Bolts Beat Cowboys 28-20
SAN DIEGO (AP) Shareece Wright's electrifying 73-yard interception return set up Jackie Battle's go-ahead, 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst threw two touchdown passes as the San Diego Chargers rallied from a dismal start to beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 on Saturday night.
The Chargers (1-1) overcame three turnovers, including two interceptions by Philip Rivers, to rally from a 10-0 deficit. The Bolts have five turnovers in two exhibitions.
Cornerback DeAndre Presley deflected a pass from Cowboys third-string quarterback Stephen McGee, and Wright plucked the ball out of the air. He ran down the right sideline before cutting the middle of the field before he was dragged down by John Phillips at the 2-yard line. After an incompletion by Whitehurst, Battle bulled into the end zone to give the Chargers their first lead of the night, 14-13.
The Cowboys (No. 15 AP Pro 32) will remain in San Diego for joint practices with the Chargers (No. 16) on Monday and Tuesday.
Wright also sacked McGee and forced a fumble that Darryl Gamble recovered.
Whitehurst played well after replacing Rivers. He started the Chargers' comeback with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Brown on the first drive of the second half. Brown hurt his left ankle on the play and was carted off the field. He didn't return.
The Chargers got some breathing room midway through the fourth quarter when Whitehurst hit rookie Mike Willie on a 38-yard touchdown pass for a 21-13 lead. Jacob Hester added a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:02 left.
Dallas closed to 28-20 in the final minute on Rudy Carpenter's 15-yard scoring pass to Dwayne Harris.
Brandon Carr had two interceptions for the Cowboys (1-1). Carr's first pickoff, of Rivers' badly underthrown pass to Robert Meachem, set up a drive capped by Jamize Olawale's 2-yard touchdown run for a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. Kyle Orton, who replaced Tony Romo after two series, had a 35-yard completion to Kevin Ogletree.
Romo led the Cowboys on a 12-play, 39-yard drive capped by Dan Bailey's 40-yard field goal late in the first quarter. The Cowboys were called for three penalties for 25 yards on the drive.
Bailey kicked a 49-yard field goal late in the third quarter for a 13-7 Dallas lead.
Besides Rivers' two interceptions - one of which was tipped - San Diego also had a fumbled snap.
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