Northern Illinois’ overtime win over Maryland got the season off to a stunning start.

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) – Fireworks exploded overhead, players rushed the field below. Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak couldn’t be certain the game was over, but he wasn’t about to argue.

In a wild finish, Northern Illinois scored the go-ahead touchdown in overtime and held on to upset No. 15 Maryland 20-13 Thursday night when Randee Drew intercepted a pass that bounced off the leg of a defender in the end zone and caromed into his hands.

After Drew caught the ball, both teams appeared stunned.

Fireworks were set off before the game was official, prompting Huskies players to run onto the field in celebration.

Even after the game, Novak wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Could somebody tell me what happened?” he said. “All of the sudden the ball popped up. I didn’t know if we had it or if it was in-bounds or out-of-bounds. Our players started running and I started, too. What a great win.

“They will remember this the rest of their lives.”

And it’s one Maryland won’t soon forget.

The Terrapins led 13-10 in the fourth quarter and had held the Huskies running game in check when everything fell apart.

With the ball at its own 8, Northern Illinois reeled off a methodical 18-play, 84-yard drive that took 7:58 and tied culminated with a 25-yard field goal by Steve Azar that the game at 13.

Running back Michael Turner, bottled up for most of the game, had 37 yards on eight carries during the drive that was prolonged by a pair of Maryland penalties, including a late hit by Andrew Smith that negated a Maryland sack deep in Huskies territory.

Maryland was called for a total of nine penalties for 90 yards.

“I thought we did a lot of foolish things that really hurt us. We didn’t make the plays that we needed to make,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We had opportunities, we just didn’t make them.”

Instead, Northern Illinois did.

The Huskies got the ball first in overtime and scored three plays later when Josh Haldi threw a 20-yard touchdown to Dan Sheldon. Sheldon caught Haldi’s pass at the 15, spun around a defender and raced into the end zone for the game-winning score.

Haldi was 21-for-35 for 266 yards and two TDs.

Maryland is the highest-ranked opponent Northern Illinois has ever beaten. The Huskies defeated No. 20 Bowling Green last year, and knocked off No. 24 Fresno State in 1990.

It also got the Huskies off to a strong start on a tough non-conference schedule. After a game at Tennessee Tech, Northern Illinois plays at Alabama before hosting Iowa State.

“I told the kids before we played, win, lose or draw, let’s enjoy the moment. We’re on national TV, we’re playing a ranked team,” Novak said. “I think they did, and they’re enjoying the moment even more now.”

Maryland took a 13-10 lead when Domonique Foxworth picked off Haldi at the Huskies’ 47 to set up a 50-yard field goal by Nick Novak with 9:10 remaining. Sheldon appeared to slip and fall on the play, clearing the way for Foxworth’s diving interception.

Only, Maryland couldn’t hold on.

Northern Illinois receiver P.J. Fleck had 12 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown, and Turner finished with 90 yards rushing on 30 carries.

Maryland scored on its opening drive behind the running of Allen, who got the start for injured running back Bruce Perry.

The sophomore ran the ball four straight times, capping the 58-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge for a 7-0 lead.

However, a miscue by Allen helped Northern Illinois put points on the board and swung momentum in the Huskies’ favor.

Stretching for extra yards, Allen fumbled at the Maryland 39 and Northern Illinois recovered, leading to a career-long 52-yard field goal by Azar. Fleck caught a 5-yard touchdown with 7:15 left in the second quarter that gave the Huskies a 10-7 halftime lead.

McBrien was 12-for-24 for 110 yards and one interception, and Allen rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries. The Terrapins were outgained 325-222 for the game.

“I could kind of see it happening all the way along. The momentum just kept building for Northern Illinois,” Friedgen said. “When you get that momentum, it’s tough to change that.”

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