Senior Bowl 2017 final score: South Team wins battle of sloppy offenses

The South Team led by the Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff earned a victory in the Senior Bowl, 16-15, with a strong defensive showing that kept the North Team out of the end zone until the final minutes.

John Fox and the Chicago Bears’ coaching staff led the North Team, but the offense struggled to do much of anything against the South. While Toledo running back Kareem Hunt managed to rack up 118 yards on 15 rushes for the North, the passing offense led by quarterbacks Nate Peterman of Pittsburgh and C.J. Beathard of Iowa didn’t do much.

Peterman finished the game with 16 completions on 23 attempts and threw a touchdown with 1:51 left in the game, but a two-point conversion attempt to take the lead was intercepted. Prior to that, the only points for the North came from Arizona State kicker Zane Gonzalez, who connected on three field goals.

Although the North didn’t add many points early, one of the most impressive performances in the first half came from East Carolina wide receiver Zay Jones, even though he finished the first two quarters with only one reception for 14 yards.

He was among the top performers of the week and continued his strong play Saturday with a touchdown reception that was overturned due to a penalty and a tremendous catch in the back of the end zone that was ruled incomplete:

Even with the East Carolina receiver’s impressive receptions nullified, he finished with six catches for 68 yards and caught the late touchdown from Peterman that nearly gave the North the win.

Texas A&M’s Josh Reynolds also had a big day in the box score, hauling in six receptions for 96 yards. Among his receptions was a 39-yard touchdown catch down the right sideline from California quarterback Davis Webb.

Ultimately, though, it was a sloppy game for offense with four turnovers by the South offense. Taking advantage of those opportunities was Saint Francis defensive back Lorenzo Jerome who hauled in two interceptions and forced a fumble.

It was the culmination of a very impressive January for Jerome, who also caught two interceptions in the NFLPA Bowl last weekend.