Illinois stuns Penn St. to ruin homecoming

October 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

The only players celebrating after Penn State’s homecoming game were wearing bright orange and blue.

Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase danced and sidestepped around Nittany Lions defenders, while the defense frolicked all over the Beaver Stadium field after the Illini won their first game in seven tries in Happy Valley.

Leshoure had 119 yards, Scheelhaase was 15 of 19 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown and Nate Bussey returned an interception 16 yards for a score as Illinois pulled away in the second half for a 33-13 victory Saturday over injury-depleted Penn State.

“Obviously it was a big win for us. We’ve talked all week about how Illinois has never won here and we had a chance to ... do something that’s never been done at the University of Illinois,” coach Ron Zook said. “I’m proud of them.”

Derek Dimke added four field goals and the Illini (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) overcame three fumbles on special teams by return man Jack Ramsey by brushing aside a short-handed defense.

The bruising 6-foot Leshoure and Scheelhaase softened the Nittany Lions on the run, and Scheelhaase took advantage of soft coverage over the middle with an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to A.J. Jenkins.

By the time halfback Jason Ford hit Evan Wilson with a 4-yard TD pass on a trick play for a 14-point lead with 8:30 in the third quarter, the Illini were well on their way to a comfortable victory.

“They kicked our ears in. They linebackers, I thought they never saw a pass before. Who do you blame? You’ve got to blame us,” dejected Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. “In the first half, they could have completed every down.”

It was another confidence-building performance for Illinois after a closer-than-expected 24-13 loss last week to Ohio State.