College Football

College football top plays: Jackson State falls in OT in Deion Sanders' final game

Updated Dec. 17, 2022 5:49 p.m. ET

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It goes without saying that Deion Sanders was eager to win his last game with Jackson State. North Carolina Central was in no mood to cooperate, however. 

The result was a thrilling, back-and-forth affair in the Celebration Bowl, which ended with a 41-34 overtime loss for Sanders' squad.

Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who will follow his father to Colorado, was brilliant in the losing effort. He completed 30 of 40 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. NC Central was led by the QB Davius Richard, who passed for 175 yards, rushed for 97 more and accounted for three total touchdowns.

[College football scoreboard | Bowl game schedule, analysis, picks]

That was not the only college football action on Saturday. In fact, it's one of seven bowl games on the schedule, including the Las Vegas Bowl, which featured the No. 14 team in the country — Oregon State — against Florida.

Here are the highlights from the top bowl games on Saturday.

Celebration Bowl: N. Carolina Central 41, Jackson State 34, OT

Farewell, friends

Coach Prime got emotional when addressing his team before the game. And the love was mutual.

Eagles all business

Nonetheless, it was North Carolina Central that dominated the early part of the game, outgaining its opponent 127-21 through the first couple of series and taking a 10-0 lead when Richard ran it in from 4 yards out.

Lightning strikes twice!

Jackson State struck on its next drive, however, pulling within 10-7 when Colorado-bound Shedeur Sanders hit DJ Stevens on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Sanders struck again early in the second quarter, connecting with a wide-open Kevin Coleman from 85 yards out.

Let's get physical

The Eagles battled right back to take a 17-14 lead, as J'Mari Taylor shoved it in on a 10-yard bull run right up the middle.

Catch me if you can

The Tigers led 21-17 at the half, though, thanks to the magic feet of Sanders, who avoided what looked like a certain sack before dashing for a 7-yard TD.

Punt? Maybe not!

The Eagles pulled off a stunning fake punt in the third quarter, as Kyle Morgan dashed 43 yards for a first down. 

That set up a gorgeous touchdown grab by Quentin McCall to give the Eagles the lead. The Eagles missed the PAT, but a field goal late in the third quarter gave them a 26-21 lead.

Sanders, again

The Tigers re-took the lead when Sanders connected with Travis Hunter on an 18-yard scoring strike to make it 27-26. It was Sanders' third touchdown pass of the game.

Eagles flying high

North Carolina Central re-took the lead in this back-and-forth battle with 4:32 remaining, when Latrell Collier scored on a 7-yard run. The real highlight, though, was the two-point conversion that made it 34-27.

Jackson State comes up clutch!

The Tigers were not finished, driving right down the field to tie in on Sanders' fourth TD pass of the game — with no time left in regulation!

Deion denied in OT

The Eagles scored first in overtime, then made a dramatic stop after the Tigers advanced to the 1-yard line.

Las Vegas Bowl: No. 14 Oregon State 30, Florida 3

Defense rules

A battle between a ranked Pac-12 team and an SEC opponent started with defense dominating — including a sack by Princely Umanmielen. 

Beavers strike first

Oregon State took a 7-0 lead on an 8-yard end-around scamper by Tyjon Lindsey. 

The play was set up by this gorgeous 36-yard connection between Ben Gulbranson and Silas Bolden.

Tough battle in the trenches

Oregon State held a 10-0 lead at the half, thanks in part to a blocked field goal by the Gators.

Trick play!

Oregon State pulled off a fake punt early in the third quarter. That led to a 14-yard touchdown reception by Bolden, giving the Beavers a 17-0 lead.

Pulling away and piling on

Oregon State extended its lead to 23-0 a short time later, with Gulbranson taking it in himself. Then Jam Griffin ran one in to push the lead to 30-0, and the rout was on.

The Gators would avoid the shutout with a late field goal, but the Beavers walked away with an impressive 30-3 victory.

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