CHICAGO – Nursing a narrow 14-10 lead over Northwestern fresh out of the halftime break Saturday at Wrigley Field, No. 22 Illinois was facing a second-and-5 on its own 36-yard line. With the first-half struggles of quarterback Luke Altmyer (two interceptions), the Illini had been leaning on the run game for steady offense.

The sophomore from Gibson City had a field day in the 38-28 win over the Northwestern Wildcats. Laughery finished with 172 yards on the ground, and a hat trick of touchdowns to go

Aidan Laughery ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs, to propel No. 23 Illinois past Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The sophomore running

Former Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley standout rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns in Illini victory against Northwestern

Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns, including one on career-long 64-yard run early in the second half, and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season.

Taking Interstate 57 most of the way, Gibson City is 123 miles south of Wrigley Field. On Saturday, Aidan Laughery, one of the community’s native sons, seemingly could have run all that way. He was

Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns and No. 23 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories.

Gibson City native Aidan Laughery was recognized by the Big Ten for his three-touchdown performance against Northwestern. Laughery earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors, rushing for 172 yards and three touchdowns in Illinois’s 38-28 win.

Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season. Pat Bryant dashed in to score off Luke Altmyer’s 43-yard pass early in the third quarter as Illinois (9-3,