Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon led the North to three touchdowns in the third quarter in a 31-17 victory over the South in the Senior Bowl on Saturday in Mobile, Ala.
The Cougars’ prolific passer entered the all-star game for senior NFL prospects after halftime and twice took the North downfield.
Gordon, who finished second nationally in passing yards and touchdowns, completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards and two short touchdowns. That included a 2-yard touchdown pass to Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool for a second straight big third-down completion.
An off-balance Gordon then hit Liberty’s Antonio Gandy-Golden late in the third for a 5-yard TD. It was set up with an interception by Troy Pride Jr. of Notre Dame.
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The game’s most highly touted passer, Justin Herbert of Oregon, shined for the South and was named game MVP. The likely first-round pick was 9 of 12 for 83 yards and a touchdown, all in the first quarter, and added a 19-yard run.
“In this day and age in the NFL, you’ve got to be able to make some plays with your feet and be able to create a little bit,’’ said South coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Michigan’s Shea Patterson delivered the game’s biggest offensive play and passed for 131 yards. He opened the second quarter with a 75-yard touchdown pass on his first play. TCU running back Darius Anderson was wide open on a wheel route and sprinted down the left sideline.
Anderson had just 128 yards receiving last season, but had 87 in this one to go with 43 rushing yards. The North’s Joshua Kelley of UCLA had a game-high 105 yards on 15 rushes.
One of the game’s top-rated prospects, South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, sat out the game with quad tendinitis, according to Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy.
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Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts came into the game to a loud ovation in the state where he once starred for Alabama. The Heisman Trophy runner up got a less kind greeting from North defenders, getting sacked twice on his first series and having his second end quickly with a wobbly interception when he was hit while throwing. Hurts finished strong with a fourth-quarter TD pass.
Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae had back to back sacks of Hurts in the second quarter.
“He’s got a great gift, great ability to rush the edge,’’ Detroit Lions and North coach Matt Patricia said. “Glad to see that today.’’
Ex-Chief Berry wants to return to NFL
After sitting out the 2019 season, safety Eric Berry intends to play in 2020, the NFL Network reported.
Berry, 31, has appeared in just three regular-season games over the past three years, with a ruptured Achilles sidelining him for nearly two full seasons. He was last on the field just 12 months ago for the Chiefs’ AFC Championship game loss to the Patriots.
Released soon after, the three-time All-Pro drew interest from other teams but wanted to recover both mentally and physically after being cut by the only NFL team he’d played for, according to the NFL Network report.