Minnesota senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg and junior linebacker Steve Davis knew how it felt to be utterly dominated. They knew how it felt to give up 655 yards and 44 points. They knew how it felt to watch Illinois quarterback Juice Williams do just about everything on offense except kick field goals. After Saturday, those memories of a year ago are long gone. Replacing them are key sacks, a forced fumble returned for a touchdown and a game-defining goal-line stop on fourth down, all courtesy of the GophersâÄô two defensive captains. âÄúWeâÄôve been very opportunistic defensively,âÄù head coach Tim Brewster said . âÄúTime after time our defense is stepping up and making plays.âÄù Saturday, that was especially true of the captains. MinnesotaâÄôs defense asserted itself in the first half, letting the Illini know it was in for a different game than a year ago. In 2007, Illinois had essentially wrapped the game up by halftime; it led 34-10 at the break. Saturday, the Gophers limited the Illini to three first-half points , the fewest theyâÄôve allowed since Nov. 12, 2005 against Michigan State. VanDeSteeg recorded his first of three sacks on third-and-goal in the second quarter and forced Illinois to settle for the field goal , but his and DavisâÄô fireworks didnâÄôt really start until the second half. By late in the third quarter the Illini still hadnâÄôt managed to find the end zone, but Williams had taken the offense to MinnesotaâÄôs one-yard-line. A quarterback sneak on third-and-one was unsuccessful. Desperately in need of some momentum, Illinois head coach Ron Zook made the call âÄî go for it. Williams faked a handoff and rolled to the right. Senior linebacker Kevin Mannion came free and it looked like he might stop Williams behind the line, but the nimble quarterback juked, and Mannion lost his footing. One man remained between Williams and the end zone: Davis. âÄúIt was just me and Juice one-on-one and I said, âÄòI gotta make this tackle,âÄô âÄù Davis said. He did and kept him half a yard short, though it wasnâÄôt clear at first. The play was initially ruled a touchdown but overturned on replay and the Gophers kept Illinois off the board. How key the stop was really canâÄôt be underplayed. A touchdown and two-point conversion could have leveled the score, but more importantly would have swung the momentum significantly in the IlliniâÄôs direction. Instead the upper hand remained with Minnesota. Then it was VanDeSteegâÄôs turn. With five and a half minutes remaining in the game and Illinois only down seven, VanDeSteeg popped Williams in the backfield and forced the ball loose. Junior linebacker Simoni Lawrence scooped the ball up and scampered nine yards for a touchdown. But that score didnâÄôt seal the game; the Gophers needed VanDeSteeg one more time. Another Illini touchdown and a Minnesota fumble later, Williams had his offense moving again. Illinois had the ball down to the GophersâÄô 25 before VanDeSteeg got to Williams yet again. VanDeSteeg hit Williams as he released the ball, the pass sailed and sophomore cornerback Ryan Collado settled under it for the interception. âÄúWillie is just playing with so much heart, so much desire and determination,âÄù Brewster said after the game. With the struggles he had last season, itâÄôs no surprise. Basically playing with one arm all last year because of a hand injury, VanDeSteeg recorded just a single sack in 12 games. In the previous two games, he has five. VanDeSteeg doesnâÄôt attribute his resurgence to a âÄúdriveâÄù or âÄúdeterminationâÄù to make up for his down year, however. His reason is far simpler. âÄúIâÄôm a senior. IâÄôm a captain. I have to step up and make plays.âÄù HeâÄôs doing just that.