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Raiders cut down 49ers in preseason opener

Aug 9, 2008 - 6:39 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Raiders opened their preseason on a solid note, thumping the San Francisco 49ers, 18-6, on Friday.

The Raiders broke on top in a big way in the first quarter, as Johnnie Lee Higgins returned a punt 53 yards for a touchdown.

The 49ers cut the deficit to 7-3 in the second quarter, but Michael Bush found the end zone from five yards out after halftime and the Raiders made good on the two-point conversion for a 15-3 bulge.

Bush was a Raider fourth-round draft pick in 2007, but he sat out the season because of a broken leg suffered in his final season at Louisville.

The teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter.

JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, was 2-of-5 for 13 yards. Darren McFadden, the Raiders' top selection this season and fourth overall, had an impressive debut, picking up 48 yards on 12 carries.

Oakland's Louis Rankin, a free agent out of Washington, had eight carries for 91 yards, including a 72-yard run. Overall, Oakland had 248 yards on the ground.

San Francisco split time at quarterback between J.T. O'Sullivan (5-of-8, 71 yards) Shaun Hill (10-of-20, 83) and Alex Smith (5-of-9, 51).