Ex-Viking Hill finally tosses one: for 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - In four seasons as an invisible reserve quarterback for the Vikings, Shaun Hill got on the field for exactly two plays, both of them kneel-downs at the end of a game.

Now in his second season with San Francisco, the six-year veteran finally made some plays that counted for the first time in his NFL career, and they came against his former team on Sunday in a 27-7 loss to the Vikings.

Hill provided the NFL's 32nd-ranked offense with a spark in the second half after the Vikings knocked out starter Trent Dilfer (concussion) near the end of the second quarter.

"I've been anxious for a long time," Hill said. "Obviously, with Trent getting hurt, I wasn't very happy about the circumstances. That said, I had a job to do when I got in there. I mean, it's been six years. So I was excited."

Hill directed a 12-play, 61-yard drive that produced the 49ers' only touchdown, on a 5-yard pass to Arnaz Battle on their first series of the second half.

Throwing the first passes of his NFL career, Hill completed 22 of 28 for 180 yards for a 90.5 quarterback rating. Hill moved the San Francisco offense well in the second half, but a pass that slipped out of his hand was intercepted by defensive tackle Pat Williams after the 49ers had reached the Minnesota 41-yard line late in the third quarter. San Francisco's final drive ended at the Minnesota 33, after Hill was hit from behind by newcomer Otis Grigbsy and fumbled into the arms of defensive tackle Spencer Johnson.

"He did do some good things, and it didn't surprise me," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "We've seen Shaun play that way in the preseason."

Despite the turnovers, Hill seemed effective against a Minnesota defense that hounded Dilfer into 12 incompletions in 19 attempts with an interception returned for a touchdown.

"Shaun kept his composure and made some critical reads like the one down there in the red zone to Arnaz," 49ers receiver Ashley Lelie said. "He didn't panic, he waited, read the coverage and found a wide-open Arnaz. That right there tells me a lot about his composure and about him being ready to play when he was called on."

Hill, who like former Vikings coach Mike Tice played quarterback at Maryland, never got that call while playing for the Vikings as the No. 3 quarterback from 2002-05. After Daunte Culpepper was hurt in 2005, Hill moved up to No. 2 behind starter Brad Johnson, but he never got on the field when it counted. When Tice was let go after the 2005 season, Hill signed with the 49ers and was their No. 3 QB last season. A season-ending injury to Alex Smith moved Hill up to No. 2 for Sunday's game.

And, Hill had to admit, his performance was just a bit more meaningful, as it came against the Vikings.

"Earlier in the year, we were joking around that I had the longest tenure without throwing the ball in the history of quarterbacks," Hill said. "I have no ill will toward anybody over there. The organization is going in a different direction, and I understand that. I was just happy to get the opportunity I got here with the 49ers without having any real playing experience."

But, Hill added, "It would have been awfully nice to win the game. But I was very glad to play my first time with the 49ers, that's for sure."