Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship boots field goal in Senior Bowl

Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship kicks a field goal as the South squad runs drills during practice for the Senior Bowl Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Credit: Butch Dill

Credit: Butch Dill

Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship kicks a field goal as the South squad runs drills during practice for the Senior Bowl Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 25-yard field goal and made two extra points but the South team lost to the North 31-17 in the Senior Bowl Saturday.

Blankenship also missed a 43-yard field goal.

Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon, who didn't start until his senior year, led the North to three touchdowns in the third quarter.

The Cougars' prolific passer entered the all-star game for senior NFL prospects after halftime and twice took the North downfield.

“I came out swinging when it was my time," said Gordon, who wore the No. 3 jersey in honor of late Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski. “I guess that kind of correlates to my time at Washington State. I spent a lot of time waiting, but when my time came I was ready."

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts came into the game to a loud ovation in the state where he once starred for Alabama. The Heisman Trophy runner up got a less kind greeting from North defenders, getting sacked twice on his first series and having his second end quickly with a wobbly interception when he was hit while throwing. Hurts finished strong with a fourth-quarter TD pass.

Hurts was 6-for-13 foe 58 yards.

South quarterback Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma (1) scrambles for a first down during the first half of the Senior Bowl college football game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Credit: Butch Dill

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Credit: Butch Dill

Gordon, who finished second nationally in passing yards and touchdowns, completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards and two short touchdowns. That included a 2-yard touchdown pass to Notre Dame's Chase Claypool for a second straight big third-down completion.

An off-balance Gordon then hit Liberty's Antonio Gandy-Golden late in the third for a 5-yard TD. It was set up with an interception by Troy Pride Jr. of Notre Dame.

The game's most highly touted passer, Justin Herbert of Oregon, shined for the South and was named game MVP. The likely first-round pick was 9 of 12 for 83 yards and a touchdown, all in the first quarter, and added a 19-yard run.

“In this day and age in the NFL, you’ve got to be able to make some plays with your feet and be able to create a little bit," said South coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Michigan's Shea Patterson delivered the game's biggest offensive play and passed for 131 yards. He opened the second quarter with a 75-yard touchdown pass on his first play. TCU running back Darius Anderson was wide open on a wheel route and sprinted down the left sideline.

Anderson had just 128 yards receiving last season, but had 87 in this one to go with 43 rushing yards. The North's Joshua Kelley of UCLA had a game-high 105 yards on 15 rushes.

One of the game's top-rated prospects, South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, sat out the game with quad tendinitis, according to Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy.

South cornerback Kindle Vildor of Georgia Southern (2) celebrates with South cornerback Dane Jackson of Pittsburgh (11) after intercepting a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl college football game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Credit: Butch Dill

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Credit: Butch Dill

While Herbert was the game MVP, Florida running back Lamical Perine was named South player of the game and Gordon won North honors. Perine is from Mobile and played for Theodore High School. He said he had more than 40 people at the game.

“A lot of Perine chants and Gator chomps out there," Perine said. “That made me feel good.”

Perine carried seven times for 42 yards and had two receptions for 17 yards.