The Penn State Nittany Lions mounted a come back late in the fourth quarter, after doing virtually nothing the entire game. With 3:05 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions went on a 10 play 80-yard drive assisted by a few Illinois penalties, to go up 10-7 with a minute left in the game. Matthew McGloin began the drive hitting on three straight passes of 15 or more yards to march Penn State past midfield. After a 15-yard pass interference call on Illinois, McGloin once again hit receiver Derek Moye for a 9-yard gain to put Penn State on the 9-yard line. Running back Silas Redd then carried the ball three straight times, punching it in for the go ahead touchdown with 1:03 left on the clock.
Illinois got the ball back and began to mount a drive. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase connected on three straight passes, including a 20-yard pass to A.J. Jenkins for 20 yards to get down to the Penn State 34. Jason Ford then ran the ball up the middle of 9 yards to get Illinois in field goal position with five seconds left in the game. Derek Dimke lined up for the game tying field goal, but doinked the kick off of the upright sealing the win for Penn State.
This was a game dominated by poor offensive play in the snow. Penn State had just 209 yards of total offense, most of which came on their final game winning drive. Running back Silas Redd ended the day with 137 yards on 29 carries and the game winning touchdown. The Nittany Lions struggled passing the ball, completing just 9 of 28 passes for 98 yards.
Illinois on the other hand ran the ball for 198 yards as a team, including getting 100 yards from Jason Ford. Illinois turned the ball of four times however, had a punt blocked, and missed a field goal at the end of the game.
Penn State improves to 8-1, 5-0 in Big 10 play.
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