Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

49ers take to air in victory

SEATTLE -- Terrell Owens had it all over Shawn Springs on Monday night.

Twice.

Not only did the All-Pro receiver catch a 37-yard touchdown pass over the Seahawks cornerback to give San Francisco a 28-21 victory, but he added an extra flourish by pulling out a pen and autographing the ball for a friend sitting in Springs' suite.

Seattle (1-4) led 21-20 and was driving for another score when Ahmad Plummer intercepted an ill-advised pass by Trent Dilfer at the San Francisco 32 with 10 minutes left. The 49ers moved to the Seattle 37. Quarterback Jeff Garcia found Owens down the left side and he took the ball over Springs for the score.

He then took a pen from his sock and signed the ball.

"That's what big players do," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said, referring to the catch, not the autograph.

Garcia then hit Garrison Hearst for a two-point conversion.

The win kept the 49ers (4-1) one game ahead of Arizona in the NFC West, which Seattle joined this season, moving from the AFC West in realignment. The 49ers won the division 14 times between 1981 and 1997, the last year they won it. With St. Louis' demise this season, they are the favorite to win it again.

Garcia threw for 202 yards and the two TDs and ran seven times for 48 yards, including 17- and 12-yard scrambles on a second-quarter drive that led to a field goal.

"We're a young team, especially on offense," Holmgren said. "Dilfer has to hold the thing together. He's kind of like a father out there."

San Francisco took a 10-0 lead on Jose Cortez's 37-yard field goal and Garcia's 8-yard pass to Owens, who finished with six catches for 84 yards.

The field goal came on a 73-yard drive off the opening kickoff.

Then Zack Bronson, who later left with a broken foot, intercepted a pass by Dilfer on Seattle's first possession. The 49ers took six plays to complete the drive when Garcia rolled right and found Owens alone on the goal line and he stepped into the end zone -- no autograph that time.

Seattle retaliated, going 69 yards in 10 plays to score on Dilfer's 5-yard pass to Mack Strong with 1:45 left in the first. Dilfer had two critical third-and-long completions to Bobby Engram to keep the drive alive.

Then Engram struck again. He took Jason Baker's punt at his 39, broke a tackle by long-snapper Brian Jennings and was free, weaving his way 61 yards to give Seattle a 14-10 lead with 5:41 left until halftime.

Cortez's 29-yard field goal on the next drive made it 14-13 at halftime.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright