NORFOLK, Va. — Dominique Swope ran 12 yards for a touchdown with 2:36 remaining, and Georgia Southern’s defense helped erase a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter and beat Old Dominion 49-35 in the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals.

Jerick McKinnon ran for four touchdowns for the Eagles (10-3), who completed just two passes all day but ran for 602 yards in pursuit of their seventh national championship. They trailed 35-21 entering the final quarter, then scored the final 28 points to reach the semifinals.

Georgia Southern, which beat Central Arkansas 24-16 in the second round Dec. 1, will travel to North Dakota State for a semifinal game next weekend.

Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who broke Steve McNair’s single-season passing yardage record during the game and became the first quarterback with over 5,000 yards in a season, fumbled to set up the Eagles’ tying drive in the fourth quarter, then threw incomplete on fourthand-6 from his own 39.

Three plays later, Swope’s second touchdown run put Georgia Southern in front to stay. It was the second consecutive season the Eagles have dispatched the Monarchs (11-2) from the playoffs. Last season, the Eagles won 55-48 at home.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE 14, WOFFORD 7

FARGO, N.D. - Sam Ojuri and Zach Vraa scored touchdowns, and North Dakota State rode its top-rated defense to a victory over Wofford.

The Bison (12-1) forced two turnovers, blocked a field goal and did not allow an offensive touchdown.

Wofford’s best shot at tying ended on downs at the North Dakota State 6 with less than 4 minutes left.

Wofford (9-4) scored on a 35-yard interception by Blake Wylie in the second quarter.

EASTERN WASHINGTON 51, ILLINOIS STATE 35

CHENEY, Wash. - Kyle Padron threw a school-record-tying six touchdown passes, including two to Brandon Kaufman on back-to-back plays in the third quarter, to lift Eastern Washington (11-2) to a victory over Illinois State.

Padron completed 19 of 33 passes for 358 yards. The Redbirds (9-4) had scored 18 consecutive points to close within 38-35.

FCS playoffs glance

QUARTERFINALS FRIDAY’S GAME

Sam Houston St. 34, Montana St. 16

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Georgia Southern 49, Old Dominion 35 North Dakota St. 14, Wofford 7 Eastern Washington 51, Illinois St. 35

SEMIFINALS DEC. 14 Georgia Southern (10-3) vs. North Dakota St. (12-1), 7 p.m.

DEC. 15 Sam Houston State (10-3) vs. Eastern Washington (11-2), 3 p.m.

Sports, Pages 30 on 12/09/2012