Quarterback Trevone Boykin made a strong bid to keep backup job, leading team to four touchdowns and a field goal in his six drives as the Seahawks beat the Chargers in their first game in Los Angeles, 48-17.
CARSON, Calif. — If the Seahawks entered Sunday night’s game in a battle for the backup quarterback spot they may have ended it without one.
And if there was a question whether Kasen Williams could make the team’s 53-man roster, that might have been answered, as well.
Second-year-quarterback Trevone Boykin and Williams, a former UW and Skyline High standout, hooked up on four spectacular passing plays in the second and third quarter to help lead a rousing 48-17 win over the Chargers in each team’s preseason opener in front of 21,054 at the StubHub Center.
Friday
Minnesota @ Seahawks, 7 p.m., Ch. 13
“Wow what a great night,’’ said coach Pete Carroll of the four catches by Williams good for 119 yards — and each seemingly more impressive than the last.
“He had three great plays and then he had a better play taking the ball away from the defender. That was really fun.’’
As Williams starred, starting receiver Paul Richardson was forced to the sideline with an AC sprain of his shoulder that could keep him out for a while and might open the door that much wider for Williams to make the 53-man roster (third-round pick Amara Darboh also missed the game with a sternum injury and Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett also sat out).
The defense also did its share with three forced turnovers in the first half — one on which Seattle scored a touchdown and the other returned to the 1-yard line — as the Seahawks proved an especially rude guest for a Charger team playing its first game since its move to Los Angeles.
The points were the second-most the Seahawks had scored in an exhibition game and most since Seattle tallied 55 in 1979.
The game actually began on something of a down note for the Seahawks as the Chargers’ No. 1 offense drove 75 yards for a touchdown on the first possession against Seattle’s No. 1 defense.
“Started off not getting off the field like we would like to,’’ Carroll said. “It just didn’t look great, and I thought they looked really good.’’
But Seattle‘s No. 1 offense drove for a field goal on its only possession and the onslaught began.
Boykin hit on 7 of 9 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown and ran four times for 31 yards and another touchdown as the Seahawks took a 34-17 lead at halftime, scoring 24 points in the second quarter alone.
While Boykin was the backup to Russell Wilson last season and has been listed behind Wilson this season, Carroll had portrayed the backup QB battle this week as wide open between Boykin and veteran free-agent signee Austin Davis.
Boykin’s performance may have gone a long way toward securing that role for the former TCU standout again.
The offense benefitted greatly from an opportunistic defense. Linebacker Terence Garvin scored a touchdown on a 37-yard return of a tipped pass in the first quarter and end Christian French — signed to the team earlier this week — returned a fumble to the 1 to set up another score in the second quarter.
But the Boykin-Williams connection also wowed throughout.
Boykin completed two passes for 56 yards in the first half to Williams each coming in man coverage situations when Williams was able to put the same talents that helped him win Class 4A state titles in the high jump, long jump and triple jump in 2011 to ample use.
On the first, Williams hung long in the air to corral a pass for a 28-yard gain that set up a touchdown on a 1-yard pass to Kenny Lawler on fourth down.
Williams sped past Los Angeles cornerback Michael Davis later in the quarter laying out to reel in another 28-yard gain that set up another touchdown on a 4-yard run by Boykin.
Williams made two more highlight-reel plays in the third quarter — he beat Davis on all four plays — to lead to another Seattle score.
On the first Williams simply stole the ball away from Davis on a fade route, resulting in a 34-yard gain.
Later in the drive, Williams again floated while turning his body to gain control of the ball, dragging his foot just inbounds for a 29-yard gain to the 1-yard-line.
Williams said his thought was that “when the ball’s in the air I just know that’s mine.’’
Asked how much he thought the game helped his roster chances he smiled and said, “I don’t know. A lot. A lot.’’
While Carroll singled out Williams stealing the ball from Davis as his favorite, Williams said “honestly I like them all, man. I can’t lie. I was just glad Tre trusted me with throwing the ball in the air and letting me go make a play for him.’’
Carroll said Boykin “did beautifully. Threw the ball really well. Made some big plays with his feet. Just really had good command of what was going on.’’
Boykin said the game illustrated what he had said earlier in the week — that he feels much more comfortable and confident on the field in his second year in the NFL.
“I feel like I have made a huge leap,’’ he said. “A big step.’’
| Seahawks exhibition schedule | |||
| Seattle opens the regular season Sept. 10 at Green Bay. | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | at L.A. Chargers | Win, 48-17 | |
| Friday | vs. Minnesota | 7 p.m. | Ch. 13 |
| Aug. 25 | vs. Kansas City | 5 p.m. | Ch. 7 |
| Aug. 31 | at Oakland | 7 p.m. | Ch. 13 |