DEKALB, Ill. -- Marcus Jones ran 2 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:51 left and left tackle Max Scharping caught a pass for the 2-point conversion as Northern Illinois battled back from a 21-9 deficit after three quarters to earn a 24-21 Mid-America Conference victory over Ohio Saturday afternoon.

Nathan Rourke threw 56 yards to Isiah Cox and 11 yards to Connor Brown as time expired at the end of the third quarter to put the Bobcats up 21-9.

Marcus Childers drove Northern Illinois 77 yards in 12 plays to cut the deficit to 21-16 on a 10-yard quarterback draw with 4:16 left and Sutton Smith got the Huskies the ball with a strip sack of Rourke at midfield.

Childers moved Northern Illinois (4-3, 4-0) 53 yards in six plays to take the lead with 4:51 left.

Childers was 17 of 33 for 145 yards passing and carried 23 times for 169 on the ground.

Rourke led Ohio (3-3, 1-1) with 275 yards on 15-for-23 passing.