Depleted 49ers have championship depth, with help from the Sacramento area
It was a gutty, inspired effort on a MetLife Stadium field that gave the 49ers fits and ligament rips seven days prior.
San Francisco methodically took apart the New York Giants 36-9 on Sunday, a testament to depth, resolve and leadership. The 49ers were down a ton of talent coming in, nine starters total, some for the season. Out: leading passer, a pair of leading rushers, leading receivers and top defenders.
The 2-1 start resonated across 49er Nation, from the Bay Area right on through Sacramento, El Dorado Hills and Placer County. Some may argue, “yeah, but it’s just a win over the Giants.” Yeah, but it’s also the NFL, and you soak in victories when you can.
49ers fans come in all ages, and we received reports that some shouted gleefully at their television sets a week after the injury carnage made them grimace.
Aiyuk delivers his first touchdown
Sunday’s cheer included Benny Noonan, the 10-year-old son of Sierra College football coach Ben Noonan. Father and son wear their new No. 11 Brandon Aiyuk jerseys a lot these days. They might still have them on after they bear-hugged, high-fived and tore up the joint in watching Aiyuk punctuate coach Kyle Shanahan’s efficient game plan with a 19-yard scoring sprint off a reverse to all but seal it at 23-9.
It was the first NFL touchdown for the 49ers’ first-round pick out of Arizona State. Aiyuk was lightly recruited out of high school in Nevada, landed at Sierra College, and blossomed.
He remains in regular contact with the Noonans. One thing about Aiyuk: he competes, and then some. He once battled Noonan, the coach, over his role while Noonan, the kid, implored dad to listen to the player.
Noonan wanted to prevent his star from getting worn down from so many touches — receptions, handoffs, special-teams returns. Aiyuk argued he was best when fed the ball repeatedly. They compromised.
Aiyuk is still in fast-forward motion. His speed wasn’t just a deal-maker at the JC and Pac-12 level. It will continue to be a factor in the NFL.
Against the Giants, Aiyuk had 101 yards of offense. He had five receptions from Nick Mullens, who impressed in starting for the hobbled Jimmy Garoppolo, and he had three carries for 31 yards.
The theme still holds: get the fast guy some touches. On the drive that gave the 49ers the 23-9 advantage, Aiyuk had three catches for 39 yards and the 19-yard touchdown carry.
“That was an Aiyuk drive!” Ben Noonan said excitedly. “So excited for him and his family. Our house erupted again. Not quite like draft day, but pretty close!”
Ross Dwelley steps up, Mullens expertly leads the way
In El Dorado Hills, the cheers went for one of their own. Ross Dwelley stepped in — again — for the injured George Kittle and was more than capable.
The Oak Ridge High School product was targeted four times in the first half by Mullens, and he caught those four for 49 yards. Mullens needed reliable targets after tight end Jordan Reed left the game with knee and ankle issues. Mullens completed 25 of 36 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers outgained the Giants 420-231.
Dwelley has played big before as an undrafted rookie free agent out of San Diego in 2018. He had two touchdowns against Arizona last season. Dwelley’s rise is similar to what the 49ers are enduring now: resolve.
He was a quarterback his first two football seasons at Oak Ridge, but elected to focus on other sports his junior year.
Oak Ridge coach Eric Cavaliere implored Dwelley to return, to play tight end. He worked on his father, Peter, to channel the message. Pops was on the same page.
It worked. Dwelley settled into his new role and still looks the part of natural tight end at 6-foot-5 with good hands and a desire to block.
Mullens can relate to long odds. He signed with the 49ers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2017 after passing for nearly 12,000 yards as a Southern Miss Golden Eagle. He was waived before the 2018 season, then signed to the 49ers practice squad. And then he filled in admirably when Jimmy Garoppolo was lost for the remainder of the 2018 season with a knee injury.
Said Mullens via media Zoom news conference on Sunday, “We have a lot of really good football players. We are aware of that. Aiyuk coming in really stepped up in the second half. Dwelley is one of the most consistent guys.”
The 49ers have two other local products on their roster.
One has been a mainstay for two seasons in defensive lineman Arik Armstead of Pleasant Grove High origins. He had three tackles against the Giants.
The other is cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon of Christian Brothers High and Sacramento City College roots. He was inactive Sunday with a familiar theme: injuries. Jason Verrett filled in, his first start since the 2017 NFL opener. He had five tackles.
“I was so happy for Jason Verrett,” Shanahan said via Zoom. “I mean, Jason is a stud. Pumped he’s on our team. He really earned it.”
They all did: old starters and the sudden fill-ins.
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 2:40 PM.