ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 4, 1996 TAG: 9611050121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: ROUNDUP
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
As usual, Jerry Rice did exactly what was needed to win the game. He also got exactly what he needed to become the first player with 1,000 career receptions Sunday night in New Orleans.
Rice caught a 36-yard touchdown pass, set up another San Francisco touchdown with his milestone catch and recovered an onside kick that sealed a 24-17 victory over the Saints.
The 49ers receiver, who entered the game three catches shy of his 1,000th catch, made the milestone reception when he grabbed a nine-yard pass from Steve Young with 11:47 left.
The officials at first signaled touchdown when Rice caught the ball. It would have been his second of the night, but the ball was marked at the 2-yard line. Young sneaked in on the next play to put the 49ers up 24-14 with 11:31 remaining.
New Orleans (2-7) got a field goal to get within seven with 2:16 left, and after Rice recovered the onside kick, the Saints held and got the ball back with a minute left. But they got no closer than the San Francisco 44.
Art Monk, who retired last year, is second on the career list with 940 catches.
Rice had one catch for no gain in the first quarter and made a 36-yard touchdown catch in the second period. He now needs only four more points to become San Francisco's career scoring leader.
Rice is the NFL's career leader in catches, receiving yards (15,864), receiving touchdowns (151) and total touchdowns (162).
The loss gave Rick Venturi, named the Saints interim coach after Jim Mora's sudden resignation, a 1-11 record as a head coach. Venturi was 1-10 as the Colts' interim head coach in 1991.
Young completed 12 of 23 passes for 149 yards for San Francisco (7-2).
The Saints got their first touchdown on a one-yard run by Ray Zellars, the first rushing touchdown the 49ers have allowed since the 14th game of last season. The score was set up by a 57-yard kick return by Tyrone Hughes and a 31-yard reception by Michael Haynes.
Jim Everett completed 20 of 40 passes for 260 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
In other games:
Seahawks 23, Oilers 16: What was supposed to be Al Del Greco's 127th career field goal turned into a dramatic loss for Houston in Seattle.
Michael McCrary blocked Del Greco's field-goal attempt in the final minute, picked the ball up and lateraled to Robert Blackmon, who scored on a 61-yard return with four seconds left, giving the Seahawks a stunning victory.
The Seahawks (4-5) improved their record to 3-1 since John Friesz replaced Rick Mirer as their starting quarterback.
The Oilers (5-4) lost their second game in a row on a day when Del Greco and Seattle's Todd Peterson were locked in a field-goal duel until the fourth quarter.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Chris Warren (42) of the Seahawks tries to fend offby CNBHouston defender Rafael Robinson.