Sewell’s Late Score Gives Broncos Win Over 49ers

Rookie Steve Sewell, a top draft choice from Oklahoma, sent Denver ahead with a one-yard touchdown plunge late in the game as the Broncos registered a 20-13 exhibition victory over the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers Monday night.

A decision based on television instant replay, being used on an experimental basis in some exhibition National Football League games, went against the Broncos in the fourth period. But they scored two touchdowns and a field goal in the quarter to erase a 13-3 San Francisco lead.

The first touchdown came immediately after 49er quarterback Matt Cavanaugh was sacked and lost a fumble. Gary Kubiak threw five yards to rookie tight end Keli McGregor for the six points.

Sewell scored with 3:06 remaining to cap a 55-yard drive, and Rich Karlis kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1:22 left.

A few minutes before the go-ahead drive began, an official on the field ruled that San Francisco receiver Jerry Rice had caught a pass and then lost the ball on a fumble at midfield. But the decision was overruled and called an incomplete pass based on the sideline look at a TV replay.

San Francisco’s Joe Montana threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Frank in the first period and completed 9 of 13 passes in his 1 1/2 quarters of action.