Former Notre Dame football players try to shine in Shrine

Notre Dame’s Tommy Rees threw for 70 yards for the losing West team Saturday in the East’s 23-13 victory in the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Rees, one of three quarterbacks who played for the West, was 5-for-11 with an interception. He was sacked twice for minus-17 yards.

Ball State’s Keith Wenning had the best day among the West’s QBs — 12-of-19 for 82 yards with a TD and an interception — in the senior showcase of second-tier prospects for the NFL Draft.

Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo earned Offensive MVP honors, throwing for 98 yards on 8-of-14 accuracy and picked up an invite to next week’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch, third in the Heisman Trophy voting last month, struggled mightily for the East squad. He completed two of seven passes for three yards, with two interceptions.

Rees, was one of four Irish players invited to play in the game, but a shoulder injury suffered in last month’s Pinstripe Bowl sidelined wide receiver TJ Jones. Irish outside linebacker Prince Shembo contributed four tackles for the West, while ND cornerback Bennett Jackson had two tackles.