National squad rallies for 25-24 victory over American

Updated Jan. 29, 2022 9:04 p.m. ET

Associated Press

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Coastal Carolina's Shermari Jones had a 5-yard touchdown run and Southeastern Louisiana's Cole Kelley connected with Indiana's Peyton Hendershot for the 2-point conversion as the National squad overcame a 14-point, second-half deficit to beat the American 25-24 on Saturday in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Jones powered up the middle first-and-goal to get the National to 24-23 with 4:07 remaining. Coach Marvin Lewis decided to go for the win, and it paid off with a successful 2-point conversion.

The game was tied at 17 after three quarters, but USC’s Vavae Malepeai put Jeff Fisher’s American team back in the lead on an 18-yard run where he shook off a couple tackle attempts in the backfield.

Kelley completed 12 of 17 passes for 150 yards and a 47-yard touchdown to Arkansas' Blake Kern with 1:04 remaining in the third quarter to even it at 17. The National trailed 17-3 in the third quarter got within a touchdown when Illinois' Brandon Peters scored on a 2-yard scramble on fourth-and-goal.

Nicholls State's Dai’Jean Dixon led the American team with six receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. Dixon caught an 11-yard slant pass from Aqeel Glass of Alabama A&M with 9:21 remaining in the second quarter to extend the American's lead to 14-0. He also hauled in a 47-yard pass from Glass midway through the third quarter that would set up a 24-yard field goal from Illinois' James McCourt to extend their lead to 17-3.

Glass was 9 of 11 for 141 yards and a touchdown. California's Chase Garbers got the start for the American and completed 10 of 13 for 119 yards. He opened the scoring with a 13-yard TD pass to Sam Houston State's Jequez Ezzard with 1:03 remaining in the first quarter.

Chris Oladokun of South Dakota State was the National's starting quarterback. He was 1 of 4 for 8 yards and an interception.

Toledo's Bryant Koback, who was playing for the American, was the game's leading rusher with 58 yards on 14 carries.

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