49ers Strike Gold Against Saints

By Ryan Marshall

After enduring five years in the National Football League without a winning season since he was drafted sixth overall in 2006, Vernon Davis couldn't hold back tears of joy after scoring the game-winning touchdown on Saturday against the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

 The thrilling game also demonstrated that the annoyingly popular jingle: "offense wins games; defense wins championships," is still intact. With offensive help from Davis and quarterback Alex Smith, the 49ers' stout defense was able to stay true to form and limited the explosive offense of the Saints for the majority of the game.  The final score was 36-32.

However, the final four minutes of the game were a frenzy that included 28 total points, 44-yard and 66-yard touchdown passes by Saints' quarterback Drew Brees, and an unexpected 28-yard touchdown run by Smith. All of this was capped off by perhaps already one of the most well-known plays in modern 49ers history when Davis caught the game-winning touchdown pass in traffic with nine emotional seconds remaining.

The roller coaster of an ending had many Santa Clara students on the edge of their seats, some screaming loudly, while others cool and collected. Sophomore and Bay Area native Robbie Cotton displayed his excitement as he watched the game from his perspective of a long-time 49er fan.

"I was yelling at the TV the whole last two offensive series for the Niners," said Cotton. "I was sad when Alex Smith ran that bootleg into the end-zone because it left so much time on the clock for the Saints. Luckily (the Saints also) scored too quickly and Vernon Davis put the team on his back."

Davis certainly did lead the charge, scoring the game's first and last touchdowns while compiling 180 receiving yards on seven catches. Smith completed 24 of 42 passes for 299 yards to go along with his touchdown run in the final minutes.

"This win means a lot to the 49er faithful," said junior Andrea Martinez. "For years I have been hammering Alex Smith and hoping for a trade, but now I take it all back because he has really proven to be a team leader this season. A lot of people have been waiting years for a team with this kind of ability."

Niners fans have been waiting 14 years to be exact, as the team has not played in a conference championship game since 1997. A win against the New York Giants this weekend would put them in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995, when they defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Miami.

The win against the Saints wasn't only exciting for 49ers fans. You didn't even have to be rooting for a specific team to enjoy this game.  

Zack Morris, a junior from Plano, Texas and an ashamed Cowboys fan, simply wanted to see a good game like the many other people whose favorite teams have already been eliminated.  

"I just wanted it to be a close game more than anything, although it was nice to see San Francisco win," said Morris. "It was an exciting game, and it was great football to watch. That's how the playoffs are supposed to be."

Warren Sadler, a sophomore from Seattle, Wash., was also glad to see the 49ers win. Sadler's home team, the Seattle Seahawks, had knocked the Saints out of the playoffs last season.

"The game was definitely a fun one to watch. There was a lot of jumping up and down and yelling at the TV towards the end," said Sadler. "The win must be really exciting and uplifting for 49ers fans."

While there may not be a Steve Young or Jerry Rice like there was in ‘94, Smith, Davis and the league's leading rush defense have 49er fans believing they can make it back to the Super Bowl. Sophomore Robbie Inch acknowledged both the confidence that the 49ers carry forward into the  conference championship game, as well as the tough competition ahead.

"(49er head coach) Jim Harbaugh has really instilled new faith into the team," said Inch. "It's great to see a team that has struggled in the recent past do so well now. I think either team can win this (weekend), but it will take a lot of preparation on both sides."

Contact Ryan Marshall at rmarshall@scu.edu or (408) 554-4852.