During practices for the National (NA) team this week, it was easy to see that there was a handful of offensive talent on hand. Players like running backs Anthony Wilkerson and Julius Watts, and game MVP and fullback J.C. Copeland (2 touchdown runs) put on shows of their own, as that trio helped lead the National team to a 31-17 victory in the 3rd annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl presented by Panini at StubHub! Center in Carson, California.
National team head coach Dick Vermeil obtained his third straight win in this all-star game, with his last three teams beating the American (AM) team by a combined score of 85-31.
A wonderful National Anthem singing performance by T’Lark Galeas before the game, a halftime performance by rapper Schoolboy Q, and lively entertainment all game long by the Compton High School band were just some of the entertainment provided by this game.
The other entertainment came on the field in the form of players like Wilkerson of Stanford, who methodically annoyed the American defense with his speed and outside running skills to the tune of 65 yards and 1 score on 7 carries.
Wilkerson led the National team in rushing yards and led the team in excitement as he was on a mission yesterday to prove to NFL scouts that he is a talent to be recognized. For the last three seasons at Stanford, Wilkerson was overshadowed in the running game by big time talents like Stepfan Taylor (Arizona Cardinals) and 2014 NFL Draft prospect Tyler Gaffney. Yesterday was his time to shine and he took advantage of it.
As any All-Star game is apt to do, the NFLPA Bowl is a prime venue for players to improve their visibility to NFL scouts and coaches and to sharpen their skills. Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas) long snapper Chris Maikranz near the teams’ locker rooms post-game, pointed out one of the key themes of this All-Star game, “Coming out here with these great athletes allowed me to excel, with the coaches it allowed me to excel,” he said. “Just grateful for that [NFLPA Bowl] opportunity.”
Defensive tackle Jamie Meder of Division II Ashland University in practices and in the game, worked overtime to let the NFL know that he can hang with the big boys (i.e. Division I players). “I felt like I did a pretty good job against Division I competition for being a [D2 kid],” he said near the bench area of the National team post-game.
Furthermore, North Dakota receiver Greg Hardin (he led the American team in receiving yards with 51 on 2 catches) pointed out one of the recurring themes of this bowl game for the last three years. “Everyone has the chance to play at the next level and that’s what it’s about,” he said. “It’s great to be on the field with so much talent.”
The first drive of the game for both teams came courtesy of the National team on their own 20. But the drive ended when on 3rd and 7 from the NA 23 yard line, Cincinnati’s Brendon Kay (3 of 7 for 51 yards and 1 touchdown pass) threw an incomplete pass that was intended for Je’Ron Hamm (Louisiana-Monroe) near the left sideline with close coverage from cornerback Sammy Seamster (Middle Tennessee).
Punter Tom Hornsey (Memphis) came in to punt on 4th and 7. Hornsey to his credit, punted 3 times for 121 yards (40.3 average) in just the first quarter alone.
The National team had another chance to get on the board when Oklahoma State linebacker Shaun Lewis intercepted a tipped pass (by a National defensive lineman) at the NA 46 yard line and returned the theft 9 yards to the NA 46. But Seamster again was on the scene to close out another National drive, as on 3rd and 6 he hit Hamm hard which forced the receiver to drop Kay’s pass near the American sideline.
The American team’s first scoring drive was keyed by some nifty runs by Oklahoma’s Roy Finch (he carried 5 times for 42 yards in just the first quarter) who could have easily been the game’s MVP if his American had won this game. His shoulder fakes, speed, and Reggie Bush-esque playing style were fun to watch. But the biggest play of the drive was a James Franklin (5 of 8 for 77 yards) 26 yard completion to Valdosta State’s Gerald Ford (2 catches for 32 yards) who caught the pass over his right shoulder versus close coverage, AND he was oh-so close to the out of bounds line.
Finch’s runs and Ford’s catch set up an off right tackle 20 yard touchdown run by Bloomsburg’s Franklin Quiteh. That touchdown run gave the American team a 7-0 lead with 8:40 left in the first quarter. That drive took just 6 plays for 80 yards and only 2:37 was snatched off the game clock.
The American team saw their third drive of the game end when Ohio State quarterback Kenny Guiton threw a backwards lateral/pass to Quiteh (10 carries for 48 yards and 1 score) who dropped the ball. Then with some delay by both teams as to what was going on, Shepherd’s Howard Jones picked up the live ball and returned it to the AM 42 where he was taken down by Nebraska right tackle Brent Qvale.
But the National team failed to take advantage of Jones’ big play as Watts got blasted by a host of National defenders led by Missouri’s Andrew Wilson with defensive back Demetrius Wright (University of Southern California) recovering Watts’ fumble at the AM 32.
But the American team followed suit by failing to take advantage of Wright’s recovery; their own ensuing drive withered away when on 3rd and 10 from the same place where Wright recovered his fumble, Guiton threw a low to the ground incompletion intended for Newberry receiver Corey Washington (2 catches for 31 yards).
A defensive pass interference penalty on cornerback Brian Dixon (Northwest Missouri) versus receiver Isaiah Burse (91 all-purpose yards), keyed the National team’s first scoring drive of the game. That beneficial penalty set up a Copeland 1 yard touchdown which made the score 7-7 with 14:54 left in the first half.
National quarterback Dustin Vaughan executed one of the bigger plays of the National team’s next scoring drive, as on 3rd and 7 from the AM 44, he completed a pass to Burse who took the ball to the AM 38 where he was tackled by Montana’s Brock Coyle. That play eventually set up Copeland’s second touchdown run from a yard out which gave the National team a 14-7 lead with 6:35 left in the first half.
Little did anyone know, but the late second quarter would be the last time the American team would score a touchdown. Because for the remainder of the game, the National team dominated with slow methodical drives and effective defensive play.
Southern Mississippi’s Khyri Thornton obtained the game’s first sack when he took down Hawaii’s Sean Schroeder for a 7 yard loss back to the AM 22 yard line to force a 2nd and 17. But the American team never gave up. A Quiteh 10 yard run to the NA 27, and a pass interference penalty on the National defense versus Buffalo receiver Alex Nuetz, eventually set up a 15 yard Schroeder to Eric Ward (Texas Tech) down the left sideline and then dive into the end zone scoring play. That play tied the score at 14-14 with 1:14 left in the second quarter.
Then in the third quarter, Wilkerson took off to the right side and then sped into the open field with him finishing off the run by high-stepping into the end zone to give the National a commanding 28-14 lead with 8:08 remaining in the quarter.
Early in the 4th quarter, a 34 yard reception by Hardin which was a play in which he was wide open and could have easily scored, but he had to wait a long time to catch the ball, but then by the time he caught it, Miami’s A.J. Highsmith was hot on the receiver’s tail and tackled the receiver deep in American scoring territory. That reception set up a successful 35 yard field goal by California-Berkeley’s Vincenzo D’Amato which gave the final score of 31-17 with 9:10 left in the game.
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