The '89 49ers were officially crowned champions of the Greats League as they persevered through rain showers and overcame the Florida elements and a wet field to defeat the '78 Steelers 34-24. The 49ers jumped off to a quick 7-0 lead with the all too familiar Montana to Rice TD strike in the 1st quarter. Pittsburgh drove the ball effectively but had to settle for a Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal to make the score 7-3. San Francisco scored quickly again in the 2nd quarter and moved out to a 14-3 lead on a Montana to Brent Jones 12 yard TD pass. This seemed to wake up the Steelers, and Bradshaw engineered a 78 yard drive that was capped off by a 7 yard Franco Harris sweep around the left side into the endzone, dragging two defenders with him. After exchanging punts, the Steelers scored again as Theo Bell, again subbing for the injured John Stallworth, caught a bomb from Bradshaw and took it all the way for a 74 yard score. The half ended with the Steelers on the leading edge of a 17-14 score. The 3rd quarter was filled with great defensive stops, and both teams had their share of 3 and outs. San Francisco put 3 more points on the board on a 47 yard field goal by Mike Cofer to make it a tie game at 17-17. The 49ers again struck first in the 4th quarter on a quick slant across the middle that safety Mike Wagner had covered well, but it turned into a 65 yard TD when Wagner slipped on the wet turf, and Rice scampered down the left sideline for the score. On the next possession, Bradshaw made the 1 throw he wishes he could have back, as he looked to his left to throw off the defense, but came back to his right and tried to hit Harris on a 7 yard square out. Cornerback Darryl Pollard read the play all the way and cut in front of Harris to pick off the pass and waltzed into the endzone untouched to make it 31-17. The 49ers allowed passes underneath to Swann and Grossman in the 4th, but made sure no one got behind the secondary for an easy score. Franco Harris carried the team on his back in the 4th, and Bradshaw found Grossman for the score on a 15 yard post pattern. This brought the Steelers within 10, 34-24. An ensuing onside kick attempt was covered by Terrence Flagler of the '49ers, and Montana and company simply ran out the clock to nail down the 34-24 victory. ______________________________________________________________ Statistics '78 Steelers 3 14 0 7 24 '89 49ers 7 7 3 17 34 Bradshaw: 10-18, 209 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int Montana: 15-23, 273 yards, 3 TDs, 0 Int Harris: 25-75 yards, 1 TD Flagler: 10-40 yards Henderson: 4-23 yards Rice: 5-117 yards, 2 TDs Swann: 5-103 yards Jones: 3-67 yards, 1TD Grossman: 3-42 yards, 1TD Bell: 1-74, 1TD |
