The Chargers and 49ers traded blows all night in a back-and-forth affair inside Levi’s Stadium.
With the score tied 16-16 in the fourth quarter, the Chargers stopped the Niners on a fourth down attempt in what seemed like a momentum-shifting play. However, rookie UDFA quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw an interception to San Francisco linebacker Curtis Robinson who returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
Then, after being forced into a three-and-out by the Chargers defense, the Niners punted back to LA
with 3:33 left. UDFA wide receiver Luke Grimm muffed the reception — his second of the night — the 49ers recovered. Two plays later, the Niners found the end zone on a 22-yard pass to all but put the game away.
In the end, it was enough of a lead for the 49ers to hold on to an eventual 30-23 victory over the Chargers in the 2025 preseason finale.
Uiagalelei played most of the game and finished with 170 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Raheim Sanders led the backfield with 13 carries for 48 yards. Dalevon Campbell was tops on the team with four catches for 73 yards. Oronde Gadsden and Luke Grimm each caught touchdowns.
Defensively, linebacker Marlowe Wax was a standout with six tackles, one tackle for loss, and a strip sack. Edge rusher Garmon Randolph also posted a sack.
The Chargers now move on to final cuts and then it’s all eyes on Week One against the Chiefs in Brazil on September 5th.
First Quarter
The Chargers offense began the game on offense but could not manage to move the chains on their opening drive. Lance lofted a deep pass to Derius Davis up the right sideline on third-and-three, but the ball was just out of the reach of what could have been a splash play.
Both teams traded punts all throughout the first period. On the 49ers’ punt in the waning seconds of the quarter, Chargers UDFA wide receiver Luke Grimm muffed the kick and San Francsico was able to recover as the clock hit zero.
Second Quarter
On the first play of the quarter, 49ers quarterback Tanner Mordecai found veteran receiver Demarcus Robinson on a corner route for the game’s first points. With just seconds off the clock in the second, the Niners led 7-0.
The Chargers finally found a groove on offense with a 10-play, 43-yard drive that took over seven minutes off the clock. On a second-and-two at the San Francisco 31-yard line, the snap was dropped and Heinicke was sacked for a six-yard loss. Then, rookie Branson Taylor was called for a false start while lined up at right tackle.
Heinicke found JaQue Jackson for a 13-yard gain on third-and-18 before Cameron Dicker converted on a 52-yard kick to make it 6-3.
On the third play of the ensuing 49ers drive, UDFA Marlowe Wax blitzed through the B gap and smacked Niners quarterback Carter Bradley to force a fumble that was recovered by teammate Caleb Murphy. Two plays later, UDFA rookie quarterback DJ Uiagalelei found fifth-rounder Oronde Gadsden in the end zone for a touchdown to put the Bolts up 10-6.
After forcing another punt by the Niners, Uiagalelei went to work once again with the Chargers offense. The former Clemson and Florida State passer connected with wideout Dalevon Campbell three times for 58 yards en route to making it all the way to the 14-yard line. With time dwindling down and the offense being called for an illegal shift penalty, Harbaugh chose to just kick the 37-yard field goal.
Third Quarter
After stopping the 49ers on their first possession of the second half, veteran running back Nyheim Miller-Hines coughed up the ball and the Niners recovered near midfield. The sudden change play was apparently enough momentum for the 49ers who marched 52 yards in eight plays on a scoring drive capped off by a five-yard touchdown run by Jeff Wilson. The score knotted the game at 13-13 with 6:24 left in the period.
Just before the end of the quarter, the Niners were able to tack on another field goal to take back the lead at 16-13 with under a minute remaining on the clock.
Fourth Quarter
The Chargers went nine plays on their ensuing drive but managed to move the ball just 28 yards. JK Scott punted back to the Niners but the ball was bobbled on the reception and the Chargers were able to to jump on it for the recovery. However, they managed just two yards before Dicker converted from 27 yards out. The field goal tied the game once more at 16-16.
After getting a stop on fourth down in their own territory, the Chargers gave the ball right back — and then some — as Uiagalelei gift-wrapped an interception to Niners linebacker Curtis Robinson who returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
With 3:33 left in the quarter while holding a seven-point lead, the Niners were forced to punt back to the Chargers. Grimm ran up to receive the kick but allowed the ball to bounce off his facemask and the Niners recovered yet another muffed punt. Two plays later, the Niners threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to make the score 30-16.
Uiagalelei and the Chargers responded with their own late touchdown drive as the young quarterback found Grimm in the end zone from 15 yards out. With 1:01 to go, the Bolts still trailed 30-23.
The Niners knelt out the clock and it was all she wrote. The Chargers finish the preseason 2-2 and we’re on to the regular season.
