffey------210517
Sam Hastings------44816
Gabe Farley00------99
K.C. Cuviello------0189
Jimmy O'Neill00------55
Billy Cowsette00---------0
Kyle Wagner00---------0

Directional Rushing Statistics

DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left8273.4
Middle8273.4
Right771.0
None000.0
DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left10404.0
Middle22562.5
Right9434.8
None000.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

ChampaignAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
J.R. Carpenter34132345412
DenverAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Cory Sanders33224001542

Directional Passing Statistics

DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen63254.2
Short (0-8 Yds)94232.6
Medium (9-18 Yds)104373.7
Long (19+ Yds)92566.2
DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen1155.0
Short (0-8 Yds)19151427.5
Medium (9-18 Yds)103404.0
Long (19+ Yds)3310535.0

Detailed Receiving Statistics

ChampaignTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
WR C.J. Emmons115184231
WR Bennie Sandlin72211023
WR Rufus Mularkey4107011
WR Butch Bostic41011013
TE Ross Deskins3117018
TE Fred Lohr2000033
RB Corey Sybrowski220509
RB Jeffrey Donovan11016025
DenverTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
WR Omar Jacobs1070150229
WR Randal Schulz95034022
WR Jim Richmond53034111
TE Les Cortez44052123
WR Junior Krykhtine21010012
FB Jamal Kelley1000020
RB Otis Canada1105010
RB Randal Heintz1107010

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

ChampaignAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Jeffrey Donovan100.003.14
Corey Sybrowski1-1-1.000.63
DenverAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Rondell Farley510.202.62
Randal Heintz242.003.50

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

ChampaignAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
J.R. Carpenter43235.754.15
DenverAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
Cory Sanders53357.008.85

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

ChampaignTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
WR C.J. Emmons22199.507.64
WR Bennie Sandlin1144.001.57
WR Butch Bostic1000.002.75
DenverTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
TE Les Cortez111111.0013.00
WR Omar Jacobs111919.0015.00
WR Randal Schulz1000.003.78
RB Otis Canada1155.005.00
WR Jim Richmond1000.006.80

Third Down Rushing Statistics

ChampaignRushesConversions
Jeffrey Donovan20
J.R. Carpenter11
Corey Sybrowski10
DenverRushesConversions
Rondell Farley41
Cory Sanders10

Third Down Passing Statistics

ChampaignAttCompConversions
J.R. Carpenter1254
DenverAttCompConversions
Cory Sanders1165

Third Down Receiving Statistics

ChampaignTargCatchConversions
TE Ross Deskins311
WR C.J. Emmons211
WR Bennie Sandlin211
WR Rufus Mularkey210
TE Fred Lohr100
RB Jeffrey Donovan111
WR Butch Bostic100
DenverTargCatchConversions
WR Omar Jacobs322
WR Jim Richmond311
WR Randal Schulz211
TE Les Cortez110
RB Otis Canada111
WR Junior Krykhtine100

SectionAttendance
Stadium94,700 (99,900 capacity)
Upper Deck24,700 (25,300)
End Zone17,800 (18,200)
Mezzanine10,200 (10,500)
Sideline Seats15,700 (16,100)
Club Seats19,500 (19,900)
Luxury Boxes6,800 (9,900)