Hawk hopefuls' time to shine

On a night when NFL futures and dreams were at stake, some Seahawks shined in what was their last shot to make the final 53-man roster.

Others hurt their chances, or got hurt. It all happened in an action-packed, all-or nothing exhibition finale that ended in Seattle's 23-16 win over the Oakland Raiders on Friday night at Qwest Field.

This was a festival of big plays from the beginning, and the Seahawks made most of them.

It didn't start so well. Rookie Justin Forsett, one of many trying to impress the coaches, fumbled on his first punt return, giving the ball back to the Raiders. Oakland got to the Seahawks' 26-yard line when Lawrence Jackson wrapped up quarterback Andrew Walter for a sack and forced a fumble, which defensive tackle Craig Terrill recovered.

The Seahawks went to work on offense quickly. T.J. Duckett, starting at running back, ran for 11 yards. Then Seneca Wallace, starting in place of the injured Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Frye, hit Courtney Taylor for 15 yards.

Next came a 16-yard completion to Ben Obomanu, and two plays later, with the ball at the Oakland 24, Duckett found space on the right side and rumbled into the end zone for a touchdown with 10:41 to go in the first quarter.

The Raiders drove to the Seahawks' 3 with their next possession but had to settle for a field goal try. What should have been a chip shot for Sebastian Janikowski turned into a misadventure, as the snap and hold were botched and holder Shane Lechler attempted a pass. Safety C.J. Wallace intercepted it, ran the ball back 41 yards and in so doing, enhanced his chances at making the team.

Seneca Wallace was hot from the start. His 33-yard hookup with Obomanu set up an Olindo Mare field goal, but Obomanu hurt a shoulder on the play and did not return.

Obomanu, coach Mike Holmgren said, suffered a broken clavicle and could be placed on injured reserve.

"I feel bad for him," Holmgren said. "He was very much in our plans and knew all the [receiver] positions."

Obomanu's exit opened the door for Logan Payne and Michael Bumpus, two other roster hopefuls, to get more opportunities. Payne ran for six yards on an end around and Bumpus gained 30 yards on a pass play, part of a drive that ended the first quarter and began the second. Forsett, meanwhile, gathered himself after his early fumble and ran hard, helping the Seahawks to a Brandon Coutu field goal and a 13-0 lead with 9:54 to play in the first half.

Twelve Seahawks caught passes in the game.

"We have some difficult decisions to make, it's fair to say," Holmgren said. "Particularly at wide receiver because of Ben Obomanu."

The Raiders rested their entire starting lineup and the Seahawks most of theirs. No Seahawk defensive starter played except Jackson. But that didn't lessen the intensity of the game.

In the third quarter, the Raiders inexplicably tried a 66-yard field goal that was short, giving the Seahawks the ball at the Oakland 44 at the 11-minute mark. Duckett ran for 20 yards, Wallace hit Payne for 20 more and the Seahawks got a field goal from Coutu to take a 16-6 lead.

Leading 16-9 as the third quarter ended, the Seahawks appeared ready to score a touchdown after a drive that had three pass-interference penalties against the Raiders. But Wallace lost the ball as the pocket collapsed around him and Oakland recovered the fumble.

It didn't make a difference, as the Seahawks survived a dropped pass in the end zone by Bryan Gilmore to score a touchdown on a 1-yard run by Duckett with 9:35 to play.

The Seahawks ensured victory by forcing a turnover on downs with 6:44 left, holding inside their own 5-yard line.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

Sea -- Duckett 24 run (Coutu kick), 10:50.

Sea -- FG Mare 34, 4:14.

Second quarter

Sea -- FG Coutu 28, 9:54.

Oak -- FG Janikowski 40, 4:36.

Oak -- FG Janikowski 50, :05.

Third quarter

Sea -- FG Coutu 21, 7:52.

Oak -- Janikowski 37, 4:08.

Fourth quarter

Sea -- Duckett 1 run (Coutu kick), 9:35.

Oak -- Reece 25 pass from Tuiasosopo (Janikowski kick), 1:51.

A -- 67,163.

Rushing -- Oakland, McFadden 4-50, Bush 12-42, Rankin 7-28, Walter 2-15, Tuiasosopo 2-13, Echemandu 1-9. Seattle, Duckett 11-71, Forsett 14-45, Wallace 2-6, Payne 1-6, Weaver 1-2, Kirtman 1-1, Bell 1-(minus 1).

Passing -- Oakland, Walter 16-24-0-162, Tuiasosopo 2-3-0-32, Lechler 0-1-1-0. Seattle, Wallace 21-30-0-255, Bell 0-1-0-0.

Receiving -- Oakland, Lawton 4-31, Cshilens 3-49, Stewart 3-13, Shields 2-27, Watkins 2-22, Reece 1-25, Holland 1-21, Higgins 1-6, McFadden 1-0. Seattle, Bumpus 3-53, Payne 3-34, Obomanu 2-49, Putzier 2-34, Forsett 2-17, Kent 2-13, Duckett 2-5, Taylor 1-15, Shelton 1-13, Gilmore 1-12, Kirtman 1-7, Schmitt 1-3.

Missed FG -- Oakland, Janikowski 66 (sh).