Rypien, Stick help West beat East in Shrine Game
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. >> Brett Rypien displayed some of his pedigree in the East-West Shrine Game.
Rypien and Easton Stick each threw a touchdown pass to help the West beat the East 21-17 Saturday.
Rypien, a Boise State product and nephew of Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, was 10 of 14 for 134 yards.
Scouts from a number of NFL teams talked with Rypien during a week of workouts preceding the game.
“Overall it was a great week,” Rypien said. “I thought I came down here and did what I needed to do as far as what I wanted to show the scouts.”
Stick, from North Dakota State, completed 5 of 8 passes for 51 yards.
Purdue’s David Blough had two TDns and 149 yards on 10-of-15 passing.
“It was a good day,” Blough said. “I think we had a good opportunity to showcase what I can do, so that was special. I’m thankful for it all and I’m just glad I got to be a part of.”
Rypien connected on a 22-yard scoring strike with LSU’s Nick Brossette during the first drive of the game.
“Thought I was pretty accurate with the ball for the most part,” Rypien said.
Nebraska’s Devine Ozigbo had a two-yard TD run midway through the second as the West took a 14-0 lead. The score was set up by a fumble return by Michigan’s Tyree Kinnel.
On the first play following an interception by BJ Blunt of McNeese State, Stick threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Arizona State’s Shawn Poindexter that made 21-0 five minutes into the third.
American team takes NLFPA Collegiate Bowl
PASADENA, CALIF. >> Colorado’s Juwann Winfree made a spectacular 22-yard touchdown catch and Wisconsin’s Rafael Gaglianone made a 43-yard field goal to lead the American team to a 10-7 victory over the National squad in the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl.
Gaglianone made the winning field goal with 4 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Slippery Rock’s Wes Hills was selected the game MVP after running 79 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries for the National team.
It was the first victory for the American team, this year coached by Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagamo, in the bowl game’s eight-year history. The all-star game is designed to showcase players not expected to go high in the NFL draft.
The American team tied it at 7 midway into the third quarter after North Texas’ Nate Brooks intercepted a pass to set up the Americans at the 19. After a 2-yard loss, Rhode Island’s JaJuan Lawson lifted a pass into the right corner of the end zone and Winfree made a diving grab.
Washington’s Jake Browning completed 8 of 14 passes for 107 yards for the Nationals.
Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur went 10 of 19 for 90 yards for the American team.
Vols add former QB Martin to staff
KNOXVILLE, TENN. >> Two decades after playing quarterback on Tennessee’s last national championship team, Tee Martin is returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach.
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt announced Saturday that Martin has joined his staff. Martin’s specific title and duties haven’t been announced yet.
“It’s the perfect time to come back home,” Martin said in a statement released by the university.