MOBILE, Alabama – Arkansas’ Feleipe Franks released a 21-yard touchdown pass to Mississippi’s Kenny Yeboah in the fourth quarter of the Senior Bowl to help seal the national team’s 27-24 victory over the American team on Saturday.
Franks, a graduate transferred from Florida, established the All-Southeastern Conference Western Division’s scoring connection with a 29-yard completion for Dez Fitzpatrick of Louisville. Fitzpatrick had six 90-yard receptions in the showcase game for veteran players and NFL graduates.
Running back Michael Carter from North Carolina also played a great game. Carter scored in a 12-yard drive at the end of the third quarter to help the national team regain the lead after a recovery led by Kellen Mond.
Jamie Newman then completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Grimes with 49 seconds remaining for the American team. The former Wake Forest defender, who moved to Georgia but gave up before the season, managed a 35-yard submission to Bowling Green’s tight end, Quintin Morris.
Mond was the most valuable player in the game. Fitzpatrick was the offensive player in the game and striker Tulane, Cam Sample, was the defensive player in the game.
The game was played for the first time at the new Hancock Whitney Stadium in southern Alabama, with Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores leading the national team and Matt Rhule of Carolina training the US team. It also changed from the traditional North versus South format.
Franks completed 9 of 16 passes for 122 yards. Carter averaged 8.0 yards per load in his last season with Tar Heels, and was not far behind in the star game.
He gained 60 yards on eight loads and had two receptions for 15 yards.
Texas A&M quarterback Mond gave a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter to help eliminate the 13-0 deficit at halftime. Mond even converted a two-point play with one run and another with a pass, after 15-yard touchdowns for Amari Rodgers of Clemson and 14-yards for Josh Palmer of Tennessee.
Mond passed 141 of his 173 yards in the third. But its SEC West counterpart, Franks, passed last quarter.
Newman competed 10 of 14 passes for 118 yards with a touchdown and interception.
The American team did not have two of the greatest offensive weapons of the national champion Alabama. Quarterback Mac Jones dressed and warmed up, but did not play after injuring his left ankle in Thursday’s final practice.
“My ankle was still hurting a little bit,” Jones, who is a potential first-round pick, told the NFL Network. “I didn’t want to take any big risks.”
Tailback Najee Harris withdrew from the game after training on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a persistent injury to the game’s national title ankle in early January.