STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Illini needed a touchdown, and they went for a touchdown, but it was Penn State safety Ryan Keiser who came down with the ball.

On Illinois’ first play of overtime, trailing the Nittany Lions 24-17, Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase threw the ball up for grabs in the left corner of the end zone. Illini wide receiver Spencer Harris had a chance at it, along with Keiser and Nittany Lions cornerback Adrian Amos.

“That play was coming to me all week and that play worked well in practice,” Harris said. “The corner came down and read back up — and came hard up.”

Harris knew it was going to be a tough pass to catch with two defenders covering him. The ball came down, and Harris and Amos went up. It hit off Harris’ fingertips and deflected into the waiting arms of Keiser just behind them.

That quickly, the game was over, and Illinois’ Big Ten losing streak was extended.

“Just a bad play on my part,” Scheelhaase said. “I didn’t see the corner drop back off, so I was checking down to the back. It’s as simple as that.”

“It was partially my fault for not putting myself in the right position,” Harris added. “I didn’t know it was an interception until I heard the crowd.”

Harris had been having his best game of the season. He made 10 catches for 81 yards and became the first Illini with 10 or more catches since Josh Ferguson eclipsed the double-digit mark against Louisiana Tech last season.

Coach Tim Beckman was proud of the way his receiving corps stepped up in the absence of the injured Ryan Lankford. It was different being out there without Lankford, and Harris said the team was dedicating this game to him.

But after the game, it was the catch Harris didn’t make that was on his mind.

“Bitter sweet? Not at all,” Harris said. “I don’t even know how many catches I had but, to be honest, I don’t really care. We didn’t have the W.”

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and @sean_hammond.