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Derek Carr, David Fales lead South to win in Senior Bowl

South running back Jerick McKinnon of Georgia Southern is tackled by Jonathan Brown of Illinois during the first half of the Senior Bowl on Saturday.
(Butch Dill / Associated Press)
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MOBILE, Ala. -- Derek Carr and David Fales each threw touchdown passes and Auburn’s Dee Ford had two sacks in the South’s 20-10 victory over the North in the Senior Bowl on Saturday.

The showcase game for top senior NFL prospects was mostly dominated by the defenses, including big plays from two defenders from national runner-up Auburn. Ford polished off his week by twice sacking Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas in the first half and Chris Davis had an interception.

Ford, who also had a pair of sacks in the national championship game, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Alabama receiver Kevin Norwood caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Fales of San Jose State and was selected the South’s Most Outstanding Player.

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Wisconsin’s James White scored on a 1-yard run with 6:04 left in the game for the North’s only touchdown. He was selected the North’s Most Outstanding Player after rushing for 62 yards in 11 carries.

Ford also batted down a pass in the backfield when the North was buried deep in its own territory that would have been a sure touchdown if he’d held onto it.

Offensively, it looked just like what it was: an all-star game with players trying to get in synch with a few days of practice.

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The quarterbacks with the fewest mistakes won the day after the South built a 20-3 lead.

Fresno State’s Carr started fast with three straight completions on the South’s opening drive. He capped the march with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Colorado State tight end Crockett Gillmore and finished 7-of-12 passing for 45 yards.

Jimmy Garoppolo of Eastern Illinois’s first two drives ended with field goals of 50 and 39 yards by Auburn’s Cody Parkey. Garoppolo, MVP of the East-West Shrine Game out of Tony Romo’s alma mater, was a late addition to the roster after Alabama’s AJ McCarron declined an invitation.

He was 6-of-11 passing for 32 yards.

The collection of six quarterbacks combined to throw five interceptions.

Miami’s Stephen Morris completed 10 of 18 passes for a game-high 89 yards but had two throws intercepted. Clemson’s Tajh Boyd completed 7 of 16 passes for 31 yards, with an interception. Thomas, a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder, was sacked five times.

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