Oxford, Ohio – Down 27-7 late in the third quarter. Playing in a hostile environment. The rain starting to fall.

Not the best of conditions, but they were easy pickings for the NIU football team as it defeated host Miami (Ohio) 48-41 to stay perfect in the MAC.

Michael Turner continued his amazing season for the Huskies (4-3, 3-0) as he ran for 222 yards and five touchdowns, the high in Division IA over the weekend.

He regained the spot of No. 1 runner in the nation as he upped his total to 1,094 yards. His five-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds sealed the fate of the RedHawks (4-3, 2-1).

“We were just thinking, you gotta believe,” linebacker Larry Williams said. “Why not? Why shouldn’t we beat them here at their place? That was our main focus.”

Played before 15,234 fans on an overcast afternoon, the game was an offensive fan’s fantasy as the two teams combined for 1,086 yards.

RedHawk quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 41-of-61 passes for 525 yards, the most by a MAC quarterback in a regular season game. The 41 completions were a Miami record.

NIU signal caller Josh Haldi passed for 292 yards on just 21 attempts.

After sitting back and not blitzing Roethlisberger in the first half, the Huskies brought the pressure in the second half, sacking Roethlisberger six times. Defensive tackle Anthony Falbo got to Roethlisberger twice.

“A lot of times when we were back in coverage, [Roethlisberger] would just sit back and wait for somebody to get open,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “We really didn’t have much choice but to try to turn up the heat a little bit.”

The game was still winnable for the Huskies at the half, when they went into the locker room down 14-7. That all changed in the third quarter, as Roethlisberger passed for a touchdown and ran for another to put the RedHawks up 27-7 with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Turner got the Huskies back in the contest when he sprinted 73 yards to paydirt 43 seconds later to make the score 27-14.

Held to 27 yards in the first half, Turner broke free for runs of 73, 31 and 75 yards in the second half.

“We had more opportunities in the second half,” Turner said. “When we got the ball in the second half we needed to score, and that’s what we did.”

The score remained 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter, and the stage was set for a wild 15 minutes in which 48 points were scored.

The first seven came when Turner went 31 yards up the middle to bring the Huskies within six points.

After the RedHawks went three and out on their next drive, the Huskies wasted little time in tying the game.

Dan Sheldon (163 yards receiving) caught a 34-yard pass from Haldi ahead of a 15-yard touchdown run by Turner.

Vince Thompson, who intercepted two Roethlisberger passes, credited the comeback to NIU’s refusal to quit.

“We just kept on fighting and fighting and fighting,” Thompson said. “We knew that the offense was going to put up some more points. We just had to hang in there, we couldn’t get down.”

Thompson set up NIU’s next score when he picked off a telegraphing Roethlisberger at Miami’s 29-yard line and returned it six yards. Two plays later Sheldon caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Haldi to put the Huskies up 34-27.

On Miami’s ensuing drive, Roethlisberger dropped back to pass on 12 of 14 plays. His 12-yard touchdown pass to Jason Branch knotted the score at 34 with 4:36 left.

The Huskies once again struck quickly, moving 70 yards in two plays. Haldi hooked up with Keith Perry for a 45-yard gain before finding Sheldon on the run for a 40-yard score to make the score 41-34.

“We were able to do what we wanted to in the fourth quarter,” Haldi said. “It feels really good to come down here and get a win over a quality opponent like Miami. It’s a big win. Everybody stepped up on offense today.”

The RedHawks weren’t ready to accept their fate just yet after Sheldon’s second touchdown as on the next play from scrimmage Roethlisberger found Cal Murray in the flat. Murray sprinted down the right sideline and appeared ready to tie the score but Huskie safety Justin Dole ran him down at NIU’s 27-yard line.

The play proved to be a big one as Miami failed to gain 10 yards on its next four plays and turned the ball over on downs. The chains were brought out after the fourth-down play, but the RedHawks were just short of being able to continue their drive.

Turner put the nail in the coffin on the next play when he ran off left guard for 75 yards to set up his five-yard score.

Miami scored a meaningless touchdown at the buzzer to account for the final points.

In the post game press conference Novak wanted to make sure his team didn’t get overly hung up on the victory.

“It’s a great win for our program, but in the long run it’s still just one win in our conference,” Novak said. “There’s a lot of football to be played yet.”