49ers Get Taylor-Made Finish : Cross Gets Bailed Out in Final Game : 49er Center Makes Some Mistakes, but Goes Out a Winner

Randy Cross’ name won’t pop to mind when the 1989 Super Bowl is recalled years from now, and that’s just fine with Randy Cross.

“I made some mistakes today,” the San Francisco 49ers’ 13-year-old center said after the 20-16 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday. “But I went from goat to glory, so I’ll be nothing but a little footnote to this game.”

Cross, who announced this week that this Super Bowl, his third, would mark the end of his playing career, made three mistakes that almost helped swing the decision to the Bengals.

Two minutes into the second quarter, his snap was to the right of holder Barry Helton and foiled a 19-yard field goal try by Mike Cofer that would given the 49ers a 6-0 lead.

Two San Francisco possessions later, on a first down play from the 49ers’ 21, Cross was called for a 10-yard holding penalty that put the team in a hole. The 49ers were forced to punt from their 12-yard line, and 6 plays later the Bengals tied the game, 3-3, on a 34-yard field goal by Jim Breech.

With 1:22 left in the game, his 10-yard penalty for being an ineligible receiver forced the 49ers into a third-and-20 situation at the Cincinnati 45. A 27-yard pass play from Joe Montana to Jerry Rice and Montana’s 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor bailed out Cross.

“I’m going out literally on top, No. 1, and getting to go on and lead my life,” Cross said. “I can’t thank those other 46 guys enough.”

Cross said he never got down on himself, even after several plays went against him.

“I’m very much an optimist, so I was walking up and down the sideline grabbing anybody I could and telling them, ‘You’ve got to believe we’re going to do it,’ ” he said. “You’ve got to believe it.’ ”

He was effusive in his praise of Montana, who at age 32 becomes the oldest 49er.

“There’s nobody in history that you’d want to have as quarterback in a drive like that other than Joe Montana,” Cross said. “Those who might’ve thought he had a peer might have to reconsider now. He’s the biggest winner I’ve ever been associated with.”

It was the confidence exuded by Montana, Cross and some other veterans that several players cited as critical during the winning rally.

“From the very first 10-yard penalty, I made a comment to (guard) Guy McIntyre, ‘Why not do it the hard way?’ ” Cross said. “By those last 3 or 4 plays, we were just positive we were going to find a way to get in the end zone.”