CHAMPAIGN, Ill. _ After watching the war hero movie Hacksaw Ridge, Illinois players adopted the motto "one more" heading into Saturday's game against Michigan State.
The Illini needed just one more play at the end of the fourth quarter against the Spartans, who faced fourth-and-2 with 19 seconds remaining. A sack from linebacker Hardy Nickerson and defensive end Carroll Phillips was the one they needed.
"Sometimes you have to get the job done," Illini coach Lovie Smith said. "It would have been pretty disappointing if we couldn't have stood up defensively and gotten one more play. And they did."
The play secured a 31-27 victory for the Illini, who had not won at home since the season opener on Sept. 3.
"We had forgotten what it's like," Smith said. "They had to take me to the routine, singing our alma mater (after a victory). There is no excitement like a winning locker room, genuine emotion. You want the guys to feel that more often."
Illinois scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:35 remaining on a 16-yard pass from Jeff George Jr. to Sam Mays. Two costly Michigan State pass interference calls helped Illinois keep the 75-yard drive alive.
The Illini could have adopted another theme for the day: Patience.
The Illini failed to convert a first down until their final drive of the second quarter when they scored on Kendrick Foster's 19-yard barreling run.
George and Foster, who are roommates, both had needed perseverance to find their way into a successful starting role with the Illini (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten).
"On Thursday, my dad (Jeff George Sr., who played at Illinois) and Kendrick went out to eat," George said. "Weather the storm, my dad preaches that. College football is hard but you have to grind through it."
George made his third straight start _ the only ones the redshirt freshman has made _ and finally delivered after a rocky beginning. He completed 13 of 29 passes for 140 yards with no turnovers and another fourth-quarter 1-yard touchdown pass to Ainslie Johnson.
Senior starter Wes Lunt dressed after practicing this week, but sat out for his fourth straight game with a back injury.
Foster, who was buried so deep on the depth chart he had considered transferring last season, registered a career day with 146 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns. His first score was a 64-yard run that gave Illinois a 14-9 lead in the third quarter.
For Michigan State (2-7, 0-6), the loss calls even greater attention to its disastrous season.
The Spartans, who have had a rotating door at quarterback, lost Saturday's starter Tyler O'Connor to injury in the fourth quarter. Running back LJ Scott also left the game with an injury.
Michigan State hurt itself with 10 penalties for 89 yards as Illinois benefited from a turnover-free day.
"It feels good just to put everything together," Foster said. "We're good. We're young, but we're fighting still. We showed pride today."
