DEKALB, Ill. - Josh Haldi threw a 20-yard touchdown to Dan Sheldon in overtime as Northern Illinois stunned No.15 Maryland 20-13 on Thursday night, one of the biggest upsets in school history.
Sheldon caught Haldi's pass at the 15, spun around defensive back Dominique Foxworth and raced into the end zone for the winning score.
The Huskies sealed it when Scott McBrien's long pass into the end zone bounced off defensive back Rob Lee's leg, fluttered into the air and fell into the hands of Randee Drew of Northern Illinois.
"Everything was in slow motion," Drew said. "One of them fell and kicked the ball and it came right to me. I guess (they) just put me in the right spot at the right time."
After some confusion, Northern Illinois players rushed the field to celebrate the school's third win over a ranked team. The Huskies defeated No.20 Bowling Green last year and No.24 Fresno State in 1990.
Northern Illinois had a chance to win in regulation but Steve Azar's 43-yard field-goal attempt was partially blocked by Madieu Williams with 1.3 seconds left. The attempt was set up by a roughing the passer call on D'Qwell Jackson, one of several costly penalties against the Terrapins.
"Could somebody tell me what happened?" coach Joe Novak said. "All I know is everyone said we won, so I was going to go along with it."
Trailing 13-10 in the fourth, Northern Illinois reeled off an 18-play, 84-yard drive that ate up 7:58 and tied it.
Running back Michael Turner, held in check most of the game, had 37 yards on eight carries during the drive. Haldi completed a 24-yard pass to Keith Perry to set up Azar's 25-yard field goal with 1:12 left. That drive was prolonged by two Maryland penalties, including a late hit on Andrew Smith that negated a Maryland sack deep in Northern Illinois territory.
Maryland took a 13-10 lead when Foxworth picked off Haldi at the Huskies 47 to set up a 50-yard field goal by Nick Novak with 9:10 left. Sheldon appeared to slip, clearing the way for Foxworth's diving interception.
FAU 20, MIDDLE TENN. ST. 19: Jared Allen completed a 62-yard touchdown to Roosevelt Bynes on the final play to give visiting Florida Atlantic the upset. Trailing 19-14, Allen rolled out and found Bynes open near the 40. A Middle Tennessee defender tried for the interception, allowing Bynes to run untouched into the end zone.
The Owls, a Division I-AA team, drove 98 yards in the final 1:42. Middle Tennessee lost its home opener to a I-AA team for the second straight season.
Allen finished with 208 yards passing, completing 17-of-28 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Bynes caught both touchdowns and finished with six catches for 126 yards.
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CLARETT UPDATE: Suspended Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett will miss at least three games because of the investigation into his filing of an exaggerated police report. "It's pretty clear that we're looking at a healthy number of games," athletic director Andy Geiger said. "Multiple. And you can define multiple as more than two."
Though there is no timeline for a decision on Clarett's eligibility, the NCAA's reinstatement process likely will take several days, and that is if Ohio State can get a response to the association next week. Geiger had said he hoped the school's response to the NCAA's allegations against Clarett could be ready this week. Now it will not reach the NCAA offices until after the holiday weekend.
The defending national champion Buckeyes open the season Saturday against Washington. Maurice Hall, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound junior, will start for Clarett.
The Buckeyes host San Diego State next weekend, then play No.16 North Carolina State on Sept. 14. Asked if it was unlikely for Clarett to be available for N.C. State, Geiger said, "Yes. That would be safe."
LAS VEGAS: Fifteen athletes, including 11 football players, face suspensions for making nearly $2,500 in unauthorized phone calls. The athletes will be required to repay the money.
Athletic department spokesman Andy Grossman said NCAA rules require three of the football players to sit out tonight's opener against Toledo. Coach John Robinson can decide when the other eight will serve their suspensions.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Defensive lineman Eric Stroman injured his left foot during practice and will need surgery, coach Lou Holtz said. "We do not know how long that will keep him out," Holtz said.
VANDERBILT: Bobby Johnson, who did not win a SEC game in his first season as coach, received a one-year extension through 2007. Johnson was 2-10 last season.
