NFL teams
Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Frank Gore was Gore of old, not an old Gore

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- If that was Frank Gore's grand finale for the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night, what a way for the war horse running back to go out.

Individually speaking, of course.

Because to the 10-year veteran who has designs on wearing a gold jacket and seeing his bust in Canton one day, losing in such heartbreaking fashion to the San Diego Chargers trumped any individual accomplishment. Gore surging past the Chargers early and often in an eventual 38-35 overtime loss was a flashback for the ages and he resembled the Gore of old, rather than an old Gore.

"Frank was energized," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. "He was playing very well. Our offensive line was doing an extremely good job. We rushed the ball very well. Weren’t able to finish."

Gore, 31, credited the big uglies, who were as healthy as they have been since the middle of the season with left tackle Joe Staley, left guard Mike Iupati, center Marcus Martin, right guard Alex Boone, and right tackle Anthony Davis in the starting lineup.

It was Davis’ first game since suffering a concussion on Nov. 16, and Martin was back after missing last week with a knee injury.

"My whole offensive line was there," Gore said. "All year, we missed one guy here, one guy there. I think that is what the problem has been. My O-line dominated their D-line tonight."

Especially in the first half.

On the fourth snap of the game, Gore found a hole on the right side of the line, leaped through the seal created by a pulling Iupati and receiver Anquan Boldin, bounced off cornerback Brandon Flowers and linebacker Melvin Ingram, stiff-armed safety Eric Weddle, followed downfield blocks of receiver Quinton Patton and Staley and, 52 yards later, had a breathtaking touchdown run.

It was vintage Gore.

It was his fourth rushing TD of the season, his longest run since he had a 55-yarder at Detroit on Oct. 16, 2011, and his longest TD run since his 64-yarder at Indianapolis on Nov. 1, 2009.

And to think, Gore suffered a concussion six days earlier in Seattle, did not practice on Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday.

"That’s a grown-man performance right there," quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. "Coming off a concussion, we weren’t sure if he was going to play or not.

"He said, 'I want to go out and fight with y’all. I’m not going to leave y’all out there by yourselves.' And to come out and play the way he did and give this offense that lift was huge. That was a huge performance by him."

Gore, who entered the game averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per carry in the final year of his contract, had 129 yards rushing before halftime. But the Chargers adjusted and Gore had just 29 yards on 12 carries after intermission.

"They put their whole team in the box to stop the run," said Gore, whose 158 yards for the game was the fifth-most of his career.

"They did a good job in the second half. I just think we didn’t make enough plays in the second half to win this game."

Gore, though, did enough overall to harken memories of his former self.

"All the things that have been said [about him] and he comes out and plays like that," fullback Bruce Miller said. "You don’t see anything slowing down. The guy plays his tail off the whole game and is one of the best runners that has ever been."

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