TnT entertains Chargers fans and bowl visitors

Sunday, Dec 17, 2006
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

This is San Diego’s college bowl season, and Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson put on a show for folks visiting this week for Tuesday's Poinsettia Bowl from his alma mater, TCU.
 
They saw LT add to his NFL MVP candidacy when he ran for 199 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 20-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night at Qualcomm Stadium as the AFC West champions improved to 12-2 for the season.
 
But Tomlinson wasn’t alone in providing entertainment for bowl-game visitors. Michael Turner’s alma mater, Northern Illinois, also is in town to play TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.
 
Turner, returning to the lineup after being inactive for three weeks with a hamstring injury, broke off a 25-yard run on a fake punt that kept the Chargers’ first drive alive and led to a 7-0 lead. He returned a kickoff 58 yards to set up a fourth-quarter field goal for a 17-6 lead, and Turner finished the night with seven carries for 58 yards.
 
“It felt good to be back out there,” Turner said. “It takes a lot of focus to be ready, because you‘re always one play away. I have to be prepared.”
 
With Tomlinson leading the NFL in rushing with 1,626 yards this season and Turner contributing 415 yards, the tandem led the Chargers to 2,000 yards rushing on the year. In all, it’s the fifth straight year the Chargers have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season. It’s the longest active streak in the NFL.
 
“I try to do my part,” said Turner, who is in his third season as a fifth-round draft pick in 2004. “I never broke it down to who did what or who gets what. But whenever my name is called, I’ll be ready.”
 
His name was first called on the Chargers’ fifth play of the game when the Bolts called for a fake punt. The Chargers faced a fourth-and-6 from their 43-yard line when Mike Scifres retreated into punt position. Turner is the upback and can call off the fake if the defensive alignment isn’t to the Chargers’ favor.
 
But Turner liked what he saw as he received the snap and ran around the right side for 25 yards. Three plays later the Chargers led 7-0 following a 15-yard touchdown run by Tomlinson.
 
“I just watched the ball to make sure I caught it and then I broke out to get the first down,” Turner said. “Clinton Hart made a good seal block that allowed me to get around the corner.”
 
On a night the Chargers rushed for 265 yards but the passing game struggled to sustain drives, the Chiefs had trimmed the Bolts’ lead to 14-6 late in the third quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Turner returned the ball 58 yards to Kansas City’s 43-yard line. The Bolts settled for a 30-yard field goal, but a 17-6 lead provided a two-score cushion.
 
“ I started to left and read Lorenzo’s (Neal) block,” Turner said. “He led me through the hole, and I get kept going.”
 
Turner also had gains of 5 and 4 yards when he spelled Tomlinson on the nine-play drive that led to Kaeding’s field goal. Even when subtracting Turner’s 25-yard gain on the fake punt, he still averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his first game back his injury.
 
“It’s nice to have Mike back out there,” Chargers center Nick Hardwick said. “He’s a powerful runner that we love back there. He’s a great change-up runner for us. He wears guys down and then LT can come in and do his thing.”