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		Illinois, defense wins Fight Hunger Bowl By Jeremy Kahn December 31, 2011

	SAN FRANCISCO-With the Illinois Fighting Illini trailing the UCLA Bruins 7-3, things were not looking for the Big 10 representatives from Champaign. All things changed with one just throw from Bruins quarterback Kevin Prince. Fighting Illini cornerback Terry Hawthorne intercepted the Prince pass and returned it 39 yards to the end zone, as the Fighting Illini came back to defeat the Bruins 20-14 before 29,878 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park. “All gas, no brakes for me,” Hawthorne said., who was named the Defensive Player of the Game. “Once I catch it, I’m gone.” The Fighting Illini put the game away, as quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase found A.J. Jenkins for a 60-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter and the Fighting Illini won for the first time since defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 12 weeks ago. On the afternoon, Scheelhaase, a red shirt sophomore went 18-for-30 with 139 yards passing and gained 110 yards on the ground on his way to be named the Offensive Player of the Game. Prince got the Bruins on the scoreboard, as he threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Embree after the Bruins were able to stop Donovonn Young on fourth-and-one from the Illini 45. This was the only game that would be coached by both head coaches, as Vic Koenning replaced the fired Ron Zook and Mike Johnson replaced the fired Rick Neuheisel. Tim Beckman, who was hired to take over the Fighting Illini program and Jim L. Mora, who will pace the sidelines next year for the Bruins were on the sideline watching their future teams. “I don’t know if I learned anything differently, but it’s definitely a different role having to deal with all the things you have to deal with as a head coach,” Johnson said. “But I was extremely pleased the way the team practiced, the way they prepared. I thought they came out, I thought they played hard.” Derek Dimke hit field goals from 36 and 37 yards, and missed one wide right from 37 yards. Prince put the final touches on the scoring with under a minute remaining in the game, as he found Nelson Rosario for a 38-yard touchdown pass. The Fighting Illini were able to recover the onside kick, and with one kneel to the ground, the Fighting Illini won their second consecutive bowl game for the first time in school history.