The last time the Illini faced Purdue, they were trying to claw their way out of a 1-5 hole.

In front of a Memorial Stadium crowd, they let a 24-0 lead slip away to what looked like another loss.

But then former Illini Antoineo Harris found the end zone on a one-yard run with seven seconds left to go into overtime. And finally, the game slid Illinois' way.

The Illini got a win, snapped a three-game losing streak and started a roll in which they won four of six games.

Saturday, as the 1-4 Illini head to West Lafayette, Ind., a little less than a year later, they'll try to find that momentum all over again.

"Whenever you've got a record like ours, and you're looking to get over that hump, it could be a momentum builder or a momentum buster," Illinois cornerback Christian Morton said. "We're looking to get on a roll, and the only way we can do that is to get a victory."

Their quest will begin at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN against a 3-1 Boilermakers squad.

But Illinois quarterback Jon Beutjer said the Illini will focus on this year's problems rather than last year's win.

"Last year we did a good job and we beat them. But the past is the past, and you can't live in the past. That's last year," Beutjer said. "...We're not going to let ourselves and our teammates get in the hole and stay there.

"As long as we keep working hard and believing in ourselves and the coaches, we'll do some good things."

That's an attitude that many of the Illini sport, despite losing a number of close games this year.

Illinois head coach Ron Turner said Thursday at practice that the team's attitude "has been good all year." Illini fullback Carey Davis said Monday that the team does not lack any confidence. And defensive tackle Ryan Matha said they don't lack a leader.

What they have lacked is a consistent defense, offense and special teams together in one game.

But that's something the Illini think could be coming this week.

"It's like we're on the brink of success," Morton said. "We're just waiting to get it to flow. We're planning on doing it this weekend. We've got a really good game plan, and we just have to come out and execute it."

Illini fullback Carey Davis will make his first start of the season on Saturday after struggling with knee problems and a staph infection for the first half of the season, Turner said Thursday.

Davis returned to play last week against Wisconsin after three games out and totaled 30 yards of offense.

Backup fullback Brad Haywood, who filled in for Davis with Jason Davis, had to sit out some of Thursday's practice because of a bad eye. Haywood got a piece of rust stuck in his eye at Wednesday's practice, but will be ready to play by Saturday, Turner said.

Ruffin on the move

Turner said Thursday that Illini senior defensive lineman Jeff Ruffin might start at defensive end this week rather than at his usual defensive tackle spot.

Ruffin saw time at the position against Wisconsin, and Turner said he thought the move might be best for the line. The Illini have been trying to fill the position after losing starting end Mike O'Brien to a knee injury after the first game.

Turner said Charles Gilstrap, Mike Maloney, Aaron Hodges or Ryan Matha could all start at defensive tackle.