Ga. Southern wins big; EIU falls short

STATESBORO, Ga. -- Adrian Peterson ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns, leading Georgia Southern to a 60-35 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

The Eagles (11-1) are bidding for their third straight championship and the seventh in school history.

Georgia Southern will play Appalachian State at home next week in the quarterfinals. Appalachian State beat William & Mary 40-27.

In the other games, it was: Montana 28, Northwestern State 19; Sam Houston State 34, Northern Arizona 31; Lehigh 27, Hofstra 24 in overtime; Furman 24, Western Kentucky 20; and Northern Iowa 49, Eastern Illinois 43. Maine played at McNeese State in a late game.

Peterson, whose No. 3 has already been retired by Georgia Southern, had a 45-yard touchdown run for a 33-28 lead with 8:14 left in the third quarter. Peterson has run for at least 100 yards in 13 straight playoff games. He has rushed for 100 yards in 41 of his 43 career games for the Eagles.

J.R. Revere passed for a season-high 161 yards, hitting 5-of-10 tosses, and ran for 80 more for Georgia Southern.

Quinn Gray was 15-of-35 with three interceptions and Kelsie Lordeus rushed for 107 yards for the Rattlers (7-4).

N. IOWA 49, E. ILLINOIS 43

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Adam Benge ran for 177 yards and four touchdowns for Northern Iowa (10-2).

Northern Iowa advanced to a quarterfinal game next week against the winner of the late game between Maine and McNeese State.

Benge had TD runs of 1, 1, 6 and 3 yards. J.R. Taylor ran for 154 yards for Eastern Illinois (9-2).

-- From wire reports