Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Multidimensional Jyles leads White to victory

Associated Press

Steven Jyles doesn’t want the NFL scouts to think he’s one-dimensional.

The Louisiana-Monroe senior passed for 80 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 31 more yards to lead the White to a 17-9 victory over the Red in the Magnolia Gridiron All-Star Classic on Saturday at Jackson, Miss.

“I can throw the ball. I really didn’t get to show my arm off,” Jyles said. “But my ability to run and throw the ball, I hope they find interest in that.”

The White team, consisting of Division I-A seniors whose teams either didn’t qualify for or already played in bowl games, needed a late defensive stop to defeat their Red counterparts from Division I-AA, II and III and other schools. Each team also had players from NAIA schools on its roster.

The Red recovered a fumble by the White’s Kasey Young of Western New Mexico at the White 49 with 49 seconds remaining and moved it to the 28.

But John Eubanks of Southern Mississippi intercepted a final pass by Travis Lulay of Montana State at about the 10 and returned it 80 yards before tripping at the Red 10 as time expired.

Lulay finished 8 of 14 for 90 yards.

Organizers have hoped the Magnolia Classic will fill the void left by the defunct Blue-Gray game, a one-time Christmas tradition since 1978 which was canceled for the third time in four years. Officials said several players from both teams left as early in the third quarter to catch flights home for the holidays.

Hawaii Bowl

Because of early holiday deadlines, the result of the game between Nevada and Central Florida in Honolulu was not available at press time.