Miller's back-to-basics approach nets crucial touchdown

CHAMPAIGN - For all you youngsters out there who hate doing the most basic practice drills, allow Illinois senior middle linebacker Brit Miller to enlighten you.

Here's how Miller was able to strip Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Michael Desormeaux on Saturday and score what turned out to be a crucial 27-yard touchdown in No. 24 Illinois' 20-17 win at Memorial Stadium:

"We go through it every day," Miller said, "and it's the most boring, mundane, worst part of practice - ripping the ball out.

"But that's where it pays off because I got my hands on the ball on a tackle, we ended up standing him up - we had a lot of guys around him - and I was able to get it out."

Miller raced 27 yards with the fumble and somersaulted in the end zone to celebrate his first career touchdown.

That earned him an in-game text message from former Illinois wide receiver Kyle Hudson - "That's a weak dive, man," Miller reported - and also encouraged him to try it again.

Early in the fourth quarter, Miller stood up running back Tyrell Fenroy and appeared to rip the ball away from him, too, but the officials said it came after Fenroy's forward progress had been stopped.

"(The referee) blew the whistle early," said co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch.

"Uh-oh" at last: Junior tight end Michael Hoomanawanui chose Illinois in large part because of Ron Zook's success with tight ends while at Florida.

"They were their leading receivers, that's what (offensive coordinator Mike) Locksley told me," Hoomanawanui said. "I watched film on them."

But "Uh-Oh," as he's known, only caught a 2-point conversion as a freshman and posted just 5 catches as a sophomore.

On Saturday, though, the 6-foot-5, 274-pound Hoomanawanui posted career highs in catches (5) and yards (74) as he delivered crucial grabs over the middle. That included 2 sliding catches on low Juice Williams spirals.

"It took me two years, unfortunately, to get comfortable and really get into this thing," Hoomanawanui said. "But I think everyone sees I feel more comfortable in the offense."

Legit Liuget: The biggest prize in Illinois' most recent recruiting class was Miami defensive lineman Corey Liuget.

The 6-foot-3, 286-pound defensive tackle has wasted little time proving he deserved to be ranked among the nation's top 80 recruits.

Making his first career start Saturday, Liuget posted 4 tackles and 1 quarterback hurry when he bludgeoned Lafayette's Michael Desormeaux as he released the ball.

"I was like, 'I've got to turn my motor on,' " Liuget said. "This is my opportunity to prove to the coaches that I can play."

Line coach Tom Sims informed Liuget during Friday's walk-through that he'd get the start, which doesn't seem likely to be his last.

"He said, 'You've got to be ready, young buck,' " Liuget said. "I was so happy, I called everyone in my family back in Miami."

Meanwhile, sophomore Josh Brent finally made his season debut after a two-week "illness," but the projected starter struggled.

Brent was flagged for two personal fouls in the fourth quarter - one for piling on and one for grabbing the quarterback's face mask - that helped the Ragin' Cajuns on their two scoring drives.

"I thought Corey Liuget played well," said coach Ron Zook. "Josh was trying too hard."

Injury report: Sophomore right tackle Ryan Palmer missed the second half and could miss several weeks after an X-ray suggested he broke a small bone in his foot.

True freshman Jeff Allen (6-foot-4, 317 pounds) took over and figures to remain there as long as it takes for Palmer for heal, if not longer.

"I'm very proud of him," Zook said. "He did a good job. Ryan was on the verge. He needs to get going anyway."

By the numbers: Illinois' 341 yards of total offense marked the first time it didn't hit the 400-yard mark since the back-to-back losses to Iowa and Michigan last October.

Middle linebacker Brit Miller set a career high with 13 tackles and tied his best for tackles for loss (3) that he set in the Rose Bowl.

Cornerback Vontae Davis tied his career high with 13 tackles (set in the Rose Bowl), including 1.5 for losses. He also forced a fumble that he recovered.

Deron steps up: Between the first and second quarters Saturday, former Illinois all-American point guard Deron Williams handed an oversized check for $300,000 to basketball coach Bruce Weber.

It symbolized Williams' commitment to fund a scholarship in perpetuity.

"It's just to give back to the university that helped me to get to where I'm at right now," Williams said. "I'm in a good place right now with my life and I have the ability to help others. There's so many people in need, so many kids in need."

On Friday night, Williams' Point of Hope Foundation raised more than $200,000 with an Illini-oriented gala at the Palmer House in Chicago.

He said it: With just three practices next week because there's no game Saturday, Ron Zook plans to make the most of the time.

"There's no use in going out there and beating them up, but we're going to turn the wick up. We're going to do it fast and we're going to do it with some intensity and like we like it."