By Tim Peterson
(Inglewood) – The Chargers had one last shot Thursday night but DJ Uiagalelei was sacked by Darryl Peterson Jr. and fumbled with less than a minute remaining. The Rams fell on it to ice a 20-18 victory Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams were up 20-10 early in the fourth quarter when Greg Desrosiers broke off a 34-yard touchdown run for the Chargers. Uiagalelei then hit Evan Svoboda to convert the two-point conversion and the Chargers were within two with 12:52 left.
The Rams were able to burn some time off the clock but were forced to punt back to the Chargers, who were hoping to set up Cameron Dicker to kick the game winner. They moved the ball out near midfield until Peterson’s sack ended it.
Justin Herbert started for the Chargers and it was his fumble that set up the first score. He mishandled a snap on the Chargers own 14-yard line and the Rams took advantage and fell on the loose ball. They stalled there but Harrison Mevis booted a 27-yard field goal to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.
The Chargers answered quickly on the next series when Herbert hit Quentin Johnston in stride for a 65-yard touchdown for a 7-3 advantage with 9:41 left in the first quarter. Johnston got behind the Rams secondary and was off to the races.
Later in the quarter, the Chargers made a goal-line stand stopping Rams running back Jordan Waters at the one-yard line to maintain the 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Trey Lance took over at quarterback for Herbert to begin the second quarter for the Chargers. Ty Simpson started behind center for the Rams and worked into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter the Rams regained the lead. They took advantage of a short field as Simpson hit Brennan Pesley on an 11-yard touchdown strike to make it 10-7.
Mevis kicked a 27-yard field goal to increase the Rams lead to 13-7 with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.
Uiagalelei came on for the Chargers on the last series of the second quarter and led them down to the Rams 31-yard line, but Dicker missed a 49-yard field goal as the first half clock ran out. The Rams took a 13-7 lead into the break.
Matthew Caldwell came on at quarterback for the Rams in the third quarter.
Dicker kicked a 34-yard field goal with 2:46 left in the third quarter to cut the Rams lead to 13-10.
The Rams pieced together a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive with Caldwell finding Dean Connors over the middle for an eight-yard score with 14:14 left in the fourth quarter to make it 20-10.
Less than two minutes later the Chargers answered with Desrosiers’ run but that was as close as they got.
For the Chargers Uiagalelei completed 11 of 18 for 141 yards and Herbert was 2-3 for 74 yards and a touchdown. Desrosiers had nine carries for 118 yards and the touchdown.
For the Rams Simpson was 18 for 23 for 119 yards and a score. Conners had 18 carries for 69 yards and the receiving touchdown. Waters ran 15 times for 53 yards.
The Rams finished the preseason with a record of 3-0 while the Chargers fell to 1-2.
LAR 3 10 0 7 20
LAC 7 0 3 8 18
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