EAST LANSING, Mich. - The University of Illinois took 70 players on the trip to Michigan State and not a single one of them had ever experienced the joy of winning a football game away from home.

That 46-month drought came to a dramatic end Saturday when Jason Reda's 39-yard field goal with six seconds to go gave the Illini a 23-20 victory over the Spartans.

"I haven't been that nervous in a long time," said Illini defensive lineman David Lindquist, who held his breath during the game-winning boot. "When Jason came onto the field I got down on my knee and prayed to God he'd make that field goal. And when he did…I can't even explain the feeling we have now."

After Reda's final kickoff was smothered with no time on the clock, a jubilant Illinois team grabbed the large, orange Illini flag, rushed to the center of the Spartan Stadium field and planted it in the middle of the white block "S." A victory dance ensued and a brief scuffle broke out when Michigan State players objected to the celebration.

"We weren't trying to push any buttons," Illini linebacker J Leman said, "but that's what they did at Notre Dame last year.

"Michigan State beat us 61-14 last year. We were humiliated at Memorial Stadium. Any time you beat a team 61-14, it's like, 'OK, let's have them for our homecoming next year.' "

Illinois, a 26-point underdog, ruined Michigan State's script for a homecoming football celebration on a gray, rainy day that ended with fans booing the Spartan team as it left the field and Coach John L. Smith at a loss to explain the team's second straight home defeat.

"I don't have any answers," Smith said. "They're not listening to me.

"First, I have to give credit to the Illini. They played hard and deserved to win. And then I have to look at ourselves and say that it's our fault as coaches. We didn't get our kids prepared to play the game. If you go out unprepared emotionally and mentally, you're going to lose and deserve to lose."

A far more happy coach was Illinois' Ron Zook.

"I've told our team for a long time, there will come a point in time when we have to stand up and win a game and do it in a tough fashion. We were able to do that," Zook said.

"This is a beginning. It doesn't mean we are there yet, but it's a beginning. We know we've been making progress, but now maybe it's some noticeable progress that other people can see as well."

Zook had plenty to feel good about.

His defense held the Big Ten Conference's most potent attack to 259 total yards, limited the Spartans to 82 yards on the ground, recorded five sacks and knocked quarterback Drew Stanton and starting tailback Javon Ringer from the game with injuries.

Offensively, freshman quarterback Juice Williams played wire-to-wire, scooped up a fumbled center snap to hit Jacob Willis on a 69-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 103 yards. Pierre Thomas added 110 yards rushing and tailback E.B. Halsey threw an option pass 16 yards for a touchdown to Willis.

Illinois (2-3, 1-1) also won despite two plays that might have crushed its spirit in the past.

The first came with Illinois leading 10-3 early in the third quarter. Williams, who had Michigan State off-balance with his play-faking and ability to run with the ball, tried to fire a quick sideline pass to wide receiver Derrick McPhearson.

But Spartan cornerback Demond Williams anticipated the throw, jumped in front of McPhearson and picked off the pass, returning it 62 yards for the game-tying touchdown.

Rather than let that mistake dent his confidence, the Illini quarterback got on the phone with offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and returned ready to march Illinois to another score.

"That was a mistake I made but Coach Locksley said to just wipe it out of my mind," Williams said. "He said, 'Just stay positive, stay focused, and everything will be all right.' "

Sure enough, Williams followed the ensuing kickoff by leading the Illini 72 yards in nine plays, setting up the go-ahead touchdown.

Consecutive trick plays covered the final 32 yards. First came a wide receiver reverse, which McPhearson ran for 16 yards. Then came Halsey's halfback pass to Willis, who slipped behind the Michigan State secondary and was alone in the end zone.

"Actually, Rashard Mendenhall had been throwing that pass all week in practice," said Halsey. "I did it a few times, but mostly it was Rashard. But on Friday, Coach Locksley came to me and said I'd be doing it. Then this morning he asked me, 'Are you ready to throw a touchdown pass today?' I said, 'Yeah, just call it.' "

That play gave Illinois a 17-10 lead with 7:27 to go in the third period and Reda's 34-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the quarter made it 20-10.

The score stayed that way until a critical play seemed to swing the momentum Michigan State's way in the fourth quarter. Stanton, who made a critical first-quarter fumble, was hit by Illini defensive end David Pilcher. The ball popped free and was recovered by Pilcher deep in Illinois territory.

But the apparent turnover was reversed when a review of the play convinced the officials that Stanton's arm had been moving forward. Rather than a fumble, the play was ruled an incomplete pass.

Stanton suffered bruised ribs on the play and did not return, but his replacement, Brian Hoyer, threw a 13-yard pass to Kellen Davis on the next play, setting up Jehuu Caulcrick's 1-yard TD run that pulled the Spartans to within 20-17 with 6:42 to play.

And Michigan State (3-2, 0-1) tied it 20-20 on Brett Swenson's 27-yard field goal with 2:46 to go.

Then it was time for Illinois to execute its two-minute offense.

"I went down and asked Jason Reda where we needed to get the ball," Zook said. "Then I told Coach Locksley to get us to the 30."

Williams looked nothing like a freshman moving the team against the clock. His eight-yard quarterback draw picked up the initial first down, his 16-yard pass to Kyle Hudson moved the chains a second time and Williams' four-yard run picked up the third first down on the drive.

All three of his passes on the drive went to Hudson, the final one an eight-yard gain that took the ball to the Michigan State 23. From there, Reda's kick drifted but stayed a few feet inside the left upright.

"We had quite a celebration in the locker room," said Leman, who led the Illini with 11 tackles. "For a guy like me who has been here for four years, we've worked so hard and not seen a lot come out of it. So to have a victory like this on the road just means so much."