Charlie Smyth kicked two field goals as the New Orleans Saints came from behind for a pre-season 17-17 tie against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Mayobridge man played the second half when his team trailed 17-3, with starter Blake Grupe kicking a 51-yarder for the Saints’ only points of the first half in New Orleans.
Smyth was good from 23 and 40 yards in the third quarter to bring the Saints back to within one score and with their final drive, Spencer Rattler hit Dante Pettis for a 20-yard touchdown with the quarterback running in the two-point conversion to level.
Jacksonville were on the periphery of a winning kick when Seth Henigan found tight end Quintin Morris at the Saints’ 41-yard line.
The rookie quarterback was intercepted on the next play by safety Jonas Sanker, who returned to the Jaguars’ 25, but was knocked out of bounds a split second after time elapsed, which denied Smyth a shot at the win.
On Saturday, Jude McAtamney enjoyed a productive night for the New York Giants as he handled all kicking duties in a 31-12 win against the New York Jets.
The County Derry native kicked four extra-points and a 35-yard field goal as ‘Big Blue’ claimed a second pre-season victory.
There were mixed fortunes for Mark McNamee in the Green Bay Packers’ 23-19 road win at the Indianapolis Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Dubliner, who took three kick-offs in last week’s defeat to the Jets just a day after his arrival in the United States, hit a 43-yard field goal and two extra-points, but also missed a field-goal attempt from 39 yards and an extra-point.
Irish punter Dan Whelan, who was holder for McNamee’s kicks, hit three punts for an average of 50 yards, with his longest travelling for 59.
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