NFL Recap (San Francisco-Carolina)
Posted: Sun December 6, 1998 at 5:54 p.m. EST
SAN FRANCISCO 31, CAROLINA 28 (OT)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Steve Beuerlein fumbled the
snap on the third play of overtime, setting up Wade Richey's 23-yard field
goal moments later that lifted the San Francisco 49ers to a
31-28 victory over the Carolina Panthers and
into the playoffs.
After rallying from a 28-7 third-quarter deficit to tie the game, the
Panthers (2-11) had a chance to win it, but John Kasay's 47-yard field
goal attempt with 22 seconds to go in regulation sailed wide right.
Carolina won the overtime coin toss but gained just two yards on two
plays before Beuerlein fumbled the exchange with center Frank Garcia, who
accidently kicked the ball right to 49ers defensive end Chris Doleman at the
Panthers 30.
"We fumbled and that's all I'm going to say about it," Beuerlein said.
"We're professionals. I am severly disappointed that we found ways to
lose this game."
Two plays later, Steve
Young bootlegged left for 17 yards and slid to the 13. Three short runs
advanced the ball to the 6 and the Panthers called timeout to try to ice
Richey. But the kicker calmly split the uprights to lift the 49ers (10-3)
to their third straight victory overall and fourth in a row over the
Panthers.
"They (Carolina) made some plays and got back in the game," said 49ers
coach Steve Mariucci. "We'd like to try to avoid that. We were lucky to
win in the overtime period. It was an ugly win. We let it out of our
hands. Its nice to have 10 wins and be in the playoff race."
San Francisco, which trails first-place Atlanta by one game in the NFC
West, has made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons.
The 49ers appeared on their way to an easy victory when Garrison Heart
busted free for a 71-yard touchdown run just over two minutes into the
third quarter that made it 28-7. But the Panthers offense woke up, scoring
three times in the final 15:42 to forge a tie.
"I think the whole game was going exactly as scripted for us until
near the end of the third quarter," Young said. "Hats off to the Carolina
defense and offense, especially in the second half. We idled down and got
caught. Our offense was how we wanted it to be early. We then put
ourselves down in a whole."
Beuerlein connected with running back Anthony Johnson on a
38-yard touchdown with 52 seconds to play in the third quarter, then found
Raghib Ismail for a
40-yard scoring strike 3:26 into the fourth. Beuerlein set up the scoring
strike to Ismail with three passes totaling 35 yards.
He completed 18-of-33 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns with
an interception, connecting on nine straight passes at one point during the
second-half comeback.
The Panthers began the tying drive at their own 30, but Beuerlein hit
Muhsin Muhammad for 10
yards to the 42 and Ismail broke free for a 32-yard run. A 10-yard
facemask penalty was tacked on, placing the ball at the San Francisco 10.
Moments later, Tim Biakabatuka went 10 yards for the tying TD.
Muhammad racked up 73 yards on eight catches for the Panthers, whose
28 points marked their second-highest scoring output of the season,
bettered by only a 31-17 victory over New Orleans on November 1st.
"They (49ers) are the best offensive team in football," said Panthers
coach Dom Capers. "We didn't make bad mistakes and we still lost. It's
extremely frustrating. I saw my guys fighting back. Anytime you have
those opportunities, it's hard when you don't capatalize. This team showed
a lot of heart today."
With leading rusher Fred Lane sitting out a
one-game suspension, the Panthers turned their running game to Biakabatuka
and Johnson. Biakabatuka carred 22 times for 81 yards, while Johnson added
66 yards on only seven attempts.
Carolina jumped out to a 7-0 lead 6 1/2 minutes into the contest when
Beuerlein capped an 80-yard drive by hitting Muhammad for a 12-yard score.
But the 49ers' passing game, with the use of some trickery, took over.
Young tied it late in the first quarter when he hit J.J. Stokes for a two-yard
TD. On its next possession, San Francisco took the ball out of Young's
hands and gave it to running back Terry Kirby, who lofted a 28-yard scoring
strike to Terrell Owens
on a halfback option. It was the third scoring pass of Kirby's career.
Young's 33-yard touchdown pass to Stokes with 1:23 to play in the half
extended San Francisco's advantage to 21-7.
Young was 19-of-31 for 213 yards and an interception for San
Francisco, while Hearst carried 20 times for 139 yards. Stokes and Owens
caught four passes apiece for 53 yards and Jerry Rice added five
receptions for 36 yards.
"We tried to mix it up. We made the plays," said Hearst. "Our defense
played them well. I felt pretty good all day. They started making better
plays on defense in the second half but we got some good blocks."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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