National team wins NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Syracuse running back Antwon Bailey and Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne rushed for touchdowns, helping the National beat the American 20-14 on Saturday in the inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Washington's Erik Folk kicked field goals of 26 and 45 yards for the National, which jumped out to a 17-0 lead.

Eastern Washington's Bo Levi Mitchell and LSU's Jarrett Lee threw touchdown pass to help the American squad rally.

The National capitalized in the second quarter when Lee and Southern wide receiver Jared Green misplayed an end-around that was recovered by UNLV's B.J. Bell at the American 20. Kinne scrambled up the middle for a touchdown on the ensuing play to put the National ahead 17-0.

The American squad got on the scoreboard when Lee found Hampton's Isaiah Thomas in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:51 left in the first half.

Mitchell hit Oregon's Lavasier Tuinei across the middle for 11 yards to pull the American to 17-14 in the third. Folk's second field goal early in the fourth extended the lead to 20-14.

The American team had a touchdown called back when Mitchell's strike to Miami's Aldarius Johnson was nullified for holding. It also had two drives at the tying or go-ahead score end on interceptions by Nick Stephens of Tarleton State.

Late in the fourth quarter, American went for it on fourth down in National territory but Baylor's Tracy Robertson sacked Stephens.

Bailey ran for an 8-yard touchdown to give the National a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. Folk had kicked a short field goal on the opening drive.

Super Bowl-winning coaches Tom Flores and Dick Vermeil served as coaches. Flores, the first minority head coach in professional football history to win a Super Bowl, guided the American squad. Vermeil, who led the St. Louis Rams to the title in 1999, instructed the National team.