Football | 10/2/2016 4:35:00 PM

In just the fifth season after reinstating its football program and with a bulls-eye on its back, Georgia Southern claimed its second consecutive national championship. The Eagles became the first school to win back-to-back national championships in Division I-AA and went on to accomplish the feat twice more. Georgia Southern's only two losses in 1986 came on the road to I-A opponents Florida and East Carolina. Ranked in the top-10 in I-AA polls all season, the Eagles knocked off top-ranked Nevada on the road in the semifinals before downing second-ranked Arkansas State in the title game. Georgia Southern scored a whopping 50.8 points a game during its playoff run.

HAM'S 486 YARDS HELP SOUTHERN WIN TITLE
TACOMA, Wash. - Tracy Ham rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns and completed 12-of-21 passes for 306 yards and another score to lead Georgia Southern to its second consecutive I-AA national championship.  Against the nation's top rated I-AA defense, Georgia Southern gained 603 yards in total offense, 297 rushing and 306 passing (7.5 yards per play). Tim Foley set a championship game record with four field goals, all in the first half.  

PLAYOFF RECAP
11/29 – North Carolina A&T – W, 52-21
12/6 – Nicholls State – W, 55-31
12/13 – at Nevada – W, 48-38
12/20 – Arkansas State – W, 48-21

REGULAR SEASON RECAP
8/30 – at Florida  – L, 14-38
9/13 – #Florida A&M – W, 35-12
9/20 – at Middle Tennessee St. – W, 34-31
9/27 – Chattanooga – W, 34-14
10/4 – at Tennessee Tech – W, 59-13
10/11 – Bethune-Cookman – W, 52-31
10/18 – at East Carolina – L, 33-35
11/1 – at Western Kentucky – W, 49-32
11/8 – at Central Florida – W, 33-23
11/15 – James Madison – W, 45-35
11/22 – South Carolina State – W, 28-7
#at Jacksonville