National Football League

Seahawks lead 49ers 19-3 early in fourth quarter

Published Sep. 16, 2013 5:07 a.m. ET

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Marshawn Lynch ran for 88 yards and a score and added a seven-yard touchdown catch, and the Seattle Seahawks built a 19-3 lead over the San Francisco 49ers early in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game between the division rivals.

The game got off to a wild start with dueling interceptions, an hour-long lightning delay and a safety before the first half. By the end of the third, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson completed seven of 16 passes for 135 yards and a score, while San Francisco counterpart Colin Kaepernick was 8-of-17 for 82 yards.

Phil Dawson kicked a 21-yard field goal for San Francisco to make it 12-3 with 4:20 left in the quarter.

Wilson found Lynch in the end zone with 13:44 to go in the game to extend Seattle's lead.

The Seahawks went ahead 2-0 with 10:32 to go before halftime when 49ers fullback Bruce Miller was flagged for offensive holding in the end zone. Seattle upped the lead to 5-0 when Steven Hauschka kicked a 30-yard field goal with 5:52 left.

On their second series of the game, the 49ers capitalized on field position from a blocked punt, but on third down at the Seattle 5, Kaepernick's pass to Vernon Davis in the end zone was tipped and intercepted by Earl Thomas.

Wilson was intercepted by San Francisco safety Eric Reid on a long pass meant for Golden Tate midway through the quarter. With 3:13 left, lightning suspended play for 60 minutes.

The 49ers were hurt when nose tackle Ian Williams injured his left ankle and had to be helped off the field. San Francisco announced he would not return.

Seattle starting left tackle Russell Okung was hurt on the final play of the first quarter, suffering a left foot injury. He did not return. Reid was being evaluated for a possible concussion sustained in the first half.

The defending NFC champion 49ers were coming off a 34-28 victory over Green Bay in the season opener last week. Kaepernick threw for 412 yards, while Anquan Boldin had 13 receptions for 208 yards and a touchdown.

The Seahawks beat Carolina 12-7 on the road in their opener, but managed only 70 yards rushing in the victory. Wilson passed for 320 yards against the Panthers.

San Francisco defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs returned this week after serving a one-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse program.

The Seahawks saw the return of defensive end Cliff Avril, who missed the opener against Carolina with a hamstring injury after trainers decided to hold him out. His return was anticipated to bolster Seattle's pass-rush.

Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner, who also has a hamstring injury, sat out the game. Defensive end Chris Clemens is still recovering from knee surgery.

Lynch rushed for 111 yards with two touchdowns and Wilson threw four touchdown passes in the Seahawks' 42-13 rout of the 49ers in Seattle in the last meeting late last December. It was the worst loss of Jim Harbaugh's first two seasons as coach.

The lopsided game only added to the simmering rivalry between the two teams.

This season, Kaepernick and Wilson apparently made a wager that the loser must shave an eyebrow, a bet tied to a video game promotion.

Last season, some of the Seahawks took offense when Harbaugh allegedly honked at Seattle's team bus after the 49ers' victory last October at Candlestick Park. Harbaugh has denied it.

But the rivalry between Harbaugh and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll dates to when both were head coaches in the Pac-12.

Harbaugh's Cardinal traveled to Los Angeles in his first season at Stanford as 41-point underdogs only to stun then-No. 2 USC 24-23 and end the Trojans' 35-game home win streak. It was considered the biggest upset in college football that year.

In 2009, Harbaugh and No. 25 Stanford ran up the score on 11th-ranked USC in a surprising 55-21 rout, even attempting a 2-point conversion with the game way out of reach - prompting Carroll's famous quote - ''What's your deal?'' - when the two met afterward at midfield.

Sunday was Carroll's birthday.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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