Mobile, AL (Sports Network) - EJ Manuel had both a rushing and passing touchdown in the first quarter to lead the South team to a 21-16 win over the North in the 64th Senior Bowl from Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

The Florida State quarterback completed 7-of-10 throws for 76 yards -- 20 of which came on a scoring strike to Alabama tight end Michael Williams -- and one interception to pace the South offensively. BYU end Ezekial Ansah spearheaded a stout defensive effort that amassed three sacks and two interceptions while holding the North to 264 total yards.

Ansah racked up seven tackles, including three for loss, along with 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble to earn Most Outstanding Player honors for the South.

Miami-Florida's Mike James added a rushing touchdown for the South, which also received a game-high 53 rushing yards on nine carries from Stanford's Stepfan Taylor and 46 yards on 10 attempts out of Florida's Mike Gillislee.

Miami-Ohio quarterback Zac Dysert led the North with 93 yards on 10-of-16 passing with one interception and a touchdown to Oregon running back Kenjon Barner, who finished with seven receptions totaling 59 yards.

UCLA's Johnathan Franklin ran for the North's other touchdown and compiled 41 yards on just five carries.

The South wasted little time in jumping out to an early lead, with Southeastern Louisiana's Robert Alford taking the opening kickoff 88 yards to the North 12. Three plays later, Manuel crossed the goal line on a quarterback draw from two yards out for a 7-0 edge less than two minutes in.

After the North punted on its initial possession, Manuel went 4-for-5 for 58 yards in engineering a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped by his connection to Williams just past the midway stage of the first quarter.

The North offense, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball all throughout the opening half under the trio of North Carolina State's Mike Glennon, Syracuse's Ryan Nassib and Dysert. Five of the team's seven drives over the first two quarters ended in punts, with the other two halted by interceptions.

Nassib was picked off by Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo, with Missouri linebacker intercepting Dysert later on.

The North started the second half far better, with Glennon directing an eight- play, 72-yard sequence that culminated with Franklin's 20-yard touchdown burst off right tackle that cut the deficit to 14-7.

An interception of Manuel by Utah State's Will Davis shortly afterward set up a 42-yard field goal by Oklahoma State's Quinn Sharp that pulled the North within 14-10 late in the third quarter.

The score would remain that way until James concluded a 13-play series with a 5-yard scoring burst that put the South up 21-10 with 2:41 left to play.

Dysert orchestrated an 11-play, 80-yard march to wrap up the contest, with his 3-yard hookup with Barner in the closing seconds accounting for the final score. A pass to Oregon State's Markus Wheaton on the ensuing 2-point conversion try fell incomplete.

GAME NOTES:
Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short was named the North's Most Outstanding Player ... The South team was run by Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz and the Lions' staff, with Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen and his assistants guiding the North squad ... Other former Senior Bowl MVP's of note include Derrick Brooks (1995), Chad Pennington (2000), LaDainian Tomlinson (2001), Philip Rivers (2004), Matt Forte (2008) and Christian Ponder (2011) ... The North posted a 23-13 victory in last year's game and had won five of the last eight editions.

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