DeKALB, Ill. ? Despite leading 13-9 at halftime and 23-16 with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Ohio football team fell to No. 17 Northern Illinois 30-23 in overtime Saturday night at Huskie Stadium.

P.J. Fleck caught a game-tying 15-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter and Josh Haldi ran for a one-yard touchdown in overtime to lead the Huskies to victory.

Fleck finished with 14 catches for 235 yards and a touchdown. Haldi completed 26-of-46 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns for the Huskies (5-0, 1-0), who started a season with five straight wins for the first time since 1965, when they started 9-0.

Chris Jackson ran for 80 yards on 19 carries for the Bobcats (1-4, 0-2), who suffered their fourth straight loss. Ohio quarterback Ryan Hawk completed 5-of-15 passes for 98 yards and a score.

Northern Illinois needed a late fourth-quarter touchdown to overcome a 23-16 deficit. Taking over at their own 20 after a touchback, Haldi led the team to a 23-23 tie with 1:42 remaining. The Huskie quarterback completed eight passes, including a 15-yarder to Fleck, to cap the 12-play drive.

In overtime, Fleck caught a 23-yard pass on first down for the Huskies. Two plays later, Haldi scored on a one-yard touchdown run to put Northern Illinois ahead 30-23.

Ohio gained five yards on its first three plays in the overtime. On fourth down, Kurst Strothman sacked Hawk to preserve the victory for the Huskies.

The Bobcats took a 6-0 lead on Jackson's 17-yard run with 8:12 left in the first quarter. Fred Ray's 17-yard run on third down extended the 13-play, 81-yard drive. However, the PAT failed.

Northern Illinois forged a 6-6 tie on consecutive field goals by Steve Azar. He converted a 38-yarder with 5:39 remaining in the first, then contributed a 47-yarder with 7:35 left in the second quarter.

Anthony Hackett's 30-yard touchdown reception with 1:31 left in the quarter put Ohio ahead 13-6. Hawk completed the pass on third-and-18 to cap an eight-play, 70-yard drive.

But Azar responded with a 30-yard field goal 21 seconds before halftime to pull the Huskies within 13-9.

In the third quarter, Northern Illinois took its first lead of the game. Brad Cieslak caught a seven-yard touchdown pass with 9:28 remaining to go ahead 16-13. A 42-yard pass from Haldi to Fleck preceded the score.

Greg DiMarino's 40-yard field goal with 3:24 left in the third brought the Bobcats to a 16-16 tie.

They went ahead 23-16 on a three-yard touchdown run by Ray Huston with 10:55 left in the fourth quarter. Adam Porter's 25-yard catch, and the recovery of his own fumble, at the Huskies' three-yard line set up the score.

Game Notes: Ray left the game with a shoulder injury for Ohio, which had won three straight in the series? Northern Illinois, which has won 12 of its last 13, improved to 3-0 in overtime all-time... Michael Turner finished with 41 rushing yards on 15 carries for the Huskies.