With the start of the 49ers season just days away, I'm eager to share my recollections of some of the most unforgettable Niners games I've witnessed. This article is the fifth installment of From the Stands.
The 1981 NFC Championship was days away, a showdown between the upstart 49ers and America's Team. I was miraculously gifted two tickets to the most in-demand 49ers game ever through a chance conversation and a few well-placed calls. How I got those tickets is discussed in detail in Part 1.
I am forever indebted to the incredible generosity of publicist Joyce Wilson, her husband, the legendary sports columnist Blackie Sherrod, and Dallas Cowboys General Manager Tex Schram. Their kindness made this story possible.
Because I got tickets through the Cowboys, my seats were flat dab in the middle of Cowboy fans. But hey, I had tickets to the game.
When we left in Part 1, I was about to call my dad, a true 49er Faithful, and tell him of my good fortune.
I rehearsed the call and thought about the good times we had spent together as father and son and the many 49ers' games we watched from the stands. He took me to my first Niner game at Kezar to see the great Jim Brown. We watched the Cowboys beat the 49ers in the 1971 NFC Championship; the last pro game ever played at Kezar. During my high school junior and senior years, we had season tickets, and I knew my dad made a financial sacrifice to buy those tickets. So, I phoned him to express my thanks.
Jon: Dad, do you want to go to the game this weekend?
Dad: Of course, But it's impossible to get tickets.
Jon: Well, this is your lucky day. I have two tickets, and Jamie is about to overnight
them to you.
And then, I made a strategic pivot to honor my parents.
Jon: Why don't you take Mom with you?
****
What? You had two tickets to the biggest game in forever and just gave them away? Yes, I stayed home and watched the game on TV. What a thriller it was.
WINLESS AGAINST THE COWBOYS IN PLAYOFF GAMES
Mom and Dad were seated in the endzone amongst Cowboy fans. The 49ers had never beaten Dallas in a playoff game, and Cowboy fans were confident that streak would remain intact.
Las Vegas oddsmakers installed the Cowboys as a three-point favorite even though the Niners thoroughly dominated Dallas in the regular season matchup. The Niners outgained the Cowboys 206 yards to 108 at the half but trailed 17-14, having turned the ball over three times.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Early in the fourth quarter, Dallas quarterback Danny White connected on a 21-yard touchdown strike to Doug Cosbie. That put the Cowboys out in front 27-21 and marked the sixth lead change of the game. The Dallas defense retook the field with six defensive backs in pass coverage. Everson Walls picked off Joe Montana's deep throw down the right sideline with roughly 10 minutes remaining in regulation. It was Montana's third interception of the day. The Cowboys then ran five minutes off the clock before San Francisco forced them to punt.
The odds were long, as the Niners were pinned on their own eleven, trailing by six points, with just four minutes and 54 seconds remaining. A Cowboy fan tapped my mom on the shoulder and said, "It's been a great season, but we're going to the Super Bowl, and you're not."
SO MUCH FOR PREDICTIONS
History would show his prediction was premature.
Again, the Cowboys trotted two extra defensive backs onto the field to thwart the pass. So, San Francisco leaned on the running game and consistently picked up good yardage, alternating power sweeps to the right and left.
The Niners mixed in a few high-percentage pass plays to keep Dallas honest. When the Cowboys' defense over-pursued, the Niners countered with Freddie Soloman's 15-yard reverse.
My dad later told me, "From my endzone perspective, I could see the 49ers setting up the Cowboys for that reverse action."
Lenvil Elliott ran left to the six-yard line a few plays later, setting up the most iconic play in 49ers history. Montana rolled right, and as the play broke down, he backpedaled, drawing three defenders with him. Seeing that his quarterback was under duress, Dwight Clark reversed field and ran the back of the end line toward Montana's side.
Montana pump faked the 6'9" Ed "Too Tall" Jones off his feet, then launched the ball high and seemingly through the endzone to a spot that only Clark could catch. Dwight leaped high, fully extended, high-pointed the ball, and came down for a San Francisco touchdown.
The stadium erupted in pandemonium. Amidst all the excitement, a Forty-Niners fan spilled his beer all over my dad. The two hugged, and my dad exclaimed, "Can you believe it? We're going to the Super Bowl!"
NOT SO FAST
Ray Wersching kicked the extra point to put the 49ers up by one. But with 51 seconds left on the clock, the Cowboys still had time to advance the ball and kick a game-winning field goal.
On the next play from scrimmage, Danny White hit Drew Pearson on a deep crossing route good for 31 yards. The play may have gone the distance if not for a touchdown-saving horse-collar tackle by Eric Wright.
In the following play, Lawrence Pillars stepped into history—forklifting Dallas guard Kurt Petersen and crashing into Danny White chest high, separating the Dallas quarterback from the football. Thirty-five years of 49er disappointment vanished instantly when Jim Stucky pounced on the loose ball.
The least appreciated impact play in 49ers history. pic.twitter.com/0Don7boNHy
— Jon Opelt (@opelt_jon) August 23, 2024
THE 49ERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL
Finally, it could definitively be said the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl.
I intended to give my dad a fun game day experience and a chance to witness a win. He got much more: An exhilarating win and euphoric memories to last a lifetime.
People ask me if you knew then what you know now—what an incredible game it would be—would you have attended?
No. Giving up those tickets has never caused me a twinge of regret. The Dallas game was my parents' moment to share and my opportunity to say thanks.
Photo by Job Opelt
I'm not just sharing my memories but inviting you to be part of this journey. Reach out to me via email ([email protected]) or a tweet (from_the_stands@#49ers). Share your favorite 49ers moment you saw in person, on television, or heard on the radio. Please send me a captioned photo of you at the game. Tell me what made that game so memorable to you. Remember to leave your name and city of residence and check in because your comments may feature in a future article, making this a collective recollection of our shared love for the 49ers.