The Bucks stop here: Williams, Illini put squeeze on Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio - After top-ranked Ohio State seized a 14-7 lead less than six minutes into Saturday's game, a handful of OSU band members ran on the turf to revel in the end zone.

One big guy, riding on his buddy's shoulders as he jogged happy figure-eights to entertain the crowd, brandished a huge sign that read, "BEAT BLUE."

Ohio State might go ahead and beat Michigan in next week's season finale.

But the Buckeyes will never forget how they couldn't beat the Orange and Blue before the fifth-largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history.

"You kind of feel like a bit of a failure if you can't get a win on Senior Day," said Ohio State senior tackle and captain Kirk Barton.

Led by Juice Williams' career-high 4 touchdown passes and his four crucial first-down runs on the final drive, Illinois unleashed an almost perfect performance to earn a 28-21 Big Ten triumph before 105,453 who went from deafening to dumbfounded.

Illinois' first win over a No. 1 team since 1956 - and first road win against any No. 1 since the Associated Press poll came into existence in 1936 - smashed a big hole in Ohio State's BCS title-game hopes.

While most of the Illini ran out to celebrate on the Block "O" at midfield, drawing some shoves and a few blows from the crushed Buckeyes, Williams dropped to one knee at the 16-yard line.

"I was crying," Williams said. "I was emotional. I think it was just a combination of everything: My performance. The team we beat. The situation, knowing all the odds were against us and being able to overcome that.

"I was sobbing. Boo-hooing. All that. It was a great feeling."

Williams and the Illini looked and played like the better team after they shook off Ohio State's two quick scores.

Against the nation's No. 1 defense, Illinois scored more points (28) and gained more total yards (400) than any OSU opponent. The Illini committed no turnovers, had 1 penalty and allowed just 1 sack.

And the Illini defenders? They surrendered just 1 touchdown in the final 54-plus minutes. They intercepted Todd Boeckman three times, which led to 2 touchdowns and "The Drive" that capped the win.

"They could've cashed it in after the first 2 plays of the game," said Illinois head coach Ron Zook.

Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) needed just 2 plays and 23 seconds to take the lead, but Illinois needed just 3 plays and 49 seconds to pull even.

Daniel Dufrene's 80-yard run - on a split-backs wrinkle offensive coordinator Mike Locksley threw in specifically for this game - set up Williams' 3-yard play-action touchdown pass to tight end Michael Hoomanawanui.

Then Ohio State marched swiftly for another score - setting off the premature "BEAT BLUE" party - and Illinois couldn't answer.

But then began one of the game's other defining themes: Illinois' defenders making leaping grabs of OSU quarterback Todd Boeckman's throws, which would lead to big drives by the offense.

Cornerback Dere Hicks' leaping pick set up Williams' 33-yard, play-action touchdown pass to Jacob Willis. That made it 14-14 with 4:04 left in the first. Williams added an 8-yard toss to Ohio native Brian Gamble shortly before halftime to make it 21-14.

Ohio State marched inside Illinois' 10-yard line midway through the third quarter, but true freshman cornerback Marcus "Miami" Thomas broke up a Boeckman pass that richocheted to linebacker Antonio Steele in the back of the end zone.

Williams then directed an 80-yard march that once again fed off Ohio State's decision to pay so much attention to record-setting rusher Rashard Mendenhall.

For the third time in the game, Williams faked to Mendenhall to freeze the linebackers and then tossed a 31-yard touchdown to uncovered Marques Wilkins.

Ohio State cut its first double-digit deficit of the season to 28-21 on Beanie Wells' second score of the game, then regained possession on its own 18 with 9:23 to go.

With the crowd imploring the Buckeyes to rally, Boeckman tried to burn Thomas with a bomb to Brian Robiskie. Thomas saw the slight underthrow and cut in front of Robiskie for his first career interception with 8:09 left.

Ohio State never touched the ball again.

When it was over, while the Ohio State fans filed out of the 'Shoe and TV cameras focused on Zook and Williams at midfield, senior defensive tackle Mike Ware hoisted J Leman on his shoulders.

Just a few yards from where the band members did their thing three hours before, Ware walked back and forth in front of a pocket of Illinois fans, while a gleeful Leman slapped as many hands as he could reach.

"Ware's a beast and he just picked me up," said Leman, a fifth-year senior who led the Illini with 12 tackles, including 2 1/2 for losses.

"We were just living the dream right there. Living the dream."