MOBILE, Ala. — Florida State’s Christian Ponder threw two touchdown passes, including a clinching 23-yarder to TCU’s Jeremy Kerley, in the South’s 24-10 Senior Bowl victory over the North on Saturday.
Ponder completed 7-of-13 passes for 132 yards, including several big ones to one-time rival Leonard Hankerson of Miami.
Ponder was looking for a happier transition to an NFL career after missing the ACC championship game with an elbow injury and most of the Seminoles’ bowl game thanks to a concussion. Ponder led scoring drives on the South’s first two possessions and put on the finishing touches after the North rallied from a 17-0 deficit.
Hankerson had 100 yards on five catches, including an 18-yard touchdown and a 48-yarder to set up another score — both from Ponder.
Washington quarterback Jake Locker led a touchdown drive but also had offensive linemen save him on two fumbles for the North.
Germany’s Huefner wins luge title
CESENA, Italy — Germany’s Tatjana Huefner added a third luge world championship title to go with her 2010 Olympic gold by winning the women’s singles.
The 2007 and ’08 world champion finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 33.969 seconds to beat compatriot Natalie Geisenberger, who was second in 1:34.243. Alex Gough of Canada was third in 1:34.413.
• Andreas Matt led Patrick Koller in an Austrian 1-2 finish at a freestyle World Cup skicross event in Grasgehren, Germany.
Armin Niederer placed third.
• Austria dominated a ski jump World Cup team event in Willingen, Germany, beating Germany and Poland by a large margin.
Austrians Gregor Schlierenzauer, Martin Koch, Andreas Kofler, and Thomas Morgenstern combined to score 1,071.8 points. Germany was second with 1,025.1 and Poland had 1,015.7.
• Manuel Machata of Germany won a two-man bobsled World Cup event in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Steven Holcomb piloted United States 1 to seventh place.
Rangers, Napoli reach deal
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms on a $5.8 million contract for Mike Napoli, avoiding arbitration with the catcher-first baseman.
• The Toronto Blue Jays signed reliever Frank Francisco to a one-year, $4 million contract.
• Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed the team has submitted an offer to free-agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero.
Footnotes.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is angry over the team’s decision to fire quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn.
Flacco said: “I don’t think it was a good decision. I’m disappointed, and they know I’m disappointed.”
• Mohamed Trafeh won the U.S. half-marathon championship in Houston, passing American record-holder Ryan Hall in the final mile to beat him by three seconds. Trafeh finished the 13.1-mile race in 1 hour, 2 minutes, 17 seconds. Patrick Smyth, last year’s runner-up, was third in 1:02.32. Jen Rhines won the women’s race, finishing in 1:11.14.
