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49ers beat Chargers to cap unbeaten preseason

Sep 3, 2010 - 6:12 AM By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- On a night when San Francisco's offensive stars sat out, the 49ers got more big plays on the other side of the ball to cap their first unbeaten preseason in 18 years.

Manny Lawson and rookie Taylor Mays each had interceptions and rookie Anthony Dixon ran 46 yards for a first-half touchdown in the Niners' 17-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night.

Jehuu Caulcrick caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis with 8:41 left and Joe Nedney added a 25-yard field goal. San Francisco (4-0) went undefeated in its exhibition schedule for the first time since a 5-0 showing in 1992.

Coach Mike Singletary wasn't overly excited about the record considering it doesn't count.

"Trust me, I've been 4-0 before in preseason," Singletary said. "I'm very thankful the preseason is over. This game, I'm just glad to get it over with. It was a good game to win, a good game to close out on."

Jeremy Williams returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown, then caught a 29-yard pass to set up Curtis Brinkley's 2-yard TD run late in the third quarter for the Chargers. But Curtis Taylor stripped Williams after a catch to force a fumble and give San Francisco the ball back with 6:54 to play.

Williams also was the intended receiver on San Diego's last-ditch effort on fourth down in the final minute. Tramaine Brock picked off Jonathan Crompton's pass with 48 seconds left.

San Francisco's offense looked little like the unit it will be for the team's Sept. 12 opener at NFC West rival Seattle. No Alex Smith at quarterback, no Frank Gore or Brian Westbrook at running back, no Michael Crabtree at wideout or Joe Staley leading the line at left tackle.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers also got the night off.

The Niners did go with their regular starting on 11 on defense - but for one series.

Lawson blitzed untouched toward Billy Volek on San Diego's opening drive of the second quarter, batted the ball with both hands and turned to catch it for an interception.

"Man, first of all, I got to give a shout out to my DBs and other linebackers for covering and allowing me time to get back there," Lawson said. "I was just fortunate enough to, I got my hand in the way and tipped the ball and it floated in the air. All it was after that was just catching it."

Crabtree has never played a preseason game, but tight end Vernon Davis said after the game that's not what irked him a day earlier. The Pro Bowl tight end verbally confronted Crabtree during Wednesday's practice. Singletary intervened and talked to both players in the locker room away from the rest of the team. Crabtree, the Niners' 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft out of Texas Tech, finally ended a 71-day contract stalemate last October.

While he had been nursing a neck injury, he hasn't been limited in practice and Singletary said before last Saturday's exhibition in Oakland he expected the wideout to play a quarter. Crabtree left Candlestick Park without talking to reporters, and he hasn't spoken formally since the start of training camp Aug. 1 despite numerous requests.

Dixon finished his impressive exhibition campaign with another nice game, getting a key block from rookie guard Mike Iupati on the TD run.

"I've got a little speed in me and a lot of burst," Dixon said.

Carr started in place of Smith and was solid running the offense before giving way to Nate Davis midway through the second quarter.

Mike Tolbert ran 32 yards for a first down on third-and-10 during San Diego's first possession, but the Chargers (1-3) didn't give themselves much chance early and struggled to move the ball. San Diego, coming off three straight playoff berths, gave up 552 yards to the Saints in a 36-21 loss at New Orleans last Friday night.

"It was good for our young guys to play as much as they did," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "The biggest thing for us is we have some decisions to make at the bottom of our roster. We got a good look at a lot of our young players."

Matt Wilhelm sacked Volek for an 11-yard loss late in the first quarter. This defense looks to be one of the NFL's best again.

"I feel like we just picked up where we left off last year," said nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, who started in his first exhibition game.

Notes: 49ers WR Jason Hill was poked in the eye in the second quarter. ... Dixon, a sixth-rounder, finished the preseason with 74 carries for 300 yards and three TDs. He did sustain a ribs injury Thursday that wasn't considered serious. "I'm glad I got a chance to go through this so I know what to expect down the road," he said. "I'm kind of bruising a little bit, but I'm all right." ... Chargers OLB Shawne Merriman didn't play because of an Achilles' tendon injury. ... 49ers C Eric Heitmann, out with a broken left leg, is no longer using crutches. "Feels good," he said as he walked onto the field before the game. ... Niners rookie Kevin Jurovich made a 29-yard catch to set up the go-ahead score late. ... Singletary called Nate Davis a "question mark" to make the 53-man roster.