1946 San Francisco 49ers

The 1946 AAFC season San Francisco 49ers season was not only their inaugural season, but also the first season of the league's existence. Despite losing their first game as a team and having a stretch of five consecutive road games, the 49ers managed to go 9-5, earning the second-best record in the West division (third-best overall). The 49ers also outscored every other team except for the eventual season champions, the Cleveland Browns.

Top Players
Frank Albert was the main quarterback, completing 52.8% of his passes for 1,404 yards, 14 touchdowns and a rating of 69.8. Norm Standlee rushed for 651 yards, and Alyn Beals caught 40 passes for 586 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense Ken Casanega intercepted eight passes.

Week 1: vs New York Yankees
Sunday, September 8 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary SF - Len Eshmont 40 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick) NYY - Lowell Wagner 40 yard blocked punt return (Harvey Johnson kick) NYY - Ace Parker 7 yard rush (Harvey Johnson kick) NYY - Dewey Procter 7 yard rush (Harvey Johnson kick)
 * First Quarter
 * Second Quarter
 * Third Quarter
 * Fourth Quarter

Week 2: vs Miami Seahawks
Sunday, September 15 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * SF - Dick Renfro unknown yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Mia - Lamar Davis 22 yard pass from Marion Pugh (Dick Erdlitz kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Dick Renfro 5 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Dick Renfro 3 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Mia - Prince Scott 30 yard pass from Cotton Price (Dick Erdlitz kick)

Week 3: vs Brooklyn Dodgers
Sunday, September 22 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * Brk - Mickey Colmer 27 yard pass from Lew Mayne (Jim McCarthy kick)
 * SF - Len Eshmont 5 yard rush (John Mellus kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Len Eshmont 35 yard pass from Frank Albert (kick failed)
 * SF - Alyn Beals 43 yard pass from Frank Albert (kick failed)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Bob Titchenal 42 yard pass from Len Eshmont (kick failed)
 * SF - Frank Albert 10 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Brk - Neal Adams 5 yard pass from Glenn Dobbs (kick failed)

Week 4: at Chicago Rockets
Sunday, September 29 at Soldier Field

Scoring Summary
 * Second Quarter
 * Chi - Steve Nemeth 20 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * Chi - Elroy Hirsch 8 yard pass from Bob Hoernschemeyer (Steve Nemeth kick)
 * Chi - Bill Kellagher 3 yard rush (Steve Nemeth kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Len Eshmont 2 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Chi - Ralph Heywood 15 yard pass from Bob Hoernschemeyer (Steve Nemeth kick)

Week 5: at Miami Seahawks
Tuesday, October 8 at Miami Orange Bowl

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * SF - Len Eshmont 2 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Alyn Beals 12 yard pass from Jesse Freitas (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Earle Parsons 24 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Mia - Prince Scott 4 yard pass from Jimmy Tarrant (Dick Erdlitz kick)
 * SF - Pete Franceschi 8 yard rush (kick failed)
 * SF - John Kuzman 72 yard fumble return (Joe Vetrano kick)

Week 6: at Los Angeles Dons
Saturday, October 12 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * SF - Joe Vetrano 26 yard field goal
 * SF - Alyn Beals 5 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * LA - Andy Marefos 1 yard rush (Joe Aguirre kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Frank Albert 5 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * LA - Don Nowaskey 35 yard interception return (Joe Aguirre kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Earle Parsons 66 yard rush (kick failed)

Week 7: at Buffalo Bisons
Saturday, October 19 at War Memorial Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * Buf - Lou Zontini 45 yard field goal
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Len Eshmont 2 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Alyn Beals 25 yard pass from Jesse Freitas (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Buf - Chet Mutryn 29 yard pass from Al Dekdebrun (Lou Zontini kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Buf - Fay King 2 yard pass from Al Dekdebrun (Lou Zontini kick)

Week 8: at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, October 27 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * SF - Joe Vetrano 22 yard field goal
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Alyn Beals 16 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Len Eshmont 6 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Cle - Don Greenwood 3 yard rush (kick failed)
 * SF - Joe Vetrano 19 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Don Durdan 9 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Cle - Dante Lavelli 16 yard pass from Otto Graham (John Rokisky kick)
 * SF - Alyn Beals 15 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Cle - Gaylon Smith 3 yard rush (Mac Speedie pass from Otto Graham)

Week 9: vs Buffalo Bisons
Saturday, November 2 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * Second Quarter
 * Buf - Steve Juzwik 14 yard pass from Al Dekdebrun (Lou Zontini kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Len Eshmont 15 yard fumble return (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Len Eshmont 34 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Ken Casanega 18 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Bob Titchenal 54 yard pass from Frank Albert (kick failed)
 * Buf - Fay King 3 yard pass from George Terlap (Lou Zontini kick)

Week 10: vs Cleveland Browns
Sunday, November 10 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * Cle - Dante Lavelli 3 yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * Cle - Gaylon Smith 3 yard rush (Lou Groza kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Frank Albert 1 yard fumble return (Joe Vetrano kick)

Week 11: at New York Yankees
Sunday, November 17 at Yankee Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Joe Vetrano 26 yard field goal
 * SF - Johnny Strzykalski 7 yard rush (kick failed)
 * NYY - Harvey Johnson 23 yard field goal
 * Fourth Quarter
 * NYY - Eddie Prokop 25 yard pass from Ace Johnson (Harvey Johnson kick)

Week 12: at Brooklyn Dodgers
Sunday, November 24 at Ebbets Field

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * SF - Alyn Beals 20 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Norm Standlee 5 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * Brk - Neal Adams 7 yard pass from Glenn Dobbs (Phil Martinovich kick)
 * Brk - Glenn Dobbs 40 yard fumble return (Phil Martinovich kick)
 * SF - Bill Fisk 7 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Safety, Glenn Dobbs tackled in end zone
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Alyn Beals 4 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)

Week 13: vs Chicago Rockets
Saturday, November 30 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Johnny Strzykalski 7 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Ed Balatti 22 yard interception return (Joe Vetrano kick)

Week 14: vs Los Angeles Dons
December 8, 1946 at Kezar Stadium

Scoring Summary
 * First Quarter
 * SF - Alyn Beals 7 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * LA - Chuck Fenenbock 97 yard kickoff return (Joe Aguirre kick)
 * SF - Alyn Beals 40 yard pass from Frank Albert (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * SF - Ken Casanega 26 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Frank Albert 2 yard rush (Joe Vetrano kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Pete Franceschi 28 yard pass from Frank Albert (Ed Balatti pass from Frank Albert)
 * SF - Norm Standlee unknown yard rush (Alyn Beals pass from Frank Albert)
 * SF - Joe Vetrano 30 yard rush (kick failed)