Former Mocs Star Terrell Owens' Reception Called One of NFL's Best Ever

By DENNIS GEORGATOS
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — With defenders swarming around him, Terrell Owens
rose up and made one of the NFL's great catches. Only then could he let go.

Owens lay for a moment in the end zone as the crowd's crescendo washed over
him, and then he cried for joy, embracing the ball and his teammates and
hugging his coach.

The San Francisco 49ers' third-year receiver, and former UT-Chattanooga wide
receiver, was overcome by the drama of his game-deciding catch and the
redemption it provided him and his team.

``I had already thought, `How was I going to live with myself, knowing that I
let this team down,' '' said Owens, who fumbled and dropped four passes before
catching Steve Young's 25-yard throw with three seconds left, giving San
Francisco a 30-27 NFC wild-card victory over Green Bay on Sunday.

``But I visualize big plays all the time and this was a vision that finally
came true,'' Owens said. ``I knew I had to make something happen for this
team.''

The reception ended San Francisco's three-year run of playoff defeats to Green
Bay. And because of its impact and decisive nature, it immediately drew
comparisons to some of the NFL's fabled catches: Franco Harris' ``Immaculate
Reception'' for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Clarence Davis' ``Sea of Hands''
catch for the Oakland Raiders and the 49ers' previous entry, Dwight Clark's
``The Catch.''

``He made the play to win the game,'' San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci said
of Owens. ``Steve threw it in there, and we protected and all of that, but
boy, he made a great play. It's one of the big catches in this organization's
history.''

And the Packers felt the impact as well.

``The way this one ended was startling,'' Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren said.
``When the ball goes down the middle like that, you don't think the ball's
going to be caught, ever. I think it was a marvelous catch. It was the perfect
throw and he (Owens) made the play.''

There were several plays leading up to the Catch II, the first coming from the
Packers. On a play improvised in the huddle, Brett Favre hit Antonio Freeman
with a 15-yard touchdown pass to put Green Bay in front 27-23 with 1:56
remaining.

After R.W. McQuarters returned the kickoff to the San Francisco 24, the 49ers
had to travel 76 yards and had 1:50 to do it.

Young had two straight completions to J.J. Stokes for 26 yards and fullback
Marc Edwards, breaking LeRoy Butler's tackle behind the line of scrimmage,
added a 3-yard catch for a first down.

After a timeout, Young threw incomplete and then Jerry Rice caught his only
pass of the game, a 6-yarder that triggered controversy when it appeared he
fumbled and the Packers recovered.

Officials ruled he was down and the 49ers retained possession, still 41 yards
away with 46 seconds remaining.

Terry Kirby then caught a 9-yard pass for a first down and Garrison Hearst
added a 7-yard catch to the Green Bay 25.

The 49ers called a timeout.

Young's next pass, intended for Stokes, was broken up and nearly intercepted
by Craig Newsome.

Given life again, the 49ers sent Owens down the middle on a post pattern.
Young threw a bullet, threading the ball among three defenders and Owens
jumped at the goal line to latch onto it.

The instant Owens caught the ball, Darren Sharper and Pat Terrell decked him
even as linebacker Brian Williams coiled to add another shot. But there was no
dislodging the ball, no taking away the catch and no end zone dancing.

``Man, after that kind of catch, you don't need to dance,'' Stokes said. ``He
just laid there. I don't know, I think he was paralyzed with happiness.''