Nov 10, 2001

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By JASON STRAIT
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Another comeback victory for No. 15 Illinois.

Illinois overcame two Penn State kick returns for touchdowns by intercepting four passes in a 33-28 victory Saturday.

"We showed heart and character. Our guys did not panic," coach Ron Turner said.

The Illini (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) may not have, but their fans were close to it after Larry Johnson returned a kickoff 97 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 3:29 remaining. It was the only touchdown of the second half for the Nittany Lions (3-5, 2-4).

Illinois got the ball back on its own 20. After two incompletions, Kurt Kittner found Brandon Lloyd open on the sideline for a 30-yard completion and hit Aaron Moorehead for 13 yards.

Illinois then ran the ball five straight times, the last a 13-yard touchdown run by Rocky Harvey for the winning score with 1:19 to go.

"This team has the attitude that they're not going to be denied no matter what happens, no matter what is thrown at them," Turner said. "Our guys get stronger as the game goes on and they keep wearing on people."

This is the third-straight game Illinois has trailed in the second half but rallied late to win.

Cornerback Eugene Wilson had three of Illinois' four interceptions. The third, a one-handed grab he returned 29 yards to the Penn State 15, set up a 31-yard field goal by Peter Christofilakos.

In addition to Wilson's heroics, the Illinois defense sacked Penn State three times and forced the Nittany Lions into completing just 11-of-33 passes for 148 yards.

"We were doing really well early moving the ball and we just went downhill," coach Joe Paterno said. "We got tired."

Illinois rushed for 184 yards, led by Antonineo Harris' 93 yards on 20 carries. Harvey finished the game with 11 rushes for 51 yards and two touchdowns

The Illinois offense struggled early for the second straight week.

On its first possession, Lloyd had a defender beat on a deep pass but dropped the ball at midfield, forcing Illinois to punt.

Bruce Branch returned the ensuing kick 71 yards for a touchdown, putting the Nittany Lions up 7-0 without ever running an offensive play.

Kittner, who threw three first half interceptions a week ago against Purdue, missed on 12 of his first 15 pass attempts and threw two interceptions in the opening half. Kittner finished 16-of-33 for 195 yards.

"We said to ourselves we won't lose, we will finish," Kittner said. "The defense did the same thing they did last week and they didn't give up."

Eight Penn State players combined to rush for 141 yards on 34 carries, but none ran from more than 34 yards.

Leading 7-0, quarterback Zack Mills led Penn State on an eight-play, 57-yard scoring drive to take a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Penn State finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Eric McCoo.

Mills left the game following the scoring drive with a sprained ankle.

His backup, Matt Senneca was 6-of-23 for 52 yards and three interceptions.

"Zach has a little better touch than I do. That's all me, not the receivers," Senneca said. "The ball is in my hands to come up with the big plays. The receivers were open and I didn't get it to them.

The Illini's lone touchdown of the first half was set up by Wilson's first interception. With the ball at their own 36, Kittner hit Moorehead on consecutive pass attempts before finding a wide-open Brian Hodges for a 17-yard touchdown reception.

Penn State scored on its next possession on a halfback pass from McCoo to Tony Johnson. The play didn't fool the Illini, who had Johnson covered. But one defender went for the ball and a second missed the tackle, leaving Johnson a clear path to the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown.