LANCASTER, Pa.— Quarterback Brett Nabb scored four times, and the Eastern University defense held its ground late to earn a 28-24 win over the host and No. 16 Frankln & Marshall Diplomats (9-2) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles led throughout, but they needed a late interception from Gashawn Moody Sr. to stop the driving Diplomats in the final seconds and secure the first post-season win in program history.

With 194 yards on the ground, Nabb led an Eastern rushing attack that ground out 323 yards on 55 attempts. Jeremiah Avrilien went over 1,000 yards on the year with his 108-yard day. Nabb was 5-of-7 passing on the day.

The Eagles (10-1) opened the game with a 60-yard drive that ended with Nabb powering into the endzone on fourth-and-1. The teams traded three-and-outs, and after a John Westfield punt pinned the hosts deep, the Eastern defense pushed Franklin and Marshall back even deeper with back-to-back sacks Will Lafontanant and Wayne Clark to set the Eastern offense up in great field position. 

After a couple short gains, Nabb got around the edge for a 43-yard run and his second score of the afternoon. The Eagles had the ball for 10 minutes and had a 113 to nine edge in total yards. 

The Centennial Conference Diplomats came into the game with an explosive passing attack. The hosts showcased their quick-strike ability as they went 90 yards on six plays to pull within a score. Ty Tremba took advantage of a free play after an Eastern lineman jumped to take a deep shot to Gary Lewis for a 45 yard score. With his two scores today, Lewis broke the F&M touchdown record with 19. 

The Eagles took advantage of a running into the punter penalty that kept a drive alive and went eighty-one yards in ten plays to go up 21-7. Jeremiah Avrilien posted the big play of the drive with a 37-yard run down the left side. Nabb punched in his third score of the game from a yard out. 

After another Eastern stop and F & M punt, the Diplomats got their only short field of the day after a fumbled exchange. Tremba threw a 29-yard strike for his second of three passing touchdowns on the day. He finished with 28 TD throws in his senior season. 

Though the Eagles led 21-14 at half, Franklin & Marshall's history of late comebacks meant the game was anything but over. 

The Diplomats scored the only points of the third quarter on a 31-yard field goal with four minutes left. Tahjere Jackson Alston made a big play in the end zone to break up a third down pass to Lewis. 

The Eagles were driving late in the third and increased the lead to 28-17 with a seven-yard run from Nabb on the first play of the final quarter. 

The two-possession lead, however, did not last long. After a good return, the Diplomats went 60 yards in five plays for another Lewis touchdown. 

On the next drive, it looked like Nabb went up the middle for a 37-yard score, but a flag on the play killed the Eastern momentum and forced a punt. With Salif Nikiema delivering a big tackle on fourth and four, the Eastern defense forced a stop near midfield. 

With six minutes left, the Eagles ground toward the endzone before seeing their final drive stall at the 25-yard line. Nabb wound up two yards short on a fourth-and-4 play with 2:11 on the clock.

The Diplomats won the Centennial this year despite trailing in the second half in five-of-seven league games. In his career, Tremba had nine career fourth-quarter drives to take the lead or win. 

The Eagles got sacks from Nardo Murphy and Wayne Clark, but the Diplomats found key plays to earn first downs. They were on the ten yard line with 17 seconds on the clock. Moody, a three-time All-MAC safety jumped a route and, after an initial bobble secured his third career interception.

"That's a very good team," Head Coach Billy Crocker said after the game. "Their #3 [Lewis] just catches everything. Our big players on both sides of the ball just stepped up and made plays. This was an unbelievable environment for a game and we are grateful to come out on top."

Crocker continued to talk about the work his coaching staff has done on the offensive and defensive line and gave credit to his wide receivers for their playing in the running game.

"It's tough for them," he continued. "You know, we have some really talented guys out there, and of course they want the ball. That's just not where we are right now, and they are out there doing what we need them to do to win games."

Moody, who transferred into Eastern after a year at Defiance College, is the only player on the third-year squad who will exhaust his eligibility this year. Moody and jason Bateman each finished with ten tackles. Jaden Todd had an interception in the third quarter. Clark finished with two sacks. 

Eastern will play the Susquehanna University River Hawks next Saturday. The NCAA will make an official announcement about the location of that game by the end of the weekend.