Seahawks get first preseason victory

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO – As usual, Matt Hasselbeck started out in splendid August form.

Still, Mike Holmgren says his new franchise quarterback has plenty to learn about the season’s tougher months.

Hasselbeck, in his first game since signing a $24 million contract, led the Seahawks on three straight touchdown drives to open Seattle’s 28-18 exhibition victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.

The Seahawks (1-2) got all the points they needed for their first exhibition victory in the opening 12 minutes, as Hasselbeck completed eight of his first 10 passes for three scores.

“You try to take the good and the bad from the game,” Hasselbeck said. ” (The start) was good. We had some drives that sputtered after that.”

After Seattle jumped to a 21-0 lead, Hasselbeck finished the first half 10-for-15 for 116 yards, never again getting the Seahawks into the end zone.

Holmgren wasn’t happy with Hasselbeck’s tendency to try to make every play on his own – just like Holmgren’s last superstar, Brett Favre. Clearly, the long mentoring process between Holmgren and Favre already has begun in Seattle with Favre’s former backup.

“He had a good start, but he started getting a little reckless,” Holmgren said. “You can’t make a living running around like he did tonight. One, he’s going to get ripped up. Two, interceptions and bad things happen.”

Hasselbeck has never started a regular-season NFL game, but he got a huge deal from the Seahawks largely on his potential – and several impressive exhibition performances during his two seasons as Favre’s backup with the Green Bay Packers, who traded him to Seattle in the offseason.

” (Hasselbeck) is going to be a great football player,” said Trent Dilfer, who may have solidified his spot as Hasselbeck’s backup with six completions for 80 yards and a score. “I’m learning from him. I’m probably learning more from him than he is from me.”

Charlie Rogers beat 49ers rookie Rashad Holman in the end zone for a 21-yard TD reception just 89 seconds into the game. Moments later, Hasselbeck led the Seahawks on a 90-yard drive culminating in Darrell Jackson’s 12-yard TD catch.

After San Francisco punter Chad Stanley fumbled a snap to give Seattle the ball at the 49ers’ 14, Hasselbeck hit Shaun Alexander for a 14-yard score with 3:28 left in the first quarter.

The 49ers (1-2) had discouraging performances on both sides of the ball. San Francisco’s first-string defense couldn’t slow down Hasselbeck – and also roughed Hasselbeck for two of the 49ers’ seven first-half penalties.

“We made too many mistakes,” 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. “Seattle scored on the first three possessions, (and) we can’t dig holes like that. We need to get better and clean those things up.

Ricky Watters got the night off for the Seahawks, but Alexander filled the void with 62 yards rushing and 37 receiving. Dilfer threw a 26-yard TD pass to tight end James Hill in the fourth quarter, while Brock Huard – the other candidate to be Hasselbeck’s backup – didn’t even get into the game.

Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens hooked up for another touchdown, with Owens making a difficult 29-yard reception early in the second quarter for San Francisco’s first points.

Garcia finished 5-for-8 for 72 yards, while Tim Rattay got much more work than Rick Mirer in the battle for the 49ers’ backup spot, completing 13 of 21 passes for 136 yards.

Owens had five catches for 77 yards. J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets, expected to be the 49ers’ top receivers behind Owens, both missed their third straight exhibition games with injuries.

“I feel like I messed up some plays,” Owens said. “I’m really bummed I fumbled. We’ve just got to get better. I think we’ll be OK when J.J. and Tai get better.”

Garrison Hearst’s two-year comeback from a broken leg continued to gain steam as the San Francisco running back saw his most extensive action of the preseason. Hearst rushed nine times for 35 yards in the first half; he also caught three passes for 25 yards, though he dropped two passes and fumbled on the Seahawks 4 as well.

Kevan Barlow saw his first preseason action for the 49ers. The rookie running back from Pittsburgh was impressive, rushing for 66 yards and scoring on a 1-yard run with 10 seconds to play.

“Me and Garrison would be a good 1-2 punch,” Barlow said.