FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Matt Nichols threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Overbay with 3:30 remaining to lift Eastern Washington to a 49-45 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday.

The winning score culminated a five-play, 74-yard drive by the Eagles (8-3, 6-2 Big Sky), who kept hope alive for a berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The 16-team field will be announced on Sunday.

The Lumberjacks (5-6, 4-4) threatened to respond, but their drive stalled when Michael Herrick's pass fell incomplete on fourth-and-3 from the EWU 32-yard line.

The Eagles took a 35-17 lead on an 18-yard pass from Nichols to Nicolas Edwards with 54 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Lumberjacks responded with a 51-yard field goal from Matt Myers with five seconds left in the half to cut it to 35-20.

Northern Arizona cut it to a one-score game midway through the third quarter when Herrick found Ed Berry for a 32-yard touchdown to trim the lead to 35-27.

After Taiwan Jones scored on a 71-yard run to make it 42-27, the Lumberjacks scored 18 straight points to take a 45-42 lead. Herrick capped the comeback with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Ed Berry with 5:20 to play.

Nichols finished 22 of 33 for 408 yards and five touchdowns.

Herrick set a school single-game passing record, throwing for 574 yards. He added four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jones had 274 yards of total offense for the Eagles, including an 80-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.

Northern Arizona running back Alex Henderson totaled 225 yards of offense, including 183 on the ground.

The Lumberjacks had three receivers cross the 100-yard plateau, led by Berry's 12 catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns.