Jake Haener leads in National team’s 27-10 Senior Bowl win

MOBILE, Ala. — MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Maryland’s Chris Ryland hit four field goals and Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown to lead the national team to a 27-10 win over the American team at Senior Ball on Saturday.

haener, named MVP of the game, delivered a 44-yard touchdown pass to Stanford receiver Michael Wilson in the fourth quarter. He thrived in a shorthanded quarterback situation for the team and completed 12 of 19 passes after setting a career Fresno State record with a 68.1% completion rate.

“I just wanted to get out here and win with the boys and close off a really good week,” Haener told NFL Network. “Just have a really good week and get the win.

“We found a way to win and it was fun.”

Haener missed four games this season with an ankle injury but returned to end a nine-game winning streak for the Bulldogs. Like the other quarterbacks in the game, he’s looking to improve draft projections mid-to-late round.

“I love proving the doubters wrong,” said Haener. “I love the motivation. I love the passion she brings me. Keep it up man.”

The American team’s biggest game came early in the fourth when Virginia’s Anthony Johnson Jr. returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown. Johnson wore the No. 15 jersey in honor of wide receiver Devin Chandler, who was among the three Cavaliers players shot and killed in November, along with Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry.

Cunningham was hit on the throw and appeared to land on his right arm, briefly heading towards the dressing room with a tense shoulder. He returned to the touchline but not into the game.

BYU quarterback Jaren Hall did not play in the game for the national team. It wasn’t immediately known why, but Hall missed the New Mexico Bowl with an ankle injury. He participated in drills when quarterbacks were closed to contact.

The American team got another big defensive play to stay alive, with a fourth sack in the fourth quarter from Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land, winner of 2021 Buck Buchanan as a top player in FCS after beating the nation at 19 Sacks had led.

Cunningham hit Purdue tight end Payne Durham just short of the left pylon late in the first half. He then dropped the snap, picked up the ball, and rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. Cunningham passed 70 touchdowns and ran for 47 in Louisville to follow in the footsteps of friend and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

But he attempted just five passes in the Senior Bowl, completing three for 49 yards. Northwestern’s Evan Hull ran 10 times for a clearance of 74 yards.

Ryland’s four field goals included a 41-yarder in the last game of the first half for a 17-3 lead. He missed a 52-yard attempt early in the third quarter.

TCU’s Max Duggan, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, completed 4 of 9 passes for 26 yards for the American team. Duggan defeated Princeton’s Andrei Iosivas in the end zone on a fourth down play in what was his best touchdown chance.

Shepherd College quarterback Tyson Bagent, whose 159 career touchdown passes is an NCAA all-division record, completed 17 of 22 passes for 138 yards before throwing a last-minute interception near the goal line.

Bagent is trying to become the first Division II quarterback drafted since the Rams picked Keith Null in the sixth round in 2009 after passing more than 17,000 yards.

Houston’s Clayton tune was 9-of-12 passing for 70 yards.