Rams 16 — 49ers 35 (Final)
Live Blog Recap — Laurence Scott, San Francisco
The 49ers didn’t score a point in the second half, but they didn’t need to… an explosive start on offense and some suffocating defense enough for a 35-16 win over the hapless St. Louis Rams.
Outstanding first half for the Niners. In their first 6 possessions… 5 consecutive touchdowns.
Interim head coach Mike Singletary gets his first win as the Niners move to 3-7 on their way to Dallas for a meeting with the Cowboys next Sunday.
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A late fourth quarter Marc Bulger to Dane Looker 2-yard TD after the two minute warning only made it look closer than it really was.
It was a slow start to the second half… yet the Rams stopped the bleeding a bit with a 48-yard Josh Brown FG with 3:51 left in the third quarter… and then a 44 yarder as the quarter expired.
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So what does time of possession really matter?
The Rams held the ball around 12-and-a-half minutes in the first quarter… to the Niners 2-plus minutes… but San Francisco had a 7-zip lead to start the 2nd Q.
Shortly after, the floodgates opened and while the Rams only held a six minute advantage in time of possession to end the half (roughly 18 to the Niners’ 12), St. Louis was down 35-to-3.
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Shaun Hill is making this fun. With under two minutes to go before the half, a perfect rope to Bryant Johnson for a 2-yard TD gaves the Niners a 32-point lead at the break.
Nate Clements intercepted Marc Bulger to set up the final dagger of the first half.
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Hill… all guts and glory… leading the offense down the field and diving head-first into the end zone for the 49ers fourth score of the day. The one-yard run gave the Niners a 25-point lead with three-and-a-half left in the second quarter.
Walt Harris intercepted Bulger to get the drive started.
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Willing his way to his second score of the game… Frank Gore powered into the end zone for a 1-yard TD on third and goal. (4 plays, 16 yards, 2:01)
The short TD drive was put in place as Rams QB Marc Bulger released from center Nick Leckey without the ball setting the Niners up on the Rams 16 yard line. We’re starting to see why teams flatten St. Louis week after week.
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49ers QB Shaun Hill hitting his receivers in stride… finding tight end Vernon Davis in the middle of the end zone for a 2-yard TD at the 10:38 mark of the second quarter.
Issac Bruce and Bryant Johnson with two big catches on the drive to get the Niners near the goal line.(5 plays, 69 yards, 2:48)
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Lockdown in effect: Nate Clements shutting down Torry Holt early… and the Niners playing strong goal line defense… holding the Rams to a 24-yard Josh Brown FG with 13:26 in the 2nd Q. (15 plays, 75 yards, 8:11)
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Rams left tackle Orlando Pace (team cornerstone/all-pro who has battled injuries the past few years) has left the game — walking off on his own power with a knee injury. Adam Goldberg entered in his place.
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The Niners O-line is shredding the Rams front seven. Frank Gore makes up for an opening drive fumble with a 5-yard TD run. (4 plays, 34 yards, 1:54)
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Opening 49ers drive: running back Frank Gore broke off a 37-yard run… and looked headed to the end zone before former Stanford Cardinal, now Rams cornerback Oshiomogho Atogwe ripped the ball away… with the Rams recovering at their own 13… but they went three and out… punting to the Niners who set up at the STL 34 before scoring their first touchdown.
Rams kicker Josh Brown missed a 48-yard FG at the end of the opening St. Louis drive.
The Niners won the toss… decided to take the ball to start the 2nd Half… and kicked to STL to start the game. This is the second time they’ve deferred this season… the first time was at the start of their win in Seattle.
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Pre-Game Notes:
We knew after Friday’s practice that 49ers receivers Arnaz Battle and Josh Morgan would be inactive. Bryant Johnson will start in place of Morgan with Issac Bruce on the other side. The third receiver, SF native Jason Hill, will continue to get some passes his way.
Also, look out for number 17, first year man Dominique Zeigler, to perhaps pick up a little of the slack. He had some decent timing worked out with QB Shaun Hill in the preseason.
The Rams All-Pro running back Steven Jackson is inactive as well… so a mix of Antonio Pittman and/or the likes of Kenneth Darby, Travis Minor and Sam Gado will run it for St. Louis this afternoon.
