By Tim Peterson
(Inglewood) – Quarterback Easton Stick’s pass was intercepted by Daniel Isom at the Rams eight-yard line with 27 seconds left and the Chargers came up on the short end of a 29-22 score to the Rams Saturday night before 68, 734 at SoFi Stadium. Neither team played their key starters in the first preseason game including quarterbacks Justin Herbert of the Chargers and Matthew Stafford for the Rams.
The Chargers started Chase Daniel at quarterback and was relieved by Easton Stick in the second half. Bryce Perkins went the full game for the Rams.
The Chargers got on the board first marching 77 yards on 9 plays on their first possession. Daniel hit Joe Reed on a 41-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
The Rams tied it early in the second quarter when A.J. Rose scored on a one-yard run to cap a 13 play, 47 yard drive. The drive was kept alive by two pass interference penalties on the Chargers down near the goal line.
After a Chargers punt the Rams took possession and then quickly took the lead. Perkins found Lance McCutcheon on a 60-yard touchdown pass. McCutcheon shrugged off a tackler and cruised into the end zone to give the Rams a 14-7 lead with 5:17 left in the second quarter.
The Chargers responded with a 10 play, 72-yard drive. Daniel hit a wide open Michael Bandy on a quick out pattern for a 16-yard score.
The teams went into the halftime break tied at 14.
The Rams opened the third quarter with a 10-play 75-yard drive. Perkins finished the drive with a one-yard keeper. Then he found McCutcheon in the left corner of the end zone for a two point conversion. The Rams took a 22-14 lead with 8:17 left in the third quarter.
On the next possession the Chargers used 18 plays to go 75 yards. Stick, who came on in relief of Daniel at quarterback, scored on a three-yard run. Stick then hit tight end Hunter Kampmoyer in the end zone for a two-point conversion. With just over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter it was all knotted up at 22.
The Perkins-McCutcheon connection clicked again on the following series – this time for an 11-yard touchdown. Cameron Dicker (Dicker the kicker) added the extra point and the Rams went up 29-22 with 6:11 left in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers had one last shot but Isom came up with the pick at the eight yard line and the Rams held on.
For the Rams Perkins completed 10 of 17 for 133 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 39 yards and a score. McCutcheon caught 5 passes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Daniel went 11 of 17 for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Chargers while Stick was 6 of 23 for 119 yards and the pick. Bandy had 7 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown and Reed hauled in 4 for 61 and the first score. Isaiah Spiller had 10 carries for 34 yards.
Next up for the Chargers is matchup with the Dallas Cowboys next Saturday night at SoFi Stadium.
@ NWO: It must have been a combination of L.A. traffic and some extended tailgate parties in the parking lot.
68,000???? I don’t think so.
From T. Peterson: It was a late arriving crowd but by halftime it filled in. 68,000 is right.