Down one with only 39 seconds remaining against Central Florida, NIU quarterback Josh Haldi was happy to get another chance.

After the Huskies received the ball late in the fourth quarter, Haldi connected with tight end Brad Cieslak three times for 43 yards, giving true freshman kicker Chris Nendick a shot at a game-winning field goal.

“I didn’t even look up,” Nendick said. “Phil [Horvath] just grabbed me.”

With six seconds left, Nendick’s 39-yard kick sailed through the uprights, giving NIU the 30-28 win as time expired.

Cieslak was on the special teams unit for the kick.

“It was pretty quiet,” he said. “When that ball was snapped and went over the uprights, I couldn’t have been happier.”

After leading 21-0 at halftime, the Huskies allowed UCF to come back in a late-scoring rally. The Golden Knights scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and looked to have momentum.

“We could’ve buried them,” coach Joe Novak said. “We didn’t play well. We had stupid penalties that let them back in the game and then momentum changes.

“You can compare scores and records but none of that matters. They laid an egg at Buffalo and they were coming back home, and I knew they would be in a bad mood.”

Haldi threw three interceptions in the game before the final offensive drive.

“Chris really bailed us out,” Haldi said. “I was mad because we shouldn’t have even been in that position. We stole the win, and to be honest, probably didn’t even deserve to win.”

Novak and the team were nervous for Nendick, who had missed a field goal earlier in the game.

“I have to admit, he is a freshman,” Novak said. “If it was [Steve] Azar, I may not have had any doubt. He sure drilled it, and it was certainly a clutch kick. I won’t have to doubt any more.”

Cieslak caught three consecutive passes for 16, 11 and 15 yards before running back Garrett Wolfe carried the ball to UCF’s 22-yard line to set up the field goal.

Wolfe had 144 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. He has a touchdown in every game this season for the Huskies.

“He’s really playing well,” Novak said. “I think every game he plays better, and he’s still learning. He’s a much more physical runner than his body shows you.”

A.J. Harris played for the first time since Sept. 24, when he sprained his left ankle. The junior running back had 44 yards on 11 carries.

“He was in there, but not quite as much as Garrett,” said Novak of Harris’ health. “They’re both good backs, and they’ll both play.”