Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo made it abundantly clear he is a team player after a selfless decision secured a vital victory for the San Francisco 49ers, forcing him to make a plea to EA Sports
10:02 ET, 12 Oct 2024Updated 10:02 ET, 12 Oct 2024
Isaac Guerendo played a decisive role in the 49ers win(Image: Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Isaac Guerendo has pleaded with Madden video game developer EA Sports not to reduce his stats after his selfless decision secured victory for the San Francisco 49ers.
After racing out to a 23-3 lead on Thursday Night Football, the Niners allowed NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks back into the contest. A nine-yard touchdown grab from Tyler Lockett narrowed the score to 29-24 with 1:44 left on the clock at Lumen Field.
The Seahawks had all three timeouts remaining, meaning the 49ers needed to move the chains to secure a much-needed victory after losing three of their previous games. Up stepped rookie running back Guerendo, who burst into open space and ripped off a game-clinching 75-yard run.
But instead of waltzing into the endzone for his first career touchdown, the former Wisconsin and Louisville standout gave himself up on the four-yard line to work the clock and ensure his team would improve to 3-3 on the season after losing three of their previous for games.
Moments later, fullback Kyle Juszcyzk pounded the ball into the endzone and put the icing on the cake to seal a 36-24 win and get the 49ers’ season back on track.
Guerendo was widely praised for his heads-up play, which crushed any hopes of the Seahawks making an improbable comeback. And although the wait goes on for his first NFL touchdown, the 24-year-old saw the funny side.
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“Don’t lower my speed yet @EAMaddenNFL,” Guerendo posted on X, adding crying-laughing emojis. “I had to make a business decision.”
Some of his teammates, however, playfully questioned whether Guerendo intended to slide or whether he was tripped up by pursuing defender Devon Witherspoon.
Juszczyk was among them. He said: “I don’t know if he slid down by himself or not,” Juszczyk said with a wry smile. “I think he did. But, man, what a way to end the game. I definitely owe him. I definitely owe him. The thing is, I don’t care if he was trying to go down or if he got caught, I got in there, so I appreciate him.”
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan, meanwhile, made clear he would have been more than happy had Guerendo chosen to take the ball all the way to paydirt. “Hell no, we want him to score,” Shanahan laughed. “I don’t think he slid. That’s what he’s claiming. I think [Witherspoon is] a fast player, and he did get him a little bit there at the end, I think. I’ll see it. You guys saw it. But ended up working out better for us.”
Guerendo disagreed. He said: “I’m sure he was fast,” Guerendo said of defensive back Witherspoon. “But I kind of had it in my mind once I looked to the sideline and everybody was like ‘Get down,’ so I had to make a business decision.”
Regardless, the outcome secured a timely return to winning ways for the Niners ahead of a blockbuster showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) in Week 7 in a repeat of last season’s Super Bowl, which the Chiefs claimed with an overtime victory.
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