ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 1996 TAG: 9612030105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
Steve Young is doing just fine, thank you.
The San Francisco quarterback, healthy for the second week in a row, ran for two touchdowns, threw for another and piled up 254 yards passing in less than three quarters as the 49ers rolled over the Falcons 34-10 Monday night in Atlanta. (Summary in Scoreboard. B4)
Young, who has missed all or parts of eight games because of two concussions and a troublesome groin strain, showed the effects of neither as he ran fearlessly through the Falcons to give San Francisco a 25-3 lead at halftime.
After Young connected on five straight passes for 62 yards on the 49ers' first possession of the second half, capped off by a 10-yard touchdown throw to former Virginia standout Terry Kirby that made it 32-3, Elvis Grbac took over at quarterback.
Young completed 23-of-30 passes, including eight to Jerry Rice in the first half. Kirby had the first 100-yard rushing game for the 49ers in nearly two years, carrying 12 times for 105 yards.
Jeff Wilkins kicked four first-half field goals, the last coming on the final play of the first half, and the Falcons dragged off the field to loud boos from the Georgia Dome crowd.
San Francisco (10-3) remained a game ahead of Carolina in the NFC West heading into next Sunday's showdown against the Panthers. The 49ers are tied with Green Bay for the best record in the conference, though the Packers have the tie-breaker advantage by virtue of an early-season victory.
The 49ers scored on all six of their first-half possessions, running up and down the field for 342 yards. San Francisco averaged a staggering 7.4 yards per play before the break.
In other NFL news:
BENGALS: Steve Tovar, Cincinnati's middle linebacker and leading tackler, has torn knee ligaments and probably will need reconstructive surgery.
Tovar tore the anterior cruciate ligament, which stabilizes the knee, and the medial collateral ligament during a 30-27 loss Sunday at Jacksonville.
Tovar was placed on injured reserve and former Virginia linebacker Randy Neal was added to the roster from the practice squad.
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB