Illini roll into bowl picture

CHAMPAIGN -- The guys in the navy blue home jerseys stuck to football for the first 59 minutes and 45 seconds Saturday afternoon.

But as the final seconds ticked away in Illinois' 28-17 homecoming victory over Ball State, many Illini players switched to a sport far more genteel -- yet still apropos.

Bowling.

All over Memorial Stadium Lanes, some Illini pantomimed their best Dick Weber deliveries while others pretended to be bowled-over pins to celebrate the program's first postseason eligibility in six years.

"People were kind of thinking about it during the week," said fifth-year senior safety Kevin Mitchell. "It just feels great to kind of get this thing rolling."

Rashard Mendenhall and Juice Williams combined for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground to erase a third-quarter deficit they caused and earn Illinois' magical sixth win.

"There's nothing guaranteed, but it's amazing," said senior guard Martin O'Donnell, a four-year starter from Downers Grove South. "It's been a long five years -- a long five years. I made sure I went up to all the seniors. We've worked long and hard for this.

"I'm also just real happy for our fans, just so they can walk around wearing Illinois stuff with pride."

Initially, Illinois (6-3) looked worn out on a gray day when everyone -- players and fans alike -- acted a bit hung over from the emotional home loss to Michigan on Oct. 20.

"It was one of those games as a coach, your stomach's in your throat the whole (way)," said Illinois coach Ron Zook. "There was never a time where you could relax."

The Illini needed three series just to earn their initial first down. They held an insecure 7-3 lead at the half that disappeared on the third quarter's fourth play.

Williams flipped a screen pass to the left that was too high for Mendenhall. The ball tipped off the leaping running back's hand and into those of middle linebacker Mike Dorulla, who zipped 36 yards with ease for a 10-7 Ball State lead.

But instead of revving up the Cardinals (5-4), the "pick 6" picked up the Illini.

Undaunted offensive coordinator Mike Locksley called a similar-looking swing pass on Illinois' next snap, Arrelious Benn gained 25 yards on the play, and the hosts were off and running.

Williams capped a 65-yard drive with a 10-yard keeper for a 14-10 lead. After the defense delivered a three-and-out, Williams and Mendenhall needed just three plays to score again. Williams somehow avoided a sack and scrambled for 22 yards to set up Mendenhall's 30-yard touchdown slash on a bootleg trap.

Illinois finished with 324 rushing yards -- its second-highest total against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in this decade.

Mendenhall carried a career-high 28 times for 189 yards while Williams posted season bests for carries (16), yards (99) and scores (2).

Ball State did its best to slant its defense outside to prevent Mendenhall from running wild, but it only helped Williams pick up big yardage inside and turn short play-action passes into big gainers.

"Teams are starting to try a lot of (pre-snap) movement on us and we just have to be fundamentally sound," O'Donnell said. "There are chances to gain advantages there because when people are moving, sometimes they're not gap-sound."

Ball State admitted as much.

"They are great players," Dorulla said. "But anytime you don't 'fit' the defense well and don't tackle well, anyone is going to have a big day on you."

Ball State also missed 2 chip-shot field goals to help Illinois' cause. Had Jake Hogue's 35- and 26-yard attempts been good, the Cards would have taken a 23-21 lead with 12:46 to play.

Instead, the Illini sped down the field after the latter miss, and Williams clinched the game with a 3-yard keeper.

Saturday's win didn't clinch a bowl. The Illini could be locked out if they finish 6-6 and seven other Big Ten teams win at least seven games.

But if Illinois wins one of its last three, nothing can stop Zook's crew from going to the postseason.

"We know what we've been through to get to this point," said fifth-year senior linebacker J Leman. "But we're not stopping."

Big Ten bowlers

Here are the conference's seven official bowl tie-ins, in order of how they'll hand out invitations. This doesn't take into account the possibility the Big Ten gets two teams in the Bowl Championship Series.

*Rose, Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1

Capital One, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 1

Outback, Tampa, Fla., Jan. 1

Alamo, San Antonio, Dec. 29

Champs Sports, Orlando, Fla., Dec. 28

Insight, Phoenix, Dec. 31

Motor City, Detroit, Dec. 26

*The Big Ten sends its champion to the Rose Bowl unless it receives a spot in the BCS title game.