(STATS) – Easton Stick’s running will become less frequent on the NFL level, so scouts will want to see his arm strength during the buildup to the NFL Draft.
They’ll like the former North Dakota State standout’s touchdown strike in the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday.
The winningest quarterback in FCS history connected on a 22-yard score with Shawn Poindexter of Arizona to help the West beat the East 21-17 in the 94th annual all-star classic at Tropical Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Stick, who went 49-3 as a starter at NDSU, capped by the Bison’s second straight FCS championship two weeks ago, finished 5 of 8 for 51 yards and was sacked once.
Scouts like that the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Stick played in a pro-style offense. He set the Missouri Valley Football Conference record for career rushing yards by a quarterback (2,523), but he also departs NDSU with school records for passing yards (8,693) and touchdowns (88).
“If you go out there and you don’t want the ball in your hands in the biggest moments, this sport’s not for you, especially at this position,” Stick told Football Gameplan earlier in the week. “I look forward to being in those spots and going out there and just being able to play ball.”
Stick’s third-quarter TD pass was set up by McNeese linebacker B.J. Blunt, whose interception of Oklahoma State’s Taylor Cornelius and 21-yard return put the ball on the East 22. On the next play, Stick pushed the West lead to 21-0.
Blunt collected six tackles and fellow Southland Conference standout Derick Roberson of Sam Houston State had four tackles and one QB hit for the West.
Among FCS standouts for the East, Princeton wide receiver Jesper Horsted caught two passes for 42 yards, including an over-the-shoulder 38-yarder, and James Madison cornerback Jimmy Moreland had a tackle and pass breakup as well as a 61-yard return off a missed field goal attempt.
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