Scott Eyster threw two touchdown passes and Delta State came up with a late interception to seal its 24-17 victory over North Carolina Central in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs on Saturday.

Eyster was 23 of 34 for 264 yards to lead the Statesmen (11-2), who advance to play Newberry in next week’s Southeast Region final.

N.C. Central (11-1), the No. 1 seed in the Southeast, threatened to force overtime by driving to the Delta State 7-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

But Delta State’s Monterio James intercepted Stadford Brown’s pass in the end zone with about 3 minutes remaining and ran out the clock.

Rob Davis was Eyster’s favorite target, finishing with seven catches for 129 yards and a 67-yard TD which put Delta State ahead for good.

Jeremy Ricks caught Eyster’s other touchdown pass, a 7-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter.

N.C. Central made it a seven-point game on Brown’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Dante Fields with 10:15 to play. Brown, a freshman, also had a 9-yard TD pass to Wayne Blackwell and finished his first playoff game 22 of 40 for 255 yards.