Ruffin caps off career with winning field goal for Team USA
SportsLine.com wire reports
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cincinnati's Jonathan Ruffin already has a trophy proving he's one of the best kickers in the nation. Capping his collegiate career with a winning field goal was the icing on the cake.
Ruffin kicked a Gridiron Classic-record 49-yard field goal with 13 seconds left Saturday to give Team USA a 20-17 win over Team Florida.
"I couldn't ask for a better ending to my final college game," said Ruffin, who won the Lou Groza Award in 2000. "This all-star game has been a great week and I couldn't have capped it off any better."
Ruffin, who was chosen the game's most valuable player, beat the old mark of 39 yards was set by West Virginia's Jay Taylor in 2000. The kick matched his career best, set in a close loss to Ohio State on Sept. 21.
He also had a 34-yard field goal late in the third quarter that put Team USA ahead 17-3.
"He didn't need this game to prove he's a good kicker," Team USA co-coach Jack Bicknell said.
The winning kick was set up by Curt Anes' 28-yard pass to Buffalo tight end Chad Bartoszek down to the Team Florida 40. Anes then scrambled for 7 yards before a clock-stopping spike and an incompletion in the end zone.
Anes, the NCAA Division II player of the year at Grand Valley State, was 9-for-14 for 116 yards.
"Curt Anes is a guy that some NFL teams need to make sure they take a long, hard look at," Bicknell said.
Ruffin, who kicks wearing a converted jazz dance slipper, made the field goal with just a few feet to spare, as it sailed through near the left upright.
The Gridiron Classic matches college seniors with Florida roots against players from the rest of the nation.
Team USA took a 14-3 lead with 5:05 left before halftime on Bartoszek's 9-yard reception from Wisconsin's Brooks Bollinger. On the drive, Bollinger completed four passes for 68 yards and scrambled once for 8 yards.
After three quarters of sluggishness, Team Florida finally came to life behind Florida A&M quarterback Casey Printers. His 1-yard TD pass to Auburn tight end Lorenzo Diamond cut the deficit to 17-10 with 14:07 remaining. On the drive, Printers had a 25-yard scramble and a 38-yard pass after he spun out of a sack.
Printers completed 8 of 14 passes for 62 yards with one interception, and he ran for 21 yards. Team Florida had only 38 yards rushing on 23 attempts.
Team USA was forced to punt after three plays on its ensuing possession, and Team Florida put together an 11-play touchdown drive to tie the game. The drive was capped by Syracuse fullback Chris Davis' 4-yard TD run with 5:49 remaining.
The game is sponsored by Florida Rotary Clubs.
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