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Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback is tackled by a Miami player during their game on Saturday, October 29, 2016 in Ypsilanti. Katy Kildee | MLive.com

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Eastern Michigan University is bowl eligible for the first time since 1995, thanks to a game-winning touchdown in the final minute against Ball State University on Tuesday.

Eagles running back Ian Eriksen scored from 1 yard out with 32 seconds remaining, and senior defensive back DaQuan Pace, celebrating his 21st birthday, intercepted BSU quarterback Riley Neal's pass at the EMU 8-yardline on the final play of the game to secure a 48-41 victory at Scheuman Stadium.

"That might be my best birthday present in my 21 years," said Pace, a Detroit Cass Tech High School graduate. "It is just a great feeling right now. I am really lost for words. But it is great to see the senior group of guys and the younger guys come together and make this happen."

The Eagles haven't played in a bowl game since 1987 - the second longest drought in the country behind New Mexico State, which hasn't been to a bowl game since 1960.

Since its last bowl appearance, EMU has had just two winning seasons (1989, 1995) and has reached the six-win mark three times (1989, 1995, 2011). The Eagles were not bowl eligible in 2011, though, because two of their wins were against Football Championship Subdivision opponents.

"We've been saying for four years now that we want to be the class that changes it," said redshirt junior quarterback Brogan Roback, who had a career-high in completions (37), pass attempts (71) and passing yards (468) Tuesday. "People have said that before us, and now that it's finally happening, it's an unbelievable feeling that I can't put it into words at the moment.

"But we are not done yet. We still have goals we want to obtain."

EMU third-year head coach Chris Creighton said his team took a major step forward Tuesday. The Eagles had lost their previous two games.

"I don't know if I have ever been in a better locker room," Creighton said. "I am just so proud of our guys. I know we are bowl-eligible, but that does not mean we are bowl-guaranteed. We still have lots of work to do and much to improve on."

Coming off a bye week, Tuesday's start for EMU was not ideal. It fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and trailed 28-19 at halftime.

"The first quarter was not pretty, but in the second quarter we started getting our stuff together and moving forward," Creighton said. "We worked hard and just continued on through that. Crazy was definitely the word I would use to explain this game for us tonight."

Three straight touchdowns by Roback gave the Eagles a 40-28 lead at the 14:54 mark of the fourth quarter.

The lead was short-lived, however, as a 62-yard pass from Neal to Cywettnie Brown 62 seconds later pulled the Cardinals within five. Neal put them back ahead with a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:35 left.

It took just 57 seconds for EMU to go 86 yards to retake the lead for good.

Eriksen rushed for 109 yards and two scores, while Roback completed passes to 11 different receivers, with Dieuly Aristilde leading the way with six catches for 107 yards.

EMU finished with 622 yards of offense compared to 542 for BSU.

The Eagles host Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Nov. 16, before ending the regular season at home Nov. 22 against Central Michigan.