Aug 30, 2002

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) - Thomas Hammock scored on a 7-yard touchdown run in overtime and Northern Illinois stopped Wake Forest's 2-point conversion attempt to win 42-41 in the season opener for both teams Thursday night.

Wake Forest could have sent the game into a second overtime, but instead opted to go for two after Ovie Mughelli's 1-yard touchdown run. The Demon Deacons tried to run right on the 2-point attempt, but were tackled well short of the end zone by several Northern Illinois defenders.

The Huskies, who play in the Mid-American Conference and went 6-5 a year ago, swarmed onto the field after beating a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Hammock finished with 172 yards rushing on 38 carries and two touchdowns. He entered the season ranked seventh on the school's career rushing list with 2,260 yards and needs to average 124 yards to become the all-time leader.

The Demon Deacons led throughout, but were outscored 11-0 in the fourth quarter. They appeared to have the game in hand when they intercepted Josh Haldi's pass late in the fourth quarter.

Wake Forest drove into Northern Illinois territory, but missed a field-goal attempt that would have given them a six-point lead.

The Huskies took over on downs and drove down the field. Kicker Steve Azar made a 46-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Haldi, who took only 20 snaps from center last year, was 13-of-25 for 192 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Wake Forest jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on scoring runs by Cornelius Birgs and Mughelli.

After the second touchdown, Northern Illinois' Michael Turner responded with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

After Haldi threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Matt Dunker, Azar connected on a 51-yard field goal at the end of the first half to make it 21-17.

Fabian Davis, who returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in the first half, had 69 yards rushing on four carries.

Mughelli scored four touchdowns in the game on runs of 1, 1, 2 and 1 yards and finished with 74 yards rushing. Birgs ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.