MCELROY SPARKS SOUTH : SOUTH 20, NORTH 19.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

UCLA receiver Jim McElroy sparked the South to a 20-19 victory over the North in the 52nd annual Hula Bowl on Sunday.

But McElroy didn't do it catching a pass.

On the other end of a throw for a change, McElroy passed 38 yards to Duke receiver Corey Thomas with 10 minutes left in the second quarter to give the South a commanding 10-0 lead.

And he got an assist from a player from USC on the pass. Trojans running back Delon Washington took a handoff and ran left, giving the ball to McElroy on a reverse. McElroy then threw a floater down the left sideline that Thomas leaped for, grabbed and took into the end zone.

McElroy did catch one pass, for 13 yards, and ran once for a 5-yard loss. Washington carried three times for 5 yards. Jeff Shea, of Division III Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, was the starting punter for the North.

The game's MVPs were Maryland defensive end Eric Ogbogu and Michigan running back Chris Howard.

Ogbogu had four sacks to lead a South defense that held on during the final North drive to preserve the victory.

``I just wanted to have a good game and impress the scouts,'' Ogbogu said. ``I did a little better than I thought.''

Ogbogu had four sacks and was named most valuable player for the South. Howard had 14 rushes for 116 yards and was MVP for the North.

``I played like I was playing for Michigan,'' Howard said. ``I didn't care if it was a relaxed game. I came here to win.''

Robert Nycz of Arizona State booted a 47-yard field goal with two minutes to play to rally the South to victory.

The North scored all its points in the second half, rallying from a 10-0 halftime deficit to take a 19-17 lead with 6:43 to play on a 5-yard pass from Penn State receiver Joe Jurevicius to Michigan quarterback Brian Griese.

Jurevicius took the ball on a reverse from Michigan running back Howard and found Griese in the right front corner of the end zone.

Griese drove the North into South territory in the final minutes, but two sacks and an incomplete pass ended the comeback.

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS

Delon Washington, USC, 3 carries, 5 yards

Jim McElroy, UCLA, 1 pass, 38 yards; 1 catch, 13 yards

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO The South's Rod Rutledge (86) is brought down by UCLA safety Shaun Williams.

Associated Press

BOX: LOCAL PARTICIPANTS (see text)