Seahawks History

November 26, 1978.
by Mark Watson

The Seahawks vs. The Raiders in Oakland

The Raiders opened with an impressive drive led by veteran OB Ken Stabler. In 11 plays the Raiders drove to the Seattle 12. But Seattle defensive lineman Dennis Boyd recovered a Stabler fumble on the 20.

The Seahawk offense, with Jim Zorn at OB, drove 80 yards in ten plays and scored with a Zorn to Steve Raible pass.

Two series later the Raiders tied the game at 7 when Mark Van Eeghen carried four times for 22 yards on a seven play scoring drive that started at the Seattle 43. The Raiders scored again on a 26 yard field goal.

The halftime score was 10-7 in favor of the Raiders.

The third quarter was scoreless as both teams defenses held tough.

In the fourth quarter Seattle looked to the arm of Jim Zorn who led the team on a 13 play scoring drive that ended on a 27 yard TD pass to Steve Largent.

Six minutes later the Raiders took the lead again on a 31 yard TD pass from Stabler. The extra point was missed. With the score 16-14 the Seahawks needed only a field goal to take the lead.

The Raider defense came out hard, forcing the 'Hawks into a fourth and three situation. Zorn's pass to Don Testerman was tipped and fell incomplete. The Raiders took over with great field position.

But Seattle wouldn't die. The 'Hawk defense held the Raiders on a third and one, making it fourth down on the Seattle 21.

The Raiders opted to go for a first down instead of a field goal. But Seattle's defense held. The Seahawks got the ball with 2:27 left on the clock.

Zorn completed five of twelve passes as the Seahawks worked to the Oakland 28 yard line.

With only seconds remaining Efren Herrera came on and booted a 46 yard field goal.

Seattle 17 - Oakland 16

Source: Inside the Seahawks, Volume 1, Number 17, November 28, 1986 - December 4, 1986

Seahawks History
October 29,1978
by Mark Watson

When the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos take the field in an AFC West matchup, it's a safe bet that the outcome will be decided in the final minutes of play.

Since the Seahawks' inaugural season, the rivals have played each other 18 times during the regular season. Every one of those games has been decided bya touchdown or less, including one in the Kingdome on Oct. 29, 1978.

Craig Morton engineered the Denver offense with scores coming from kicker Jim Turner, Rick Upchurch and Lonnie Perrin.

The Seahawks kept pace with an opportunistic defense and scores by quarterback Jim Zorn, receiver Sam McCullum and kicker Efren Herrera.

Herrera's 37 yard field goal tied the game with 56 seconds to go, and the defense withstood a Bronco rush to put the game into overtime.

Denver won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. Their offensive series was stopped cold, but the Bronco defense returned the favor to Seattle.

Denver fumbled the ball away on its second possession of the OT, but Zorn then threw his third interception of the day. The Broncos drove the ball to a first and goal at the Seattle one yard line. The Seahawks held for three downs and then Turner shanked the ball, missing an 18 yard field goal.

But the referee gave the Broncos a second chance, flagging the Seahawks for having 12 men on the field. This time Turner kicked the ball through the uprights to give Denver a 20-17 win.

The name of the 12th man on the field—Dave Kraayeveld of Milton College—was permanently etched in Seahawk and Bronco history that day.

Denver 20—Seattle 17.