The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 68

F-4 Tuesday. November 12, 1985 tV San Francisco Examiner 49ers hit a Rocky Mountain lop How they matched up H49ers QBroncos me," he said. "Wendell (Tyler) wasn't back there in the backfield and it was probably a little easier to Tm Just happy to be back contributing," said Wilson, who caught his fourth and fifth passes of the season last night, one for 44 yards and one for a 13-yard touchdown. "They felt pretty nice," he said. "I Just wish we would have won the game." Harty, playing his first game in two years since Injuring his foot, agreed.

"I was hoping for a little better first game," he said. "1 got near the quarterback once, but I should have gotten him." Craig's best day Forty Niner fullback Roger Craig had his finest outing as a pro yesterday, running 22 times for 117 yards and catching three passes for 21 yards. Still, the high-stepping fullback couldn't break the big play. "They were really watching 49ers notebook Quarterback Joe Montana changed in the team's training room and refused Interviews, except for a one-sentence response to a Denver television reporter's query. Veteran guard Randy Cross, a professional talker who has a radio and TV show, did manage to explain the gloomy locker room from a player's perspective.

"It's just so damn disappointing losing the way we did," he was a la Washington (the NFC championship loss to the Redskins in the 1983 season). We squandered enough chances to win the game." 4 9er silver linings Mike Wilson and John Harty weren't happy with the results, but managed to find some solace amid the gloom. 1 1 iiiU'igBTOWWWWWW fjr i 33J37 215 1 26 10 1 i 16 Yards First downs Time of passing possession Examiner graphic Shelley Smith QUARTER catches3-yard pass from Elway (Kar- ii8 kick). ii yaras, piays, lert. Key gain: Watson 13 pass from Elway to the SF 18 on third down.

Broncos SF Minus 3 yards, 3 plays. Runaoer 47-vnrrJ nnnl mil nf hnnnHs at D24. Key play: Montana sacked for minus 10 yards on first down. DEN 1 yard, 3 plays. Norman 15-yard punt out of bounds at 40, rveypiay: rerran pamany diocks punt, I Broncos 7, 49ers 0.

QUARTER bobbles snap on punt and falls on the ball at the SF 4. SF 2 yards, 4 plays. Denver, takes over on downs. Kev Dlavs: Officials rule Cooper out of end zona'' when he caught 4-yard pass that' would have been a touchdown. Cooper "I didn't think I had possession," he said.

"I KNOW I had possession. I was so PO'd when they called it incomplete. That was my first chance to get in the end zone all yeaf- ana tney tooK it away from me. DEN 30 yards, 8 plays, penalty. Norman punts 30 yards to SF 39, no return.

Key play: Holding called, on Howard on 3rd and 1. SF 68 yards, 9 plays. Denver takes over on downs. Key plays: Rice 23 pass from Montana; 49ers fail on 20 yard field goal when a snowball is thrown at Cavanaugh, who was to hold for Wersching. Broncos 14, 49ers 3.

QUARTER interference on the offensive guy. Instead it bounced off him and landed in my arms. SF FIELD GOAL Wersching from 22 yards, 7:28 left. 35 yards, 7 plays. Broncos 14, 49ers 13.

DEN 65 yards, 13 plays. 49ers take over on downs. Key plays: 49ers" hold solid on four plays inside the-9-yard Kay 16-yard pass from Elway to SF. 27, Lang 18-yard run t. SF9 SF 1 yard, 3 plays.

Runager" 49-yard punt. V. Johnson returns 8" yards to SF 45. DEN 14 yards, 1 play before quarter ends at SF 31. Broncos 14, 49ers 13.

QUARTER from 45 yards. 6 plays, 35 yards, 3:46 left. Key gains: Craig 13-yard pass from Montana, Rice 16-yard pass from Montana. 49ers 16, Broncos 14. DEN FIELD GOAL Karlis from 24 yards with 1:27 left 63 yards, 8 plays, 2 penalties.

Key play: Interference call on Hicks on 3rd and 13 gives Denver 1st and 10 at SF 31. Broncos 17, 49ers 16. Karlis: "I think tm sort of past being nervous. I just wanted to kick the ball the best I could. I don't feet nervous anymore.

SF 2 yards, 4 plays. Broncos take over on downs as time runs Key play: Robbins tackles Craig at SF 25 on 4th down. Final: Broncos 17, 49ers 16. 8. 1 17 14 222 loian.

Broncos Recpts. Yd. TO Johnson 6 92 0 Watson 5 61 1 Kay 2 25 0 Sampson 2 23 0 Willhite 2-10 Wright 1 9 0 Winder 1 3 0 Lang 1 3 1 Totals 20 215 2 Pass distribution EOOi 400 341 330 Yards 300 200 100 0 Total Yards offense rushing Compiled FIRST Denver's Karlis kicks off to end zone for a touchback. SF 39 yards. 8 plays.

Runager shanks 1-yard punt to 40. DEN 3 yards, 3 plays. Norman 46-yard punt. McLemore fair catches at SF 12. OSF Minus 9 yards, 3 plays.

Runager 38 punt. V. Johnson returns 4 yards to the SF 37. Key play: Smith sacks Montana on third down for a loss of 9 yards. DEN TOUCHDOWN.

Lang SECOND SF FIELD GOAL Worsening from 25 yards. 32 yards, 6 plays. 14:56 left Key gain: Frank 14-yard pass from Montana to 26. Broncos 7, 49ers 3. DEN 27 yards, 6 plays.

Norman punts 14 yards out of bounds to SF 22. OSF 9 yards, 3 plays. Runager 44-yard punt. V. Johnson returns 8 to D33.

DEN TOUCHDOWN. Watson on 6-yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick). 67 yards, 5 plays, 8:59 left Key gain: V. Johnson's 51-yard pass from Elway to SF 8. Broncos 14, 49ers 3.

Watson: "I made a move inside and cut back outside and the ball was there" SF 3 yards, 3 plays. Runager 37-yard punt. V. Johnson fair catches alSFlO. DEN 5 yards, 3 plays.

Norman THIRD Wersching kicks off to end zone, no return. DEN 1 1 yards. 6 plays. Norman 36-yard punt, McLemore fair catches at SF 32, fumbles and recovers. Key plays: 49er defense pressures Elway on three straight passing plays to force punt.

SF TOUCHDOWN. Wilson on 13-yard pass from Montana (Wersching kick). 68 yards, 4 plays, 10:41 lert. Key gain: wiison 44-yard pass from Montana to 24. Broncos 14, 49ers 10.

DEN Lott intercepts Elway pass, runs to 40. Lprr: snouia nave oeen pass FOURTH DEN 14 yards, 4 plays. Karlis' field-goal attempt from 47 yards is wide left. 49ers take over on downs at SF31. SF Zero yards, 3 plays.

Runager 28 punt to 41, no return. UDtN 21 yards, 5 plays. Norman 35-yard punt out of bounds at the SF 3. Key' play: Wright breaks up sure touchdown pass from Elway to Sampson. SF 52 yards.

7 plays, 1 penalty. Runager 27-yard punt. Willhite fair catches at 18. Key plays: Holding call on Paris on second down at D43, Francis 25-yard pass from Montana to SF 2a DEN 9 yards, 3 plays. Norman 48-yard punt.

McLemore 13-yard return to SF 37. SF FIELD GOAL Wersching SAN FRANCISCO 0 3 10 316 DENVER 7 7 0 317 Team statistics 49era Denver 18 6 11 i 6-17 0-1 35-121 42-20 1 215 0-0 336 1- 0 2-14 2- 2 33:37 First downs 16 ftv mshina 7 Bypassing 9 uy penalty 3rd down efficiency 1-16 4th down efficiency 1-4 Rushes-yards 29-138 Pass attemptscomp 41-17 Passes intercepted 0 Panaina vards 503 Sacked yards lost 2-19 loiai net yaras Puntsavg. Fumbleslost Penalties-yards 341 1-0 3-57 1-1 26:23 Extra points Time of possession Rushing 133141 I by By Frank Cooney OFTW EXAMINER STAFF DENVER In the locker room at Mile High Stadium last night, the 49crs looked lower than Death Valley following their 17-16 loss to the Denver Broncos. In one corner safety Ronnie Lott fought back tears as he explained how he Just missed Bronco quarterback John Elway on a blitz when Elway completed a pass that set up the winning field goal. Defensive lineman Michael Carter was even more emotional.

He wouldn't, or couldnX talk at all. While other players at least sat facing the room, Carter sat facing his cubicle and ignored all questions while he dressed. Elway had danced out of Carter's grasp during that last drive on a play that wound up being a 42-yard pass interference penalty. 4SERS From F-1 and eventually it puts you in a position where one critical penalty or unusual misplay or one big play by the other team can be the difference between a win or a loss." Last night the 49ers lost because of all the above, plus amazing Bronco quarterback John Elway and then some. Let us count the ways: Max Runager's first punt traveled only 1 yard, setting up the field position for the Broncos' first touchdown.

The offense managed to amass only three points in the first half despite three possessions in which it had a first and 10 or first and goal inside the Denver 11. Although fullback Roger Craig rushed for 117 yards and the 49ers averaged 4.8 yards per rush, they called two passing plays after galloping to a second and goal at the 2 and eventually gave up the ball on downs. Behind an offensive line that was once again often perplexed by a Chicago-style, defense, quarterback Joe Montana completed only 17 of 40 passes and the 49ers converted only one of 16 third down chances. Despite numerous alignments and blitzes designed to stymie, sack or at least slow down Elway, the 49ers could not manage to trap him behind the line of scrimmage including twice on Denver's winning drive when they either had him or missed him by this much as he made big plays. Left cornerback, considered a problem spot when Ronnie Lott was there, is still vulnerable because Hicks plays so far off that the offense has a gimme completion for at least 4-to-8 yards.

It was also Hicks who was victimized on what Walsh called the most important play of the game, a 42-yard pass interference penalty with 2:26 left when the 49ers were still ahead, 16-14. It came on third and 13 from the Denver 28 and it worked because of Elway's quick feet and wide receiver Steve Watson's quick thinking. On the play, Elway escaped the grasp of defensive end Dwaine Board, skipped out of the hands of nose tackle Michael Carter, then drifted left and threw a pass down the left sideline, where Hicks was chasing Watson. The pass was underthrown. Hicks did not seem to react to the ball and ran so close to Watson that they touched at least once.

Watson did look back, but did not make a big move to make a catch. The ball hit Hicks on the right shoulder. Both the official and the play-by-play sheets announced that the call was face-guarding. Hicks said he was called for pushing Watson. In cither case, it's a pass interference penalty and the ball was placed on the 49ers' 31.

"There shouldn't have been a call," insisted Hicks. "The receiver didn't have a chance to catch the ball No. 1, because it was short. And whoever said is was face-guarding is nuts. I wasn't waving my hands in the guy's face.

The official said I pushed him. Key on me. Tyler, the 49ers' leading rusher, sai out me uenver game with a sore- Knee and ankle. Injury report Injury report: Safety' Jeff Fuller (ribs), defensive end Fred Dean (groin) and fullback Bill Ring (leg) are an probable. Tyler (knee and ankle) is questionable.

Few penalties help fans There weren't any penalties in the game until 2:17 remained in the first half. v. That was good news for the 73,173 fans who braved the 20-de- gree weather to see the gamCi No penalties means the game goes faster. Shcttcy Smith also contributed to this report. 1 i TD, but ref saw otherwise tween Randy and me Just as the ball was snapped and it took my mind off the ball," Cavanaugh said.

"No part of the snowball hit me, but it did distract me enough to foul up the hold." It also distracted 49cr owner Eddie DeBartolo who was so aggravated at that play that he called down to see what might be done about fans interfering with the game. Referee Jim Tunney explained after the game what he did because of that play. "What we did at the half I called Jim Saccomano, the Broncos' public relations man," Tunney said. "We went to the security people and asked for Increased security in the north stands. That was provided and they had no further incidents in the second half." But even without unnceded assistance from Broncos fans, the 49crs' problems snowballed ii'inrrT rain iiri film iiniour tmrf Unfinminn ExamliwJohn Storey short of goal line on a fourth down play by Andre Townsend fff Earl Cooper looks to have scored Montana No.

Yds. TD Wide receivers 150 1 Tight ends 2 39 0 Running backs 6 33 0 Elway No. Yds. TO Wide receivers 13 -176 1 Running backs 4 6 1 Tight ends 3 34 0 Defense TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS Roger Craig is stopped just inches "Anyway, I did look back Just as the ball hit me right here," Hicks added, tapping his right shoulder. But long after the game, on the plane ride back to the Bay Area, Walsh said that he believed the call was correct.

And back in Watson was telling how he set up; the penalty on purpose. "Something told me that John was scrambling," Watson said. "If I tried to go over him for the ball, there would be no penalty. With the new rules (liberalized calls on; incidental contact), you don't know how the call is going to go. It can go 50 on the receiver and 50 on the defender." Three plays later, the Broncos had a third and 10 at the 31 when Elway and Watson did it again.

This time Elway eluded a blitz by safety Ronnie I-ott and fired a pass on the run to Watson, who caught the ball on the 15 and spun his way to the 9. "I knew Elway was quick," said an obviously distraught Lott in a cracking voice. "I came through so fast, nobody touched me. One step, holding for a short field-goal attempt. Cavanaugh mishandled the snap from the center, and threw a desperation pass that fell incomplete.

Referee Jim Tunney said the officials were powerless to penalize anyone for the incident. "We have no recourse in terms of a foul or to call it on the home team or the fans. There's nothing in the rule book that allows us to do that." to 49ers Att Yds. Avg. TP Craig 22 117 6.3 0 Harmon 7 21 3.0 0 Totals 29 138 4.8 0 Broncos AIL Yds.

Avg. TD Winder Willhite 18 61 2.8 9 30 3.3 3 28 8 7 3 18 6.3 1 0 0.0 1 -2 0.0 35 121 3.5 Lang Elway Norman VJohnson Totals Passing Not a snowball's chance in hell of a penalty call 49ers PA PC PI Yd. TD Montana 40 17 0 222 1 Cavanaugh 1 0 0 0 0 Totals 41 17 0 222 1 Broncos PA PC PI Yd. TO one more inch I'd have had him. Damn." "I thought one thing when Lott was coming in that I was out of field goal range," Elway said.

"I had get rid of the ball. I kept retreating as long as I could and Blade (Watson's nickname) ran a good route, I more or less threw it to a spot and he more or less got to the spot," Four plays later, Karlis kicked the winning field goal. But the field goal play that was talked about even more in the 49ers' locker room was the one they tried with 1 1 seconds left in the first half, a mere 19-yarder. When center Randy Cross snapped the ball, however, another ball came out of the stands a snowball and it landed in front of Cavanaugh, the holder. Cavanaugh bobbled the snap, picked up the ball and threw an incomplete pass.

"The snowball came down be SAN FRANCICCO Nixon 2-0-0, Wright 2-0-0, Hicks 4-0-0, Williamson 6-0-0, Lott 8-0-0, McLemore 1-0-0, Fuller 1-0-0. Ellison 6-f0. Ferrari 3-0-0, Fahn-horst 3-0-0, Turner 6-0-0, Stover 2-0-0, Harty 0-1-0, Board 2-0-0, Shell 2-1-0," Carter 3-0-0. Johnson 1-0-0, Walters 6-0-0, Frank 1-0-0, Cooper 2-0-0. DENVER Wright 3-0-0, Lilly 4-0O, Harden 3-f0, Wilson 2-0-0, Robbins 1-0-0; Smith 4-0-1, Ryan 3-0-0.

Woodard 2-0-0r Jackson 3O-0, Busick 2-0-0, Townsend 4-0-1, Carter 5-0-0, Jones 3-0-0, Meek ten-burg 6-0-0, Karlis 1-0-0, Hyde 2-0O, Bishop 1-00, Foley 3-1-0. INTERCEPTIONS SAN FRANCISCO Lott. MISSED FIELD GOALS DENVER Karlis 48. OFFICIALS Referee Jim Tunney. Ump Tom Hen-sley, HL Sin Semon.

Boyce Smith, FJ Ron Spitler, BJ Jim Kearney SJ Bid Quindy. Attendance 73, 173. No shows 1,927. ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER When Denver Broncos Coach Dan Reeves talked about fan support, he wasn't kidding. The 73,173 hardy souls did more than cheer.

One of them, anyway. Iate in the first half, a snowball launched from the stands landed just in front of San Francisco's Matt Cavanaugh, who was Elwav 42 20 1 216 2 Totals 42 20 1 216 2 Receiving 49ers Recpts. Yd. TD Rice 67 26 21 12 67 25 Clark Craig Harmon Wilson Francis tMmmar chart A r- -i -i ni ir.