Garcia Is 49er Rallying Point

It might be a stretch, but all these Jeff Garcia-led comebacks are earning the San Francisco quarterback comparisons to Joe Montana.

Garcia threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens and made a two-point conversion with one second left in regulation. Then he helped set up Jose Cortez’s 26-yard field goal that lifted San Francisco to a 25-22 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The rally drew postgame comparisons to Montana, the hall of fame quarterback known for his numerous late-game heroics and four Super Bowl titles.

“It’s obviously a compliment anytime you’re mentioned in the same sentence with Joe Montana. I idolized the guy and saw him do so many great things for the 49ers,” Garcia said. “As far as coming back and winning games late, it was something that he was known for, and to be mentioned among that is a great honor.”

It was the fourth time this season Garcia rallied San Francisco (7-2) to either win or tie a game in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. The 49ers are 3-1 in overtime in 2001 and are starting to believe Garcia will pull them through every time.

“Jeff has really come into his own since stepping in for us,” said J.J. Stokes, who caught two touchdown passes. “He’s getting better every day and he’s one of the tops in the league right now. I really think the sky’s the limit for him, and for us with him.”

The rally gave the 49ers a season sweep of the Panthers (1-9), dropping Carolina Coach George Seifert to 4-2 against the team he led to two Super Bowl titles. It was Carolina’s ninth consecutive loss.

Seifert said Carolina’s confidence is gone.

“I think it’s once again shattered in a tough, close game,” Seifert said. “They played very hard today and there’s no words to describe the feeling.”

For a moment, it looked as if Seifert still had San Francisco’s number.

Carolina was clinging to a 19-14 lead and looking for a stop when former 49er Brenston Buckner stepped in front of Garcia’s pass at the 42-yard line for his first interception of the season.

He returned it to the 14, setting up John Kasay’s third field goal, a 28-yarder with 1:52 left for a 22-14 lead.

Garcia then began the comeback, marching the 49ers 66 yards in 11 plays, converting a fourth and four at the Carolina 46.

From the seven, Garcia hit Owens on a fade in the right corner of the end zone to make it 22-20. With one second left on the clock, he tossed a pass to rookie tight end Eric Johnson, who was one step inside the end zone, sending the game into overtime.

“Jeff is so calm in those situations, he never panics and knows we’re all going to help him make the plays,” Owens said.

The 49ers won the toss in overtime and Garcia again took them on a 66-yard drive. He completed passes of eight and 15 yards to Owens to set up Cortez’s winning kick.

Garcia finished 34 for 54 for 305 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He didn’t panic and barely showed any emotion on the field.

“I’m a very mellow person as is, and I learned over my years that getting too excited on the field was physically draining,” Garcia said. “My controlling that, I’ve learned that when it comes down to the end of the game I still have something left.”

Carolina held a 13-7 lead until Garcia got San Francisco’s offense moving late in the third quarter. A 79-yard drive ended on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Stokes.