Niners halt six-game slide and get first win under Singletary
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11/16/2008 - San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shaun Hill threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score, and Frank Gore rushed for two more TDs, as the San Francisco 49ers crushed the St. Louis Rams, 35-16, at Candlestick Park to give interim head coach Mike Singletary his first triumph with the club.
Hill tallied 213 yards through the air, barely missing his career-high of 217 yards, on 15-of-20 passing for the Niners (3-7), who saw their six-game slide become history. Gore racked up 106 yards on 18 touches, while Bryant Johnson and Vernon Davis had TD receptions. Isaac Bruce had one catch for 20 yards in the first game against his former team.
Marc Bulger was an 34-of-53 for 295 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for the Rams (2-8), who have dropped four straight contests. Antonio Pittman gained 95 yards on 14 carries, while Donnie Avery grabbed a career-high nine passes for 93 yards. Dane Looker had a touchdown grab and Josh Brown made 3- of-4 field goal attempts.
The Rams were given a couple of bad breaks in the first half as left tackle, and former number one pick, Orlando Pace went down with an apparent knee injury. Right guard Richie Incognito also left with a strained shoulder just before halftime. Neither player returned to the game.
On the second drive of the game, the Niners needed just four plays to open the scoring. A five-yard touchdown run from Gore capped the 34-yard with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter.
The Rams countered with a 24-yard field goal from Brown to make it 7-3 early in the second, but San Fran had an answer.
San Fran started at its own 31, and on first down Hill hit Bruce for a 20- yard gain. Hill then hit Johnson for a 42-yard gain down to the St. Louis seven. Three plays later, Davis hauled in a two-yard touchdown to give the home team a 14-3 cushion.
On the Rams second play of their ensuing drive, Bulger coughed up the ball and Parys Haralson recovered at the St. Louis 16. It took Gore four plays to find paydirt, the finale a one-yard score.
"We have to find a way to score touchdowns when we get the opportunity," said Bulger. "We came out fast, but weren't able to capitalize completely on our opportunities. We didn't execute. It's up to us to make the plays."
Following a Walt Harris pick, Hill ran in a one-yard score to close out a seven-play, 60-yard drive that made it a 25-point game.
"We know the second half of the season we need to have a sense of urgency and we'd love to have started it last week, but it just didn't work out so we had to start it this week without a doubt," said Hill. "So it was great to get that (first) win for Coach Singletary and hopefully get this ball rolling."
On the heels of a Nate Clements interception, Hill connected with Johnson on a fade route in the left corner of the end zone late in the second quarter to make it 35-3 heading into the break.
The Rams have been outscored 75-3 in the first half over the past two weeks.
Brown hit a 48-yard field goal late in the third quarter, and then nailed a 44-yarder as time expired to make it 35-9.
Bulger hit Looker for a two-yard score late in the fourth frame to account for the final margin.
Game Notes
Bruce spent the first 14 seasons of his career with St. Louis (1994-2007) before being released after 197 games with the team in the offseason and signing with the 49ers. He caught 942 passes with the Rams, posting 14,109 receiving yards and 84 touchdowns -- all franchise records...The Rams have been outscored 116-25 over the last three games.
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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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