Strides for Youth, Victory for Young

SAN FRANCISCO — Peyton Manning came of age as a quarterback, only to be outdone by ageless Steve Young.

The 37-year-old Young, throwing and running with the abandon of a rookie, passed for two touchdowns and scored on fourth-quarter runs of one and 23 yards as the San Francisco 49ers averted the Indianapolis Colts’ upset bid, 34-31, on Sunday.

Young also led the 50-yard drive ending in Wade Richey’s 24-yard field goal with five seconds remaining, giving the 49ers (5-1) their only lead of the game.

“Steve played his tail off to get us into position and all I did was kick pretty much an extra point for the win,” Richey said.

Added 49er Coach Steve Mariucci: “It came down to [Young] winning it for us. . . . Peyton Manning is very, very good. They have a bright future.”

Manning, the top pick in the draft who came in with a league-high 14 interceptions, tied a Colt rookie record with three touchdown passes, connecting with Marvin Harrison on scores of 61, six and four yards. He finished 18 for 30 for 231 yards.

“I see major strides in Peyton,” Indianapolis Coach Jim Mora said. “He’s a young guy who’s going to be something really special.”

But Young, who also set an NFL record by throwing for more than 300 yards in a sixth straight game, was not to be denied.

“You fight ‘em and fight ‘em and fight ‘em, and they’re always right there at the end with a chance to win,” Mora said. “That’s why they’re the best team of the last 15-20 years.”

Young finished 33 for 51 for 331 yards for his sixth consecutive 300-yard game.

With the 49ers trailing, 31-17, Young led a 91-yard drive, finishing it with a one-yard bootleg with 9:58 left. A pass interference call on Jeff Burris set up the first-and-goal play. A bad snap led to a missed extra point.

In a vintage scramble during San Francisco’s next possession, Young broke two tackles en route to a 23-yard touchdown, pulling San Francisco to 31-29.

It was Young’s 40th rushing touchdown, tying Jack Kemp’s NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

Then, Young connected for the two-point conversion on a pass to Jerry Rice, who earlier tied Art Monk’s career record by catching a pass in his 183rd consecutive game.

The drive to the winning field goal was aided by a 27-yard pass interference on Tyrone Poole, one of a series of calls that hurt the Colts (1-6).