INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the Big Green's former football superstars, safety Lloyd Lee '98, is already making contributions to his new team. Lee intercepted a pass in the San Diego Chargers' overwhelming preseason victory against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night.
The big story for the rest of the nation, however, was the meeting between Ryan Leaf, the second pick in the NFL draft, and Peyton Manning, the No. 1 pick. It was only the second time in NFL history that quarterbacks picked 1-2 in the draft had faced each other as rookies.
Leaf was 15-for-24 for 172 yards, set up one touchdown and ran for a score as the Chargers broke a 3-3 tie at halftime and beat the Colts 33-3. It was only an exhibition game, but after a shaky first half, Leaf looked sharp in leading the Chargers to their third straight victory.
Manning, playing into the third quarter for the first time in the preseason, was 11-for-21 for 123 yards but twice had passes intercepted by Mike Dumas as the Colts dropped to 1-2.
San Diego, helped by Indianapolis turnovers, scored on its first five possessions of the second half. On the first play of the third quarter, Leaf passed 36 yards to Freddie Jones, starting a 10-play drive that produced a six-yard go-ahead touchdown run by Natrone Means.
Dumas returned his second interception 39 yards on the next series, giving San Diego the ball at the Indianapolis 18. Leaf, who was sacked three times, was thrown for a four-yard loss by Bert Berry, but an interference penalty on Rico Clark gave the Chargers first down at the Colts 1.
Leaf ran in on the next play, his second rushing TD of the preseason, for a 17-3 lead.
After the next Indianapolis punt, Weldon passed 44 yards to Brian Roche at the 14, and three plays later, Weldon passed 13 yards to Rachal for another touchdown and a 27-3 lead.
Lee intercepted a pass off backup Indianapolis quarterback Kelly Holcomb on the next series, and the Chargers moved 71 yards in 12 plays, scoring the final touchdown on a two-yard pass from Weldon to Michael Haynes with 3:25 to go.
