49ers RB Gore powers through Seahawks in 23-10 win

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) finished the day with 201 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
(AP Photo/Marcio Sanchez)

The 49ers knew that they had to establish a solid running game after a poor performance last week in Arizona. RB Frank Gore took care of that problem, collecting 201 yards on 16 carries with touchdown runs of 79 yards and 80 yards in the 49ers 23-10 win over Seattle.

After the 49ers scored first on a 37-yard field goal by Joe Nedney, the 49ers defense stuffed the Seahawks and forced a punt. Starting on the 21-yard line, Gore took a counter play and broke free untouched. Looking at the big screen ahead, Gore angled right to avoid being tackled. Gore said that this play was the same kind he ran in 2006 under Norv Turner.

The 49ers rushing game totaled 256 yards and the offensive line provided the holes for the running game. His second run of 80 yards was the first play of the second half after a touchback. Gore and Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders are the only two running backs to have two runs of 79 yards or more in a single game.

Even though the 49ers offensive line played well for Gore and the run game, it still wasn't up to par in pass sprotection. The team surrendered four sacks. Newly signed RT Tony Pashos struggled in his first game with the 49ers.

The passing did just enough for the 49ers to win. QB Shaun Hill went 19 of 26 for 144 yards. With a running game so successful, not much was asked from Hill. Hill did find comfort in pass attempts to WR Isaac Bruce and TE Vernon Davis. The 49ers was were about even in dosages of run and pass plays to start the game.

Head coach Mike Singletary was just thankful for the win, saying that it was ugly like last week, but he liked it.

"We have to do a better job overall... We want to be a team that really makes a difference in this year's playoffs, championships, whatever. That's what we want to be and that's what we're going for."

The 49ers defense continued to put pressure up front to the Seahawks. Even though the 49ers collected one sack, they limited the Seahawks to only 66 yards on the ground. At the end of the first half as the Seahawks were driving in the red zone, the 49ers forced a scramble from QB Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck was tackled at the 1 yard line, injuring his ribs (X-Rays came back negative). QB Seneca Wallace came in and finished the drive with a short pass to the right to RB Julius Jones, the same play the 49ers used to beat the Cardinals last week.

The secondary also stepped up for the 49ers. Hasselbeck and Wallace combined for only 224 passing yards. On a 2nd and 20 play from the 45 yard line, Wallace's pass was intercepted by FS Dashon Goldson on the 12-yard line on a deflection. This was the first interception by a 49ers free safety since 2006. Goldson said he had a feeling he was going to get an interception in today's game. Goldson also had high praises for the defense.

"We knew what we had to do coming in. We knew that they were trying to attack us. And we knew they had a healthy receiving core this week. We wanted to come out here and show them what we got without giving up any big plays."

SS Michael Lewis also was proud of how the defense played.

"We pride ourselves in paying great defense. That is what we try to do every weekend. Granted, other teams have good players on their side of the ball, but we feel we have a great defense and we can make plays. So we look at it as a challenge."

The defense was very aggressive throughout the game and forced the opposition out of rhythm. The offense's running attack was exactly what Singletary had hoped for when he took the head coaching job. There still is a lot to work on for the team, but they have put themselves in good position after two games.

The 49ers are now 2-0 after defeating division rivals Arizona and Seattle. With a 2-0 record against the division, the 49ers have put themselves in good position for a division title run. And being 2-0 is something that LB Takeo Spikes is very proud of.

"It kind of validates what we have been through, all the work we put in, all the work until now., We still feel like we left stuff out there on the field. We always shoot for perfection."

The 49ers had a few injuries throughout the game. Head coach Mike Singletary confirmed that none of them were serious.

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At halftime, the 49ers honored former owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Debartolo was inducted into the 49ers Hall of Fame on Saturday. He addressed the crowd with words of love and admiration.

"You are not 49er Faithful, you are my 49er family. You have made me and my family's life complete"

After the halftime celebration, DeBartolo touched on his induction.

"I have some great memories, I have some not so great memories. The great memories override the memories that weren’t so great. I have all my players here, they meant so much to me. We’re a family and we’re still a family. I see these guys often. That’s what you need have. And I think they are instilling this into the organization. Unity, closeness, family-- you gotta have that. I don’t care about salary caps and holdouts. We must be able to be a family and unified and have one goal. That goal is to make the playoffs. Then anything can happen."

In the ring of Hall of Famers alongside the stadium, DeBartolo's name was placed among the other greats. Under DeBartolo's name is an image of all five Super Bowl trophies.

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