Illinois kicker Ethan Moczulski made the most of his first career college field goal attempt. The sophomore kickoff specialist set a school record with a 59-yard field goal Saturday in a game against Central Michigan.

The kick, which cleared the uprights by multiple yards, put the Fighting Illini ahead 13-6 at halftime of their college football game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Illinois went on to win, 30-9, to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2011.

Full recap from Illinois football's victory vs. Central Michigan.

The 59-yard kick surpassed the previous record of 57 yards last made by James McCourt in a 2019 game against Eastern Michigan. Dan Beaver also made a 57-yarder in 1975, against Purdue.

"It's pretty awesome, especially since it is my first college field goal," Moczulski said after the game. "It felt smooth and I knew right off my foot that it was going in, which was a great feeling."

Take a look at the kick below:

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Who is Ethan Moczulski?

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore is a Washington state native from Mead (Wash.) Mount Spokane, who entered Texas A&M in 2022 as the top-rated kicking prospect in the country, according to 247.com.

The kicker then transferred to Illinois this summer, and the Fighting Illini kickoff specialist had no career collegiate field goal attempts before his record-setting kick on Saturday. Illinois coach Bret Bielema said Moczulski looked good in camp, but had a soft tissue injury, which led the team to the team "backing off him a little bit."

"It's been a work in progress with him," Bielema said. "When his name came up, we brought him in on his official visit with his dad. His experience at A&M wasn't a very positive one when he talked about it.

"He wanted to know what he can do to maximize his leg strength. We did what we had to do to get him here, thankfully, and the first practice I thought 'Woah this guy is different.' "

Who is the Illinois kicker?

Sophomore David Olano is the starting kicker for the Illinois football team. The Naperville native entered the game against Central Michigan 4-for-4 on field goals. He made a 49-yard field goal in the first half and added a 34-yarder in the second half.

Illinois football field goal record

Here are the longest field goals in Illinois football history, according to the school.

• 59 yards: Ethan Moczulski vs. Central Michigan, Sept. 14, 2024

• 57 yards: James McCourt vs. Eastern Michigan, Sept. 14, 2019

• 57 yards: Dan Beaver vs. Purdue, Oct. 18, 1975

• 55 yards: Doug Higgins vs. Michigan State, Oct. 20, 1990

• 54 yards: Chase McLaughlin vs. Western Illinois, Sept. 8, 2018

• 54 yards: Taylor Zalewski vs. Purdue, Nov. 17, 2012

What is the longest field goal in college football history?

Ove Johansson of Abilene (Texas) Christian made a 69-yard field goal on Oct. 16, 1976 against East Texas State.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football field goal record: Fighting Illini kicker sets school record