Current:Home > MySmith-Wade delivers big play on defense, National beats American 16-7 in Senior Bowl -ChatGPT
Smith-Wade delivers big play on defense, National beats American 16-7 in Senior Bowl
View
Date:2025-04-17 23:44:30
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Washington State cornerback Chau Smith-Wade returned an interception 83 yards in the final two minutes to set up a decisive score and secure the National’s 16-7 victory over the American team in the Senior Bowl on Saturday.
In a game dominated by the defenses, Smith-Wade sprawled out to pick off a deep ball from Tennessee’s Joe Milton III. He hesitated momentarily before realizing he wasn’t officially down under NFL rules.
Then he shook off one tackle attempt on the right sideline and cut back across the field before TCU running back Emani Bailey stopped him at the 1 with 1:38 left.
“I got up and it’s not college anymore where you’re down,” said Smith-Wade, who was named the National’s player of the game. “You’ve got to be down by contact now. So I got up, I started to celebrate a little bit and my teammates were like, ‘Go, go, go.’”
The offense couldn’t punch it in, but Joshua Karty of Stanford made his third field goal, scoring on kicks of 19, 37 and 52 yards.
Smith-Wade got his second pick on a Hail Mary pass into the end zone by Tulane’s Michael Pratt.
It wasn’t a big game for the quarterbacks, with the top-rated passers seeing only limited action in the game for NFL prospects.
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. opted not to play. The Heisman Trophy runner-up did participate in practices this week after leading the Huskies to the national championship game.
Fellow Pac-12 Conference star Oregon’s Bo Nix, who was third in the Heisman voting, played only two series. So did South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler for the American team.
Nix, who started his career a few hours away at Auburn, completed 4 of 5 passes for 21 yards in two series. His final play was a 2-yard touchdown to Minnesota tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford when he rolled out before firing up the middle. It was the team’s only TD.
“He’s just absolutely a winner,” said National coach Jeff Ulbrich, the New York Jets defensive coordinator.
Rattler completed all four of his attempts for 65 yards and earned Game MVP honors in the loss. He capped his first drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Georgia’s Marcus-Rosemy-Jacksaint in a connection between Southeastern Conference Eastern Division rivals.
“I felt like I wanted to come out here, create relationships and have fun,” Rattler said. “This was just the cherry on top.”
None of the other quarterbacks was as effective.
Milton was 9-of-13 passing for 80 yards for the American team but was intercepted twice.
Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman played most of the way for the National team. He went 7 of 25 for 69 yards with an interception.
TCU’s Bailey had four runs and a catch totaling 35 yards on the American team’s first five plays. He finished with 53 yards on 10 carries and four catches for another 34 yards.
Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith was the American team’s MVP after breaking up three passes.
Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske switched sides Saturday morning to the National team because of roster attrition. He had four tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss and was in on a sack.
It was the game’s first sellout since 2010, when Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was on the roster. Players wore helmets with stickers featuring a parrot drinking a margarita to honor the late Mobile native Jimmy Buffett.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
veryGood! (56176)
Related
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- In tight elections, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel seeks a new term to head Luxembourg
- AP Top 25 Takeaways: Turns out, Oklahoma’s back; Tide rising in West; coaching malpractice at Miami
- Panthers OL Chandler Zavala carted off field, taken to hospital for neck injury
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- 150-year-old Florida Keys lighthouse illuminated for first time in a decade
- Can cooking and gardening at school inspire better nutrition? Ask these kids
- An autopsy rules that an Atlanta church deacon’s death during his arrest was a homicide
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Sister Wives' Christine Brown Says She's So Blessed After Wedding to David Woolley
Ranking
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Prime Day deals you can't miss: Amazon's October 2023 sale is (almost) here
- Mexico is bracing for a one-two punch from Tropical Storms Lidia and Max
- 49ers prove Cowboys aren't in their class as legitimate contenders
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Travis Kelce scores game-winning TD for Chiefs after leaving game with ankle injury
- Dyson Flash Sale: Score $250 Off the V8 Animal Cordfree Vacuum
- What survivors of trauma have taught this eminent psychiatrist about hope
Recommendation
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
What was the Yom Kippur War? Why Saturday surprise attack on Israel is reminiscent of 1973
An Israeli airstrike kills 19 members of the same family in a southern Gaza refugee camp
Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.55 billion after no winner in Saturday's drawing
Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
Substitute teachers are in short supply, but many schools still don't pay them a living wage
In a new picture book for kids, a lot of random stuff gets banned
Opinion polls show Australians likely to reject Indigenous Voice to Parliament at referendum