Albany (NY) 31, Sacred Heart 21

Published Nov. 19, 2011 6:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

Dan Di Lella threw four touchdown passes, two in each half, leading Albany (N.Y.) to a 31-21 victory over Sacred Heart in both teams' final regular-season game Saturday.

Di Lella finished with 165 passing yards for the Great Danes, who earned a share of the Northeast Conference championship and their first trip to the FCS playoffs with the win.

Albany (8-3, 7-1) broke a 14-14 halftime tie by scoring on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. After defensive tackle Zach Gallo intercepted a Tim Little pass, Di Lella later tossed a 14-yarder to Ryan Kirchner. The Great Danes followed with a 10-play drive that resulted in Herb Glass' 31-yard field goal and a 24-14 advantage.

Sacred Heart (5-6, 3-5) responded on Little's 31-yard strike to Sean Kessler to pull within 24-21 going into the fourth. But Di Lella struck again, finding Kirchner on a 9-yard score with 9:29 left.