Georgia Southern Wins Behind Ham

Georgia Southern quarterback Tracy Ham ran and passed for 486 yards Friday night as the Eagles defeated Arkansas State, 48-21, to win their second consecutive NCAA Division 1-AA football championship in the Diamond Bowl.

The 5-11 senior from High Springs, Fla., rushed for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns, and passed for 306 yards and another touchdown, a 79-yard connection with tailback Ricky Harris that was the longest play from scrimmage in the nine years of the title game.

Coach Erk Russell removed Ham with 4:08 gone in the fourth quarter and Georgia Southern leading, 48-15.