Gameday: Chargers vs. 49ers

Preseason Highlights – Week 4 at San Francisco

• The Chargers beat the 49ers, 20-17, on a last minute touchdown after Antwan Applewhite (practice squad) recovered a muffed punt at the 49ers’ 17-yard line...Applewhite had a big night with the fumble recovery and two tackles for loss…his first tackle for loss (-2 yards) came on a second-half third-and-one play to force a 49ers three-and-out…his second was a six-yard sack on a third-and-three play to force a San Francisco punt.
• As a team, the Chargers had six tackles for loss, including two sacks.
• Billy Volek started the game at QB and completed all six of his passes for 55 yards and a six-yard touchdown pass to Mike Tolbert on his only series of the night.
• The Chargers ended an early second-quarter SF drive on downs at the Bolts’ six-yard line as Steve Gregory broke up a pass in the end zone on third down and DeJuan Tribble followed suit on fourth down.
• Cletis Gordon had two interceptions on the night…the first set up a 49-yard Nate Kaeding field goal and the second was highlight-reel-worthy as Gordon broke up the pass, tipped it in the air and came down with the pick.
• Malcom Floyd, who started the game at WR and had a game-high 68 yards on six catches, helped set up another second-quarter Kaeding field goal with a 21-yard catch on a third-and-nine play.
• Tra Battle (practice squad) also had two interceptions on the night, including one on the last play of the game to seal the victory.

The Matchup

The San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers will stage their final dress rehearsal for the 2008 season when the teams meet on Friday night, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. PDT at Candlestick Park. Final auditions are the order of the night for numerous players as final roster cuts loom. Teams must trim their rosters from 75 to 53 on Saturday, Aug. 30.

The Series

Friday’s preseason game will be the Chargers’ 37th against the 49ers, their most against any single opponent. The series is tied 18-18 after the Chargers evened the series with a 16-13 win to close out the 2007 preseason. Since 1997, the Bolts are 8-3 against the Niners in preseason action.

In the regular season, the Chargers and 49ers have met 12 times. The 49ers lead that series, 7-5, but San Diego has won the last two meetings, 20-17 in OT in 2002 and 48-19 in 2006.

Notable Connections

Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner is a native of Martinez, Calif. in the Bay Area. In 2006, he returned to Northern California to serve as offensive coordinator for the 49ers. LS David Binn (San Mateo, Calif.), C Jeremy Newberry (Antioch, Calif.) and G Erik Robertson all attended Cal-Berkeley. Newberry also played for the 49ers (1998-06) and Raiders (2007). DE Igor Olshansky is from San Francisco (St. Ignatius HS). LB Derek Smith was a 49er from 2001-07. LB Eric Bakhtiari is from Burlingame, Calif.

Former Charger and 49er DE Fred Dean was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will enter the Chargers Hall of Fame in 2008. 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan was Norv Turner’s defensive coordinator in Washington (1997-99). Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was San Diego’s linebackers coach from 2002-06. WRs coach Jerry Sullivan (1992-96) and QBs coach Ted Tollner (1989-91) are both former Chargers assistants. Tollner was also the head coach at San Diego State. QB Alex Smith attended Helix HS in La Mesa, Calif. CB Markus Curry was with the Chargers in 2005-06.

Television & Radio

CBS TELEVISION – Ron Pitts (play-by play) and Billy Ray Smith (analyst) – KFMB-TV, Ch 8 in San Diego; KCBS-TV, Ch 2 in Los Angeles and Orange County; KBAK/KBFX-TV, Chs 29/58 in Bakersfield; KCOY/KKFX-TV, Chs 10/11 in Santa Barbara; KLAS-TV, Ch 8 in Las Vegas; KMIR/KPSE, Chs 6/13 in Palm Springs and KSWT-TV, Ch 13 in Imperial Valley and Yuma, Arizona; NFL Network

CHARGERS RADIO NETWORK Josh Lewin (play-by-play) and Hank Bauer (analyst) - ROCK 105.3 FM (San Diego); KLAC 570 AM (Los Angeles and Orange County) KTMQ 103.3 FM (San Bernardino, Temecula and Riverside); KGEO 1230 AM (Bakersfield); KNWH 1250 AM (Yucca Valley); KNWQ 1140 AM (Palm Springs); KNWZ 970 AM (Coachella Valley); KOSS 1380 AM (Palmdale and Lancaster); KSPA 1510 AM (Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire); KWDJ 1360 AM (Ridgecrest); ESPN 1100 AM (Las Vegas, Nevada); KXO 1230 AM (Imperial Valley and Yuma, Arizona); Sirius Satellite Radio

SPANISH TELEVISION – TELEVISA XEWT, Channel 12 (San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico) – Carlos Yeme (play-by-play) Anuar Yeme (play-by-play) and Carlos Melo (analyst)

SPANISH RADIO - XHFG 107.3 FM (San Diego) and KWKW 1330 AM (Los Angeles and Orange County) – Jorge Villanueva (play-by-play) and Adrian Garcia (analyst)