In his first style of the NFL, Jared Bernhardt had a second to recollect.
The former Maryland lacrosse star caught a game-winning landing go from rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder within the ultimate minutes to steer the Atlanta Falcons over the host Detroit Lions, 27-23, in Friday night time’s preseason opener.
Facing a fourth-and-9 at Detroit’s 21-yard line with 1:37 left within the fourth quarter and his crew down three, Ridder took the snap and rolled to his proper to evade strain earlier than lofting a go to the entrance of the tip zone. While blanketed by Lions cornerback Cedric Boswell, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Bernhardt labored again to the ball and caught it simply previous the purpose line earlier than falling to the bottom and securing the catch. He was instantly mobbed by his teammates in celebration.
Bernhardt, the 2021 Tewaaraton Award winner as the highest faculty lacrosse participant within the nation, signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent in April after main Ferris State to a Division II nationwide title as a dual-threat quarterback. He labored out with Maryland soccer gamers at their professional day in College Park earlier than the draft in entrance of NFL scouts, performing broad receiver and defensive again drills.
“It was a cool feeling coming back to College Park,” he mentioned on the time. “I would definitely like to do better. I try to hold myself to a high standard.”
In 5 seasons with the Terps lacrosse crew, he turned one of many program’s most embellished gamers, setting college data in profession factors (290), objectives (202), single-season factors (99), single-season objectives (71), objectives in a single NCAA Tournament (18) and factors in a single NCAA Tournament (24). At Ferris State, he returned to his soccer roots that started at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida, amassing greater than 2,700 yards and 37 touchdowns to be nominated for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy because the Division II College Football Player of the Year.
“He was one of the best football players I’ve coached in my 35-year coaching career,” mentioned Ferris State coach Tony Annese, who has been on the college since 2011. “He’s a pure winner.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com