Fresno State stuns Illinois with one point victory, 53-52

CHAMPAIGN - Illinois' ignominious season couldn't pass into the history books without an unforgettably fitting conclusion.

With two seconds left, 350-pound left guard Devan Cunningham caught a deflected 2-point pass and plunged just across the goal line to give Fresno State a 53-52 triumph in the highest-scoring game of Illinois'120-year history.

"I was just lost," said Illinois senior quarterback Juice Williams, who produced 267 total yards and 3 TDs in his final game. "I was also trying to think of the rules in my head to have it go against him. Illegal touching, or something like that."

Alas, there was nothing like that.

Quarterback Ryan Colburn, with linebacker Russell Ellington draped all over him, flung a wild pass that ricocheted off the hands of wideout Jamel Hamler and cornerback Tavon Wilson before bouncing to Cunningham at the 3-yard line.

The massive junior had a clear path to the goal line and dived into the end zone with an unnecessary shove from center Joe Bernardi.

While the replay official reviewed the bizarre ballet, Illinois sideline personnel and fans in the stands screamed that Cunningham must have been downfield illegally.

"It was just luck," said Cunningham, who had one high school carry on his resume prior to Saturday. "I'm speechless right now. Blocking is fun, but sometimes catching the ball is fun, too, I guess."

While Cunningham enjoyed his six minutes of fame with a live phone call to ESPNews, Illini coach Ron Zook sounded as tired and weather-beaten as he looked.

Illinois began the year at No. 27 in the Associated Press poll but ended the longest regular season in school annals with a 3-9 record.

"Well, I guess the way this year is going," Zook said, "it's probably not a big surprise that the game went like that."

The Illini trailed only once - 14-7 at the outset of the second quarter - prior to Cunningham's game-winner.

In the final game for at least 17 Illini (junior receiver Arrelious Benn says he'll make up his mind about the NFL after final exams), seniors Daniel Dufrene and Jeff Cumberland opened the scoring.

Sophomore running back Jason Ford added a touchdown before Benn caught a 58-yard bomb from Juice Williams with eight seconds left in the half.

Benn celebrated Illinois' 28-21 halftime lead by flinging the ball over the band into the stands. A dying quail aethestically, but an enjoyable gesture emotionally.

"I'm glad he threw the ball," said senior guard Jon Asamoah. "That got me more excited."

Fresno State (8-4) pulled into a 31-31 tie late in the third quarter, but then the game developed a compelling rhythm.

Illinois sophomore Mikel Leshoure would score, then the Bulldogs would answer.

Leshoure's third score in as many possessions, a 22-yard catch and run from Williams, gave the Illini a 52-45 edge with 6:14 to go.

Fresno State had to punt but forced Illinois' first second-half punt with 2:43 to go.

The Bulldogs' gradual march left them facing fourth-and-10 from Illinois' 19 with six seconds left. With the Illini sideline begging for one more stop, Colburn hit Hamler over the middle short of the goal.

Safety Walt Aikens forced Hamler airborne, but the replay official upheld the ruling that Hamler managed to nudge the ball across the line before his knee slammed to the turf.

That set up Cunningham's unlikely heroics - and sent Illinois into its crucial off-season on another down note.

While Zook plans a team meeting for Monday, his assistants plan to fan out across the country to recruit.

In the wake of athletic director Ron Guenther's announcement on Oct. 24 that Zook will be retained but some assistants won't, it remains to be seen which coaches get to work with the talent they seek.

Offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, whose platoon scored 88 points in the final two games, said he's flying to Houston to recruit but wouldn't talk about anything else but the game.

Co-defensive coordinator Curt Mallory, one of three assistants who has been with Zook since he arrived in December 2004, preferred not to discuss his status.

"It's neither here nor there," he said. "My concern is the Illinois football program and it's all about the kids.

"I don't pay any attention to (Guenther's statement). My motivations are the players and to come out and go to work every day."