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Redd's late score pushes Penn State past Illinois

Oct 30, 2011 - 2:41 AM University Park, PA (Sports Network) - Silas Redd rushed for a three-yard touchdown with 1:08 remaining to lift No. 21 Penn State to a 10-7 win over Illinois and secure an historic win for Joe Paterno.

Anthony Fera hit a 30-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter for the Nittany Lions (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten), as Paterno earned his 409th career victory to become the winningest coach in Division I history, passing late Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson.

Following Redd's touchdown run, the Illini (6-3, 2-3) drove into PSU territory, but Derek Dimke's 42-yard field goal attempt bounced off the upright as time expired.

Matthew McGloin completed just 9-of-24 passed for 98 yards and an interception, but was under center during the game-winning drive for Penn State, which has won seven straight games for the first time since 2008.

"[McGloin] showed me he's just a part of what the whole team has done all year," said Paterno. "We've done some things that have been tough. We're not killing people, we're not running over them or anything like that. We've had to struggle."

Meanwhile, Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 63 yards and a touchdown and ran for 89 yards for Illinois, which has dropped three in a row.

Dimke had hit 10 straight field goals prior to his late miss. He was denied a chance to give Illinois a 3-0 lead towards the end of the first half, when Tim Russell botched the hold on 4th-and-goal.

"There are six points we left out there...three with the bobbled snap and three at the end of the game there," said Illini coach Ron Zook. "We could have had a chance."

The Illini, who opened the season 6-0 for the first time since 1951, have been held scoreless in the first half during each of their last three losses.

They broke through late in the third quarter, though, to grab a 7-0 lead.

After the defense forced a stop on 4th-and-1, Scheelhaase moved the ball into PSU territory and connected with Spencer Harris for a 10-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-8.

It marked the first touchdown Penn State has allowed in the third quarter this season.

Early in the fourth, Brad Bars blocked an Illini punt and Fera, who missed a 43-yarder during the first half, was good from 30 yards on the ensuing PSU drive to make it a 7-3 contest.

Again the Penn State defense held, stopping Scheelhaase on a 3rd-and-11 keeper to set up the game-winning, 80-yard touchdown march.

McGloin began the drive with a 20-yard completion to Derek Moye, who had missed the previous two games with a foot injury.

Later in the drive, Moye drew a pass interference penalty on 3rd-and-6 to extend the drive, then hauled in a nine-yard reception to place the ball at the Illinois eight-yard-line.

Redd plunged into the end zone three plays later to seal the comeback victory.

"We have faced a lot of adversity in that game. We showed our resilience and came out with the score and the win," said Redd.

Game Notes

Penn State notched its first seven-game win streak since opening the season 9-0 in 2008...Rob Bolden, who typically splits time with McGloin, was 0-for-4 passing...Jason Ford rushed for 100 yards on 24 carries for Illinois.