Cavanaugh, 49ers Ground Eagles Again, 24-13

It’s getting to be an annual thing for Matt Cavanaugh.

Cavanaugh, subbing for injured starter Joe Montana, completed 20 of 35 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 24-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The performance was an encore for Cavanaugh, who filled in for an injured Montana last season and led the 49ers to a 21-9 victory over the Eagles.

Cavanaugh, however, refused to say that he can easily handle the Eagles.

“I can’t really say that,” Cavanaugh said. “If I said I did, I probably would face them next year and get my butt kicked. It was just good getting out there.”

The victory was the second straight for San Francisco (5-4) after a slow start, and ended a three-game winning streak by the Eagles (4-5).

The 49ers relied throughout the afternoon on a mixture of short passes and running plays. Cavanaugh said the strategy was used to take advantage of the Philadelphia defense.

“I knew they were going to drop a lot of guys back and not rush many,” the quarterback said. “It was just a matter then of sitting back and picking out the right receivers.”

Philadelphia’s Ron Jaworski also had a big day, completing 24 of 48 attempts for 394 yards and one touchdown. However, he also threw three interceptions.

“They’re (Cavanaugh and Jaworski) two fine quarterbacks,” Eagle Coach Marion Campbell said. “But it just isn’t the quarterback that wins games. They have a lot of weapons to come at you with.”

San Francisco moved ahead, 21-3, on the opening possession of the second half when Wendell Tyler ran three yards for his second touchdown. However, the 49ers had to survive some shaky moments.

The Eagles bounced back when Jaworski connected with Mike Quick on an 82-yard scoring pass play, and then, after San Francisco’s Roger Craig fumbled the ball away to Herman Edwards, Paul McFadden kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 21-13.

Ray Wersching kicked the lead back up to 11 points with a 36-yard field goal, and the Eagles threatened in the fourth quarter. However, Jaworski was intercepted at the two-yard line by Carlton Williamson with 3:59 remaining and the 49ers ran out the clock.

Wersching’s kick ended a string of three fruitless attempts, including one that was blocked. Wersching missed a 36-yarder in the first quarter, wasting a pass interception by Ronnie Lott.

San Francisco built a 14-3 halftime lead on Tyler’s two-yard touchdown run and a 14-yard scoring pass from Cavanaugh to Rice. Philadelphia’s first points came on McFadden’s 36-yard field goal.