Game Losing Streak - Illini Trail Ucla 7 - Illinois Game Day - 3 Halftime

SAN FRANCISCO Just as Illinois was three yards away from making the interesting for reasons other than strange subplots, drove quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase backward 15 yards.

Like much of the season, every time Illinois was within sniffing distance of success, they found ways to retreat backward.

Photos: Illinois football in action

ND coach hasn't been able to pick QB he can stick with

Memorial Stadium, University of Illinois - Financial Assistance, 1402 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820-6916, USA

The Illini settled for a 35-yard field goal by Derek Dimke to pull within 7-3 of the Bruins at halftime of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

The Illini offense looked as maligned as it had through most of the six- game losing streak they suffered.

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase completed 8 of 14 passes for 33 yards and an interception. Backup Reilly O Toole entered for one series but threw two incomplete passes.

Without leading rusher Jason Ford, who missed the game due to academic ineligibility, Scheelhaase was the primary rusher. He carried 12 times for 35 yards, while freshman running back had five carries for 22 yards.

The Illini defense held the Bruins to just eight rushing yards on 18 carries as the Illini outgained them in offense 118-65 in the first half.

Before the Illini field goal that ended the half, Illinois had taken over on the UCLA 30-yard line on a fumble recovery by defensive end Michael Buchanan after a bad snap by the Bruins.

On the previous drive, Illinois took over on the 32-yard line but a fake field goal attempt by Dimke didn t fool UCLA, which immediately surrounded him for the tackle and loss of downs. They were 0-for-2 on fourth-and-1 attempts in the first half.

UCLA took a 7-0 lead on a 16-yard pass from Kevin Prince to receiver Taylor Embree in the second quarter.

Despite a month to reimage itself, Illinois didn't look much different from the start.

The Illini couldn't find the end zone. Defensive end Whitney Mercilus recorded a sack. Illinois had horrible field position

It was same ol', same ol' in the , where Illinois was tied 0-0 after the first quarter to .

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase went just 4 of 9 passing for 12 yards with a long pass of 11 to A.J. Jenkins. His one interception was a ball that bounced off freshman tight end Jon Davis and into the hands of a UCLA defender.

The Illini defense held UCLA to just 43 first-quarter yards.

Illinois may be finally putting a series of bizarreness behind it as the team nears kickoff against in the .

Everyone who made the trip to San Francisco, including three assistant coaches who had threatened to boycott the event because of a contract dispute, arrived at AT&T Park Saturday morning.

Illinois and UCLA may be the two teams in bowls with the most distractions and least victories.

The Illini own a six- game losing streak , dating back to Oct. 8. At the end of the season, coach Ron Zook was fired after seven seasons, which prompted some loyal players to voice ambivalence about playing in a bowl.