Jason Wright put up numbers Saturday that everyone has come to expect in his breakout season.

The junior running back rushed for 119 yards on 21 carries for his seventh 100-yard game of the season.

But in this game Wright ran for more than 100 yards while in pain.

After suffering a stinger against Iowa, Wright took a hit on the first play of the game that forced him to play the remainder of the contest with a sore shoulder.

“He was beat up and was wincing on every carry,” NU coach Randy Walker said. “That shows the kind of toughness he has because it was hurting really bad.”

Wright ran through the pain just as he ran through defenses all season. In his first year as the starting running back, Wright gained 1,238 yards on the ground and had 12 touchdowns.

The junior, who also returns kickoffs, compiled 2,017 total yards on the season, which ranks second in NU history behind Damien Anderson’s 2,195 yards in the 2000 season.

“Jason had another great day, ” Walker said. “I’m so proud of him and the play he has given us this year.”

One-two punch: Illinois senior running back Antoineo Harris and junior wide receiver Brandon Lloyd played their way into the Fighting Illini record books Saturday in what might have been both players’ final game.

Harris, a senior, set the school single-season rushing record with 1,130 yards after rushing for 178 yards on 44 carries.

The rushing yards also put Harris second on the all-time Illinois rushing list behind Robert Holcombe.

“He’s a tremendous kid,” Illinois coach Ron Turner said. “A guy like that is such a team guy, and when he gets (the record) you’re real happy for him.”

Lloyd made his mark in the Illini record books with his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and his six receptions against NU moved him up to second on the school’s single-season list.

The speedy receiver, who caught a 29-yard reception against NU Saturday, may forgo his senior season to enter the National Football League draft.

“He’s a great player and he makes a lot of plays,” Turner said. “But what I want is what’s best for Brandon. He’s got a big decision.”

Senior Salute: As promised, Walker put all of his healthy seniors in the starting lineup Saturday.

Although some stayed on the field longer than others, Walker said the tribute remains one of his favorite coaching traditions, one he picked up from Dean Smith while coaching at North Carolina.

For many of the seniors, the game had a special meaning. In particular, the Cats’ offensive line looked slightly more revved up than usual.

“Obviously, it’s our last game, but I think we play like that a lot,” senior center Austin King said. “Maybe not quite as blatant as today.”

Walker said the locker room was emotional after the game.

“It’s difficult to end the season,” Walker said. “It’s always disappointing to say goodbye to some seniors and some guys who have been up and down in their career as players. They battled some real adversity and hung in there with us this year and I’m proud of them.

“I’m disappointed we couldn’t win one for them on the way out.”

Inches to go: In the game, junior wide receiver Kunle Patrick set an NU record with a catch in his 34th consecutive game. Patrick, who holds the Big Ten’s longest current streak and the longest in the nation for a non-senior, broke D’Wayne Bates’ record of 33 from 1995-1998. The NCAA record is 46 games. … NU was outscored 225-61 in the second quarter in 2002. … Illinois took a 51-40-6 lead in the series, played for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, with Saturday’s win. … NU’s Jon Schweighardt finished his career fourth on NU’s career reception list with 147 catches and seventh in yards with 1,670.