STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) -- Adrian Peterson ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to lead Georgia Southern to a 28-17 victory over Illinois State in the Division I-AA semifinals.

Georgia Southern (12-2) will play Youngstown State for the national championship Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, Tenn. It will be the Eagles' seventh trip to the championships in 15 years.

Peterson, this year's winner of the Walter Payton Award, had his 29th consecutive game rushing for more than 100 yards.

With the score tied at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, Peterson scored on runs of one and two yards late in the second period to put Georgia Southern ahead for good.

Jake Strader kicked a 50 yard field goal for Illinois State (11-3) just before the halftime mark to make it 21-10.

After a scoreless third quarter, Peterson scored his final touchdown on a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Dusty Burk led Illinois State, passing for both Redbird touchdowns.

Illinois State scored on its first possession when Burk hit Jon Laurenti with an 18-yard pass. Burk's second TD pass came midway through the final quarter, when with a 2-yard throw to Scott Preusker for the final score.

Burk was 21-for-37 passing overall, with 191 yards and two interceptions.

Georgia Southern quarterback Greg Hill scored the Eagles' first touchdown with a 10-yard run in the first quarter. Hill rushed for a total of 80 yards and was 3-for-7 passing for 76 yards and one interception.

The game was called with 19 seconds remaining when Arkee Thompson intercepted Burk deep in Georgia Southern territory. Hundreds of fans stormed the field, tearing down a goal post and parading it around Statesboro's Paulson Stadium.