Boone, NC -- Richie Williams threw for a pair of touchdowns to Daniel Bettis in the fourth quarter to lift fifth-ranked Appalachian State to a 34-23 win over No. 25 Lafayette in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs.

Kevin Richardson rushed for 171 yards and a score for the Mountaineers (9-3), who will play Southern Illinois in the quarterfinals. Williams completed 10- of-17 passes for 151 yards and three scores for Appalachian State, which earned the No. 2 seed in the postseason after winning the Southern Conference championship.

Jonathan Hurt ran for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Leopards (8-4). Pat Davis hit on 24-of-40 passes for 259 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Williams connected with Bettis on a nine-yard TD pass with 11:25 remaining to give the Mountaineers a 27-20 lead.

Rick Ziska hit a 26-yard field goal just over two minutes later for Lafayette, but Bettis caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Williams with 5:56 remaining. The last score by the Mountaineers came after a Davis fumble.

Davis was intercepted on the ensuing play from scrimmage after the Mountaineers made it 34-23.