SAN FRANCISCO — They celebrated together. First in the middle of the field, holding the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl trophy aloft for all to see. The trophy meant history at Illinois, which took postseason games in consecutive years for the first time ever.

"You can never ever buy this feeling in a store," defensive end Whitney Mercilus said.

Next, they raced toward their fans down the first-base line at AT&T Park. The Marching Illini performed while players ran into the stands to hug family members and friends.

Finally, to the locker room, where an emotional coaching staff said one last goodbye.

Now, they scatter. Interim head coach Vic Koenning, who did all he could to keep the team moving forward after Ron Zook's departure, is off to North Carolina.

"Our guys were winners," Koenning said. "They were winning in everything they do. (Vince) Lombardi said it better than anybody could ever say it, 'Winning isn't a sometime thing. It's an all the time thing.' They started winning a couple weeks ago and it translated into victory today."

New coach Tim Beckman, who watched from the sidelines, heads back to Toledo today to get his stuff and move to C-U.

"It's a great start for a new year and a new era," Beckman said.

The seniors are off to parts unknown, some destined for the NFL, others about to join the real world. The underclassmen are going home for a short break, then will return to play for the new staff.

And the one they all talked about going into the game and afterward, Zook, wasn't in the building. Or even watching on TV. Instead, he drove around in Florida, getting updates during the afternoon.

"It's hard being a fan, but I'm so happy for them," Zook said.

Right back at you, Coach, the Illini said.

"I want to say a special thanks to Coach Zook, even though he couldn't be here today," Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. "He put this team together. We're fighters because of him. It was an honor to get to be a player under him."

"These guys got taught an awful lot about life from Coach Zook," Koenning said.

A day that started with the remote possibility of a boycott by the offensive coaches ended with another trophy presentation.

"Our guys can take great pride in that and carry that with them the rest of their lives," Koenning said.

The loss ended a six-game losing streak for the Illini, who opened the season 6-0 then staggered into the postseason.

"It's definitely a relief," Mercilus said. "We've been pent up with a lot of anxiety, a little bit of anger, what happened throughout the season, what went wrong. We actually found our answer today."

In the middle of the second quarter, Koenning was wondering if his team could get there. He saw the players getting a bit weary as they trailed UCLA 7-0.

"I did feel like we were running out of juice a little bit," Koenning said. "I started questioning judgments that I had made. I always take things personally."

But a field goal by Derek Dimke on the final play of the quarter gave the team a spark. At halftime, Koenning reminded the players they only had another 30 minutes of football. Better enjoy it.

A mostly scoreless third quarter turned Illinois' way with 43 seconds left. UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince tried to throw a pass to Shaq Evans, but Terry Hawthorne jumped the route, grabbed the ball and raced 39 yards for the score.

"I say, 'All gas, no brakes for me.' Once I catch it, I'm gone," Hawthorne said.

"That was big," Illini linebacker Jonathan Brown said. "Big players make big plays in big-time situations. That changed the whole complexion of the game."

"Coach (Ron) West had said at the beginning of that drive, 'It's time for us to get a takeaway and score,' " Koenning said.

The next quarter was all Illinois. Dimke, who missed a field goal into the wind earlier in the third quarter, nailed a 37-yarder that would have been good from 55. Then, on third down with less than six minutes left, Scheelhaase found a streaking A.J. Jenkins for a 60-yard touchdown pass that gave Illinois a 20-7 lead.

The Bruins tried to rally in the final minutes, scoring on a 38-yard pass from Prince to Nelson Rosario with 29 seconds left. But Jenkins cradled the onside kick attempt by UCLA. Wouldn't have mattered if he had dropped it because the Bruins were called for an illegal formation.

A kneeldown by Scheelhaase was followed by the traditional Gatorade bath for Koenning.

"We came here to win," Scheelhaase said. "We've been through some tough times, but we've got an amazing belief in our locker room in each other. Those are my brothers that I was out there fighting with. They believed in me. I believed in them and it showed."

Hawthorne was named the Defensive MVP, adding four tackles to his pick six.

Limited by the loss of fullback Jay Prosch (staph infection) and tailback Jason Ford (academics), the Illinois running game went through the quarterback. And Scheelhaase happily accepted the assignment.

"I was excited about it," he said. "I knew I was going to get a chance to make plays for my team."

He ran 22 times for 110 yards, keeping drives alive and eating clock. His numbers would have been even better without a 15-yard loss he took late in the first half.

Scheelhaase, a star in the Texas Bowl last year, was named Offensive MVP.

"It was an honor being out on that field today," Scheelhaase said.

Koenning said the win ranks high on his all-time list. But late in the game, with UCLA threatening, he wasn't thinking about other games.

"You're just trying to get the game over with," Koenning said. "The positive stuff tends to bleed with time. I've tried to keep this thing in perspective. We all should be thankful for these kids and what we've been given."