Friesz Wings It to Upset Saints : Chargers: Quarterback didn’t see play call, so he made his own. It helps set up John Carney field goal to beat Saints, 24-21.

The signal from the sideline with 30 seconds to play, and the Chargers in position to stun the Saints, was, “Mel 20.” Run, John, run.

Quarterback John Melvin Friesz, however, did not have time to glance to the sideline for help, so a la John Elway, he called his own play: A pass--yes, a pass--to rookie running back Chris Samuels.

Samuels caught the 29-yard throw from Friesz, and while advancing the ball to the Saints’ one-yard line to set up a game-winning field goal, he suffered a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments.

Samuels was removed from the field on a cart, but he stopped it to watch John Carney boot a 19-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to give the Chargers a 24-21 victory over the Saints before 48,420 fans in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

“I was surprised a little bit (with the call),” said Saints Coach Jim Mora. “I was expecting probably a run.”

So were the Chargers. The Chargers, 3-8, had the ball at the New Orleans 30-yard line, and were in position to defeat the Saints, 9-2, with a 47-yard field goal. “Mel 20” had produced a five-yard gain earlier in the fourth quarter, and a quarterback sneak removed the danger of a sack, which might have taken the Chargers out of field-goal range.

“I made the call and it’s one of those things,” Friesz said, “where if I get sacked it’s a rookie mistake and it’s terrible and all those kind of things.”

Ancient history. Good things have begun to happen to the Chargers. The defense is stopping the opposition with the game on the line, special teams have become special once again, and the offense has found strength in an unshakeable young quarterback.

“I heard (‘Mel 20’) being called from the sideline, and then I heard what John was saying, and I said, ‘Oh, OK,’ ” said H-back Craig McEwen. “Who knows, maybe a young man turned into a leader right there.”

Maybe the remaining teams on their schedule will have to re-evaluate the Chargers. The Chargers will not make the playoffs, but look out Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Dolphins and Broncos. It won’t keep them from spoiling everyone else’s fun.

“If we’re going to find satisfaction, that’s where it’s going to come,” said Joe Phillips, Chargers nose tackle. “Maybe some teams should take notice; maybe this is omen of what is to come.”

Too late for the Seattle Seahawks, who took a playoff nose dive after watching Carney’s 54-yard field goal last week lift the Chargers to a 17-14 victory. Too late for the Saints, who now need at least two defeats from the Washington Redskins and another loss from Chicago to secure the Superdome advantage throughout the playoffs.

“This game is a good spring board for things to come,” said Billy Ray Smith, Chargers linebacker. “After the game I was as close to tears as I have been.”

The Saints can relate to that. The Saints, who had allowed an average of 8.4 points a game in their last nine outings, were roughed up by Friesz & Co. for 10 fourth-quarter points. Friesz completed six of eight passes in moving the Chargers 63 yards in 11 plays for Marion Butts’ five-yard tying touchdown run with 3:14 to play, and then he marched his team from his 29 to the Saints’ one to make it easy on Carney.

“He’s an excellent young quarterback,” said Mora, “and he’s gonna get nothing but better. He reminds me a lot of a young Dan Fouts. I’m impressed with his poise back there.”

While Friesz stood tall against the NFL’s No. 2-ranked defense, he had a lot of heroic company:

--An enthusiastic Junior Seau guided the Chargers defense to a second-half shutout.

--Smith intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.

--Wide receiver Nate Lewis went untouched for the third longest kickoff return in Chargers history, a 95-yarder for a touchdown.

--Tackles Harry Swayne and Broderick Thompson anchored a strong showing along the offensive line.

--Running back Marion Butts slammed into the league’s No. 1-ranked defense, gained 92 yards, and as Henning said, “Butts allowed the players early on to believe they could win the game by the way he ran the football.”

--H-back Steve Hendrickson recorded his first NFL rush, his first NFL rushing touchdown and threw a block to free Butts on his touchdown plunge.

--Running back Ronnie Harmon, who was bothered by a sore knee earlier in the week, gained 37 critical yards in the fourth quarter.

--Cornerback Sam Seale forced a Fred McAfee fumble in the fourth quarter to set up the Chargers’ game-tying touchdown.

The Chargers responded to the Saints’ 78-yard opening drive, which resulted in one-yard Buford Jordan touchdown catch from Steve Walsh, with an 80-yard march. Hendrickson plowed in from the three to complete the drive, and it was the first touchdown scored against the Saints’ stingy defense this season in first-quarter play.

The Saints took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter when defensive end Frank Warren returned John Kidd’s blocked punt 37 yards for a touchdown.

While the Saints were patting themselves on the back along the sideline, Lewis was gathering in Morten Anderson’s kickoff at the five-yard line. He took advantage of a pair of blocks from Butts and defensive back Darren Carrington, got a little more help from Mike Zandofsky and Mitchell Benson and then went the distance to tie the game.

Lewis, who returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown against Seattle last season, went 95 yards in 16 seconds.

The Saints responded to Lewis’ electrifying return with a 77-yard drive in seven plays to take a 21-14 halftime lead. Walsh went 38 yards to former Chargers receiver Quinn Early, who beat Donald Frank for the touchdown.

The Saints went into hibernation on offense in the second half, however, and the Chargers kept scrapping. They needed a big play from their defense in the fourth quarter and Smith delivered, intercepting a pass at the Saints’ 45-yard line.

The Chargers, however, stalled at the New Orleans’ 25 on fourth and two, and rather than attempt a 42-yard field goal, Henning had his offense go for it. Friesz’s pass to Kitrick Taylor in the end zone, however, was knocked down.

The defense returned and took the ball away from the Saints again. Seale stripped the ball from McAfee at the Chargers’ 37, and the Chargers went on to score.

After tying the game, they needed one more defensive stand to get the ball back, and they got it. The Saints gained only three yards, punted and put the ball in the hands of Friesz.

“We had a lot of heroes,” Henning said. “The players pulled it off and they didn’t give the Saints an inch. They just weren’t going to be denied today.”

* SAINTS ELSEWHERE

The Charger defenders became ball hawks to force New Orleans into crucial turnovers. C15A