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Morelli, Penn St look to regroup at Illinois

Sep 29, 2007 - 10:48 AM No. 21 Penn State (3-1) at Illinois (3-1) 12:00 pm EDT

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- Penn State fans certainly hope Anthony Morelli and the Nittany Lions don't have a hangover from last week.

Morelli and the 21st-ranked Nittany Lions try to avoid an 0-2 start to Big Ten Conference play when they visit Illinois on Saturday.

Penn State (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) began the season with three easy victories, but those came against Florida International, Notre Dame and Buffalo, who are a combined 1-11.

Last week, they were hoping to end an eight-game losing streak against Michigan but instead came up short again, 14-9 in Ann Arbor.

Morelli never looked comfortable against the Wolverines, completing just 15-of-31 passes for 169 yards.

Though he did not throw an interception, Morelli also did not lead the Nittany Lions to a touchdown and threw four straight incompletions - the first two to avoid sacks - on Penn State's final possession.

Penn State also struggled to contain Mike Hart, allowing the senior to rush for 153 yards and a touchdown on 44 carries while also giving up a 10-yard rushing TD to freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Illinois (3-1, 1-0) has won three straight contests since a season-opening loss to Missouri. Last week, the Fighting Illini opened Big Ten play with a 27-14 victory at Indiana - their first conference-opening win since 1993.

Rashard Mendenhall was the hero last week for Illinois, rushing for a career-best 214 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and hauling in a score. Juice Williams added two TD passes but threw for just 98 yards and was picked off twice.

Third-year Illini coach Ron Zook has lost his first two meetings with Penn State in Big Ten play by a combined margin of 89-22.

The Nittany Lions are 12-2 all-time with three straight wins over the Illini.