The 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl was a post-season American college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 bowl game

Bowl game

In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...

 at the Florida Citrus Bowl stadium in Orlando

Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...

, Florida between the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the on January 1, 1990. The game was the final contest of the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season

1989 NCAA Division I-A football season

The 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Miami winning its third National Championship during the 80s, cementing its claim as the decade's top team, winning more titles than any other program....

 for both teams, and ended in a 31–21 victory for Illinois.

Game summary

Illinois snapped a 26-year bowl victory drought with a 31-21 win over Virginia in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Illinois jumped on the Cavaliers early, with linebacker Bill Henkel recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff. Five plays later, quarterback Jeff George drilled a 15-yard scoring strike to Steven Williams. After Virginia tied the game early in the second quarter, George directed Illinois on an 80-yard scoring drive. Illinois opened the second half with an 84-yard drive capped by fullback Howard Griffith's three-yard touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, receiver Mike Bellamy scored on a 26-yard pass from George to clinch an Illini victory. George earned MVP honors, completing 26-of-38 for 321 yards and three TDs.

Scoring summary

Quarter	|Team	|Scoring summary	|Score
	Illinois	Virginia
1	Illinois	Steven Williams 15-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George Jeff George Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" George is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft... , Doug Higgins kick good	7	0
2	Virginia	Tim Finkelston 30-yard touchdown reception from Shawn Moore Shawn Moore Shawn Levique Moore is a former National Football League and Canadian Football League quarterback and coach. He attended college at the University of Virginia and has returned to Virginia as an assistant coach under Mike London.... , Jake McInerney kick good	7	7
	Illinois	Dan Donovan 1-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, Doug Higgins kick good	14	7
	Illinois	34-yard field goal by Doug Higgins	17	7
3	Illinois	3-yard touchdown run by Howard Griffith Howard Griffith Howard Griffith is a retired American football fullback who spent 11 seasons in the NFL . While at the University of Illinois, Howard set the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game with eight. It occurred on September 8, 1990 against Southern Illinois University... , Doug Higgins kick good	24	7
	Virginia	2-yard touchdown run by Marcus Wilson, Jake McInerney kick good	24	14
4	Illinos	Mike Bellamy Mike Bellamy Michael Sinclair "Mike" Bellamy, Jr. is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1990. He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft... 24-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, Doug Higgins kick good	31	14
	Virginia	Herman Moore Herman Moore Herman Joseph Moore is a former American National Football League wide receiver. At George Washington High School in Danville he played mostly as a kicker and also as a tight end. He went to the University of Virginia, where he was a 2-sport athlete... 4-yard touchdown reception from Shawn Moore, Jake McInerney kick good	31	21
			31	21

Statistical summary

Team Statistics

(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 176-321-497; UV - 110-112-322.

Individual Statistical Leaders

Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Griffith 18-93-0, Steve Feagin 10-54-0; UV - Terry Kirby 8-64-0.

Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - George 38-26-1-3-321; UV - S. Moore 27-17-2-2-191.

Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Bellamy 8-166-1, Williams 4-45-1; UV - Finkelston 3-69-1, Herman Moore 5-56-1.