DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Illinois State scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as the fifth-seeded Redbirds rallied for a 21-18 win over top-seeded New Hampshire in the FCS semifinals on Saturday.

Tre Roberson scored on a 47-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to give Illinois State (13-1) the lead and Jon-Marc Anderson ran in the two-point conversion.

Roberson was 2 for 2 on third-down conversions during the drive and capped it off with the big run. The defense held after that and the Redbirds punched their ticket to the FCS Championship against No. 2 North Dakota State, the three-time defending champion and Missouri Valley Conference rival, on Jan. 10 in Frisco, Texas.

Roberson passed for 278 yards and ran for another 95 including the touchdown as Illinois State will head to its first ever championship game.

Marshaun Coprich capped a 10-play, 84-yard drive for the Redbirds with a 2-yard run a minute into the fourth quarter to cut New Hampshire’s lead to 18-13. He finished with 79 yards on 24 carries a week after having more than 200 in a quarterfinal win at Eastern Washington. It was the first time this season he was held under 100 yards.

Nick Aussieker put Illinois State up 3-0 with a 33-yard field goal at 8:20 of the first quarter.  

New Hampshire quarterback Sean Goldrich countered that with a 3-yard run for a 7-3 lead and then directed a nine-play, 96-yard drive, capped by Nico Steriti’s 6-yard run early in the second quarter. Andy Vailas ran for the two-point conversion.

Illinois State missed a 40-yard field goal midway through the second quarter but Aussieker had a 23-yarder 1:45 before the half to make it 15-6.

Brad Prasky had a 23-yard field goal for New Hampshire (12-2) at 10:45 of the third quarter to make it 18-6.

Illinois State finished with 457 yards to 355 for New Hampshire. Goodrich had 214 yards passing, completing 19 of 33, while Steriti had 100 yards on 19 carries.