Charger Offense Foiled by 49ers in 25-10 Defeat

Thirty minutes after the final gun, rookie offensive tackle Jim Lachey sat slumped on a table in the trainer’s room. He looked dazed and woozy after suffering a concussion on the opening kickoff.

Lachey, who felt nauseous, did not play much in the Chargers’ 25-10 loss to the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers here Saturday afternoon.

His absence was one factor in the shaky protection afforded San Diego quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Bruce Mathison. The 49er defense was another somewhat disruptive force.

The Chargers wisely kept Fouts out of harm’s way after the first quarter and took a sustained look at Mathison, his designated understudy.

After two relatively impressive games against Cleveland and Dallas, Mathison got his introduction to the National Football League. He completed 10 of 29 passes and threw two interceptions, looking very much like a third-year quarterback who had hardly played since his senior year in high school.

Mathison, to his credit, lost neither his composure nor his sense of humor on an afternoon that is will probably linger in his nightmares.

“I don’t want to forget this game,” he said. “I want to learn from it.

“It was like a day when you come from the office and everything has gone wrong. Except everybody isn’t watching on national TV. Gee, why did you have to remind me?”

In the adjacent locker stall, Fouts was asked if he had experienced days like this.

“Days?” Fouts said. “I’ve had years like this.”

Of course, they were early in his career, when the team was struggling. No one needed to say it, but that’s where the franchise will be if Fouts is out for a sustained period this season.

The Chargers are keeping their fingers crossed on the condition of Lachey and linebacker Mike Green, each of whom suffered a concussion. They are expected to be OK in a couple of days, according to team physician Lee Rice.

The final indignity of an unpleasant day came with about 20 seconds left and the Chargers at the San Francisco 15-yard line.

Mathison, rolling out under pressure, kept the ball and slanted toward the goal line. As he got there, he was struck by linebacker Carl Keever.

Mathison lost his grip on the ball, which squirted through the end zone for a touchback.

“He (Keever) must have caught the ball with his shoulder pad,” Mathison said. “I would call that a classic ending to a very unclassic game.”

Mathison said he expected to turn his afternoon around with each series, but it never happened.

As for his errant throwing, he said he was over-striding and dropping his back shoulder, causing the ball to soar over his intended receivers.

Coach Don Coryell had a difficult time finding much to like about this game.

Asked about his backup quarterback’s play, Coryell said, “I don’t want to make a judgment right after a game. We have to look at the film.

“I was glad to see he was composed at the end. We’ve just got to forget this one and go on to next week (against New Orleans).”

Assistant head coach Ernie Zampese said his confidence in Mathison was not altered by one poor game.

“The 49ers are a pretty damn good football team, and Bruce has never played,” Zampese said. “I think he’s as confident as he was before the game, and so are his coaches.”

While the Chargers’ No. 2 quarterback was having his problems, the 49ers’ relief man, Matt Cavanaugh, played quite well, hitting 21 of 28 throws for 273 yards and one touchdown.

The 49ers didn’t need or use Joe Montana, who has a back injury.

Rookie receiver Jerry Rice gave the San Diego secondary fits with five catches for 125 yards and one score. He beat Danny Walters deep on a 56-yard touchdown, and wouldn’t let up against Ronnie O’Bard.

“Show me a cornerback who hasn’t been beat and I’ll show you one who hasn’t played,” defensive coordinator Tom Bass said.

The Chargers did a decent job at times pressuring Cavanaugh. Ends Lee Williams and Keith Ferguson each recorded two sacks.

49er Coach Bill Walsh seemed satisfied with the afternoon’s work, particularly that of Cavanaugh and Rice.

“It’s important for them to get experience,” he said. “Jerry is a top-flight receiver, one of the top young receivers in the game this year.”

So the Chargers needn’t feel too badly about their problems with him. At least they didn’t have Montana and Dwight Clark to worry about.

Another positive for the Chargers was the punting of rookie Ralf Mojsiejenko, who had three kicks that went more than 50 yards and averaged 50.6.

Mojo, as he is known, said he was more relaxed after the trade this week of his former competition, Maury Buford, to Chicago.

“Even when I’m kicking with my brother, I try to better everything I see, and that can get you in trouble,” he said. “I was prepared for a real windstorm today, having read so much about this park, and it was swirly, but not much more than Michigan (he played at Michigan State).”

Mojsiejenko was one of the few who found the afternoon acceptable.

Never one to make excuses, Fouts defended the Charger offense to an extent. “It’s embarrassing to play this poorly, but our goal has been to get ready for our season opener against Buffalo, and our hands were tied today.

“We don’t use more than one-tenth of our offense in the preseason.