Charest leads Illini to win over Golden Gophers

Illinois' Arrelious Benn (9) receives a pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against Minnesota at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. on Nov. 7, 2009. The 35-32 win against Minnesota brings two victories in a row to an Illinois team that had not gained a Big Ten win until the end of October.
Wesley Fane The Daily Illini

Hobbling off the TCF Bank Stadium field on crutches with his left ankle in a boot Saturday, senior quarterback Juice Williams stopped for a moment to pull Jacob Charest aside for a hug.

“Way to go; I’m proud of you,” Williams told the redshirt freshman.

It was Williams who directed the Illini to a 7-0 lead with a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to start Saturday’s game, but it was Charest who finished Illinois’ 35-32 win against host Minnesota after Williams left the game with a sprained ankle.

“It was a really good moment for me for Juice to come over and tell me that he’s proud of me,” Charest said. “It was just so great to go out and get another win.”

Illinois (3-6, 2-5 Big Ten) rode an efficient passing game and big plays on defense to down Minnesota (5-5, 3-4).

The Illini overcame Williams’ injury to win back-to-back games against Football Bowl Subdivision schools for the first time since 2007.

“These guys beat us last year so it was even sweeter,” sophomore defensive tackle Corey Liuget said of beating Minnesota. “Everybody was so proud and happy to beat these guys that it was such a great feeling. We’re finally getting the ball rolling.”

Illinois' Terry Hawthorne (12) celebrates after running an interception for a touchdown during the game against Minnesota at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. on Nov. 7, 2009.
Wesley Fane The Daily Illini

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Charest, defense shine as Illini down Gophers 

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Williams began the game by completing all five of his pass attempts for 53 yards, all of which came on the first drive.

He capped the opening drive by finding senior Jeff Cumberland in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown.

But Williams sprained his ankle later in the first quarter when he fumbled on an option-keeper on the third Illini drive of the game.

In came Charest, who completed 10 of 19 passes for 185 yards passing, including his first career touchdown on a 4-yard toss to junior wide receiver Arrelious Benn in the fourth quarter.

“We did plan to get him in there, but not in that way,” Illinois head coach Ron Zook said of Charest. “I thought he managed the offense extremely well.”

The Illini jumped to an early 14-0 lead after freshman cornerback Terry Hawthorne jumped in front of a pass from Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber, returning the interception for a 44-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.

“It started getting things going, which was great,” Hawthorne said. “I finally got my pick-six. Hopefully I’ll get another one next week.”

Running backs Justin Green and Jason Ford both notched touchdowns in the second quarter, giving Illinois a 28-7 halftime lead.

Weber followed last week’s 416-yard, five-touchdown performance against Michigan State with a first half in which he completed 5 of 17 passes for 74 yards and an interception. He recovered in the second half to finish 14 of 31 for 221 passing yards.

Harassing Weber all game was an Illini defense that registered seven sacks, four of which belonged to junior defensive end Clay Nurse.

“Clay’s a guy, I’m telling you now, he has really come on,” Zook said. “I’m really proud of the way he’s been playing right now.”

Despite the halftime lead, Illinois had to survive a late Minnesota comeback, with the Gophers outscoring the Illini 22-7 in the final quarter.

“I told them at halftime that this was a (Minnesota) football team that has had four of their five wins in which they had to come from behind to win,” Zook said. “They weren’t going to quit and they weren’t going to quit playing.”

After Minnesota junior fullback Jon Hoese found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, Minnesota senior wide receiver Ben Kuznia returned a blocked Illinois punt for a 3-yard touchdown to bring the Gophers within three with 3:05 remaining.

“Everybody probably had their heart beating fast, as we did too,” Zook said. “Maybe that was something we needed.”

The Gophers’ ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, and with Minnesota having used all three of its timeouts that half, all Illinois needed to do was pick up a first down to seal the win.

“I was just down in my stance thinking, ‘There’s no way I’m letting this one go. Let’s just get this first down and then get the hell out of here,’” senior guard Jon Asamoah said.

Ford, who finished with 82 rushing yards on 20 carries, rattled off consecutive 8-yard runs to give the Illini their second straight conference win.

“Our guys didn’t quit and they kept playing,” Zook said. “They hung in there and I think that’s something that we can use down the road.”

Zook praised Charest afterward for skilled clock management in the win, which was the redshirt freshman’s first close game.

“Usually for a young quarterback, clock management is the last thing that comes,” Zook said. “For him to go in that kind of environment and that kind of situation, for him to be able to manage the clock the way he did, I thought it was excellent.”