STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern quarterback Jerick McKinnon ran for 316 yards on 24 carries, scored two touchdowns and passed for another as the Eagles defeated Central Arkansas 24-16 Saturday to advance to the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals.
McKinnon's rushing total was the second best ever for the Eagles (9-3), 17 yards short of Adrian Peterson's 1999 school and FCS playoff record. He fell 5 yards short of the Southern Conference record of 321 set this season by Wofford's Eric Breitenstein.
McKinnon ran for touchdowns of 57 and 6 yards and hit Darreion Robinson for a 32-yard score — one of just two completions in seven attempts for McKinnon.
The Eagles, the FCS' leading team in rushing, piled up 404 on the ground to improve their playoff record at home to 33-3. They'll play at Old Dominion next week.
Wynrick Smothers passed for 251 yards for the Bears (9-3) but was just 16-of-41.
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