Seahawks win first exhibition game under Mora, 20-14

SAN DIEGO — Jim Mora's first exhibition game with the Seahawks won't win any beauty contests, but three turnovers by his defense and an opportunistic offense, along with a fourth-down stand with second remaining, were enough to secure the new head man his first win of the year, 20-14.

"I thought it was a good start for our football team," Mora said. "I was really pleased with the way those young guys at the end of the game fought."

On a night when offensive rhythm was hard to come by, the Seahawks' best drive came in the second quarter with the second-team offense on the field.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson saw his first exhibition action since 2005, carrying four times for 10 yards and catching one pass from Philip Rivers.

After falling behind 7-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Chargers fullback Jacob Hester early in the second quarter, quarterback Seneca Wallace and the second team led Seattle back.

Taking the ball at their 39-yard line, the Seahawks marched 12 plays in 5:55. Seneca Wallace capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass that he lofted to tight end John Owens in the back corner of the end zone.

Wallace completed all five passes on the drive, including two third-down conversions. He was 8 of 12 for 40 yards.

In three possessions with the first-team offense, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was shackled with poor field position and failed to move the ball into San Diego territory.

Chargers punter Mike Scifres dropped the ball inside Seattle's 20-yard line three times in the first quarter, starting Hasselbeck's average drive at his own 8-yard line. He completed three of five passes for 27 yards.

Seattle's second scoring drive came in the third quarter, courtesy of a turnover and rookie quarterback Mike Teel.

After defensive end Baraka Atkins stripped Chargers quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and Derek Walker recovered the fumble at San Diego's 39-yard line, Teel led the Seahawks on a three-play touchdown drive.

The score came on an 18-yard pass to receiver Mike Hass, wide open in the middle of the end zone, and gave the Seahawks a 14-7 lead.

"I was very impressed we responded to sudden change," Mora said. "That's what [Teel] looked like when we watched the tape of him in college — confident, poised, accurate, good decision making."

Teel led the Seahawks with 75 passing yards, completing 7 of 15 passes.

In the second half, the Seattle defense took over, forcing turnovers on three consecutive San Diego possessions.

After Walker's fumble recovery, Kelly Jennings and rookie defensive end Nick Reed each followed with interceptions of Whitehurst.

The Reed interception led to a 38-yard field goal by Brandon Coutu, giving the Seahawks a 17-7 lead with 12:05 in the fourth quarter. Coutu would add another 38-yarder later to stretch the lead to 20-7.

"We've watched [Reed] in the Pac-10 for years, and he's a playmaker," Mora said. "I had a feeling that he'd show up and make some plays."

Reed and Teel weren't the only first-year players on the field, as first-round pick Aaron Curry made his NFL debut at linebacker.

"I had fun," said Curry, who had two tackles. "Leading up to the game my hands were shaking, my heart was beating fast, but once I got out there I realized I was out there for a reason. I was fine once [linebackers coach Zerick Rollins] told me to calm down."

The Chargers closed the gap to 20-14 with a late touchdown but the Seahawks forced an incompletion on fourth down to stifle a last-minute comeback try.

Seahawks 20, Chargers 14

SD — Bennett 2 run (Kaeding kick), 10:11.

Sea — Owens 3 pass from S.Wallace (Coutu kick), 2:14.

Third quarter

Sea — Hass 18 pass from Teel (Coutu kick), 4:15.

Fourth quarter

Sea — FG Coutu 38, 12:01.

Sea — FG Coutu 38, 6:34.

SD — Naanee 5 pass from Whitehurst (Kaeding kick), 3:42.

A — 58,373.

Rushing — Seattle, Moore 8-32, Forsett 12-27, Duckett 6-18, J.Jones 4-15, S.Wallace 2-2, Rowe 1-(minus 2). San Diego, Bennett 6-21, Sproles 4-11, Tomlinson 4-10, Johnson 5-8, Naanee 1-3, Tolbert 1-2.

Passing — Seattle, Teel 7-15-1-75, S.Wallace 8-12-0-40, Hasselbeck 3-5-0-27, Rowe 3-3-0-16. San Diego, Whitehurst 15-29-2-193, Volek 8-12-0-122, Rivers 5-8-0-26.

Receiving — Seattle, Obomanu 2-31, Taylor 2-18, Payne 2-13, Kirtman 2-9, Butler 2-7, Hass 1-18, Burleson 1-12, Newton 1-12, Carlson 1-10, Kent 1-8, Forsett 1-5, Houshmandzadeh 1-5, Griffith 1-3, Owens 1-3, Bumpus 1-2, O.Schmitt 1-2. San Diego, C.Martin 5-67, B.Davis 3-64, Wilson 3-49, Banks 3-31, Naanee 3-30, Gates 3-17, Johnson 2-15, Floyd 1-37, V.Jackson 1-13, Tomlinson 1-8, Hester 1-5, Chambers 1-4, Sproles 1-1.

Missed FG — San Diego, Kaeding 33 (WL).