Tag: Dwight Clark

George Kittle could be top 3 pass catcher in 49ers history with big Week 8

George Kittle could surpass a couple of 49ers legends on the all-time receiving yards list with a big game in Week 8.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has a chance to cement himself as a franchise legend with a big game in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Never mind for a moment Kittle’s gregarious personality, which combined with his productivity has already put him in the realm of all-time greats in 49ers history.

A big Week 8 showing could land Kittle at No. 3 in the 49ers’ all-time receiving yards list. He’s entering the week at No. 5, but he needs just 102 yards to leap into the top three.

Here’s what the top-five looks like entering Sunday night’s game:

1. WR Jerry Rice: 19,247
2. WR Terrell Owens: 8,572
3. WR Dwight Clark: 6,750
4. WR Gene Washington: 6,664
5. TE George Kittle: 6,649

Kittle is already more than 1,000 yards clear of Vernon Davis for the most receiving yards by a TE in franchise history.

It’ll be interesting to see if Kittle can eventually track down Owens. Kittle is on track for exactly 1,000 yards in 2024. That would put him at 7,274 yards –leaving him 1,298 yards shy of Owens. Two more years with 650 yards in each season would be enough to climb to No. 2 in 49ers history. He’d need to average 433 yards per season with the 49ers if he plays for three more years in San Francisco.

Before trying to track down Owens, however, Kittle needs to play in Week 8. He’s dealing with a foot sprain that held him out of Wednesday’s practice. He returned Thursday, which is a good sign for his chances to play against the Cowboys and continue his trek up the 49ers’ all-time receiving yards leaderboard.

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The Catch Part II? High school football highlight might be better than Joe Montana’s famous touchdown throw

A Texas high school highlight play is reminiscent of ‘The Catch.’

Every football fan knows ‘The Catch’…nothing has to be described or explained about Joe Montana’s game-winning touchdown pass in the 1981 NFC Championship Game to Dwight Clark. And while the stakes were not as high for Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest on Thursday night, the play might have been equally as good.

If not actually better.

In the fourth quarter of a tight District 16-5A Div. 2 game, Markus Luengo’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Luna gave Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest (San Juan, Texas) a 21-20 lead over Sharyland. They would win by that tight margin to improve to 2-8 on the season.

And while the Montana to Clark connection put the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, this one might actually have been the better overall play.

Wait a minute. Hear us out.

The throw by Luengo, after niftily escaping a would-be sack, was similar to Montana’s. Both quarterbacks had to roll to the right to make a throw intended for the back of the end zone. But the catch here by Luna, barely getting a foot down in the back of the endzone, gives the Thursday night play a bit of an edge.

Here’s the highlight play:

 

Not to take anything away from Montana, however. He’ll likely pan out and have a decent career.

Here is the famous NFL play between Montana and Clark.

 

Also, the mascot for Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest? They are known as the Javelinas, which is a kind of skunk pig. That’s pretty cool.

Truth be told, kind of cooler than a 49er…

Iconic announcer Vin Scully dies at 94

Vin Scully has died at the age of 94

The voice of Dodgers baseball Vin Scully died Tuesday at the age of 94.

In addition to becoming an iconic announcer of the team in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Scully also called NFL games during his career with CBS.

In fact, broadcasting his final football game, Scully delivered one of the great calls by any announcer in any sport of any time.

Give a listen as Vin Scully calls “The Catch.” The pass from Joe Montana to Dwight Clark on Jan. 10, 1982, at Candlestick Park in the NFC Championship Game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14CKs0rY0jE&t=8s

The Dodgers paid tribute to their legendary voice.

 

40 years ago on January 10, Dwight Clark made ‘The Catch’

40 years ago Dwight Clark made ‘The Catch’ for the 49ers

There are plays that stand by themselves in sports. One is “The Catch,” which happened 40 years ago on Jan. 10, 1982.

The play saw Joe Montana find Dwight Clark for the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game played at Candlestick Park.

The Catch and Ray Wersching’s ensuing PAT gave the 49ers a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

The game was broadcast on CBS and the call was made by the great Vin Scully.

Coincidentally, 40-plus years later, the same teams will play on CBS this Sunday in an NFC Wild-Card Game.

The Catch happened when Montana called “Change Left Slot – Sprint Right Option.”

Clark was not the intended receiver on the play call. It was supposed to be a pass to Freddie Solomon, who scored on the play earlier in the game.

The Cowboys had Solomon covered. So, Montana had to improvise.

Just before being chased out of bounds, and after a pump-fake caused the 6-foot 9-inch Ed “Too Tall” Jones to leave his feet, Montana threw a high pass to the back of the end zone that seemed to be heading out of bounds until Clark, closely covered by Cowboys defender Everson Walls, made a leaping catch with his fingertips in the back right corner of the end zone to tie the game with 51 seconds left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14CKs0rY0jE&t=8s

The Cowboys did have a last chance for victory. With the ball in 49ers territory after a long pass to Drew Pearson, Danny White was sacked by Lawrence Pillers and fumbled.

AP Photo/Dallas Morning News, Phil Huber)

Jim Stuckey recovered for the 49ers and the rest is history.

 

Legendary announcer Vin Scully hospitalized after fall at home

A fall at home has sent legendary announcer Vin Scully to the hospital.

Vin Scully, the legendary voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is recovering at a California hospital after suffering a fall at his home.

While Scully, 92, is best known for his wonderful work on baseball, one should not forget he did NFL games for CBS. In fact, his final football call was a memorable one.

Yes, that is Vin Scully on the mic when Joe Montana found Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 10, 1982, as the San Francisco 49ers upended the Dallas Cowboys.

 

 

Here is the entire game if you have some time in the midst of this pandemic.

Get well soon to the man who is an absolute national treasure.

Watch: Legendary Vin Scully delivers inspirational message to America

Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully delivered a heartfelt message to the people of the United States

Vin Scully is synonymous with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball. One of the finest ambassadors for the sport throughout his illustrious career, Scully also called NFL games on CBS.

In fact, one might remember his final call: the Dallas Cowboys against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Championship Game. Listen to Scully as he calls the play that gave us “The Catch,” Dwight Clark rising to catch Joe Montana’s throw in the back of the end zone that sent the Niners to the Super Bowl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plt2ow0A0-Y

Scully discussed the call in 2016 on The Rich Eisen Show.

Some of the words as only the 92-year-old Scully can deliver them.

“I’ve seen this country — the greatest country on Earth — get off its knees, literally and figuratively,” the legendary Dodgers announcer says. “When they were down and out during the Depression.”

“And, when they were on their knees after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. And, what happened then? They unleashed a tiger!

“The tiger was the whole country pulling together and getting not only get back on its feet, but saving the whole world,” he said. “So, you and I, yeah, things are tough. But, we’ll be up off our knees soon!”

Since many of us have time to, um, pass. Enjoy watching Scully on the call of the 1982 championship. His analyst? Legendary Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcflzu8bKc0