PISCATAWAY, N.J. _ The third try was a charm for first-year Illinois coach Lovie Smith as he posted his first Big Ten victory Saturday with a 24-7 triumph over Rutgers.
The Illini (2-4, 1-2 Big Ten) bounced back from a heartbreaking, back-and-forth overtime loss to Purdue to end a four-game skid before a crowd of 42,640 at High Point Solutions Stadium.
"Just a win (is good)," Smith said. "It has been a long time, since the first game of the season. To get a road win, too, should give our guys some confidence going into next week."
Running back Kendrick Foster scored both of Illinois' offensive touchdowns, one rushing and another on a reception, both from five yards out. The Illini's other touchdown came on cornerback Darius Mosely's 78-yard interception return with 9 minutes, 32 seconds left.
The interception, one of five turnovers the Illini forced, killed the Scarlet Knights' momentum as they were in the midst of attempting a comeback that would have earned rookie coach Chris Ash his first conference victory.
"I have to give (credit) to the defensive line," Mosely said of his interception. "(Tackle Chunky Clements) tipped the ball. I saw it and caught it and just scored."
The Knights (2-5, 0-4) had closed the gap to 17-7 when quarterback Giovanni Rescigno, who relieved starter Chris Laviano to begin the second half, hit tight end Nick Arcidiacono on a 3-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Rutgers forced Illinois into a three-and-out on the next drive and was moving downfield, going 33 yards on nine plays, when Mosely made his interception.
"Whenever you take the ball away five times and have two fourth-down stops, you should be talking about a win," Smith said. "Mosely, we started him for the first time in the nickel position, and that interception was probably the play of the game. He did a great job returning punts too. Times like when you have a four-game losing streak going, you need to have someone elevate their game. He did."
The Illini doubled their 7-0 halftime lead three minutes into the second half when sophomore quarterback Chayce Crouch, making his first career start for the injured Wes Lunt, directed a six-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Foster's 5-yard rushing score.
On its following drive, Illinois went 35 yards to set up a 37-yard field goal for Chase McLaughlin, who made up for his miss at the end of the first half.
The Illini's first score came on Crouch's 5-yard toss to Foster midway through the second quarter.
"We were on a losing streak, and now all it takes is one win to get on a winning streak," Foster said. "This is a great feeling for all of us ... and just gives another boost of confidence to the guys upfront and the whole morale in the locker room. It means a lot just to know that we're good in the Big Ten and we have to keep fighting."
That confidence will be sorely tested Saturday, when the Illini visit No. 4 Michigan after the Wolverines' off week.
