Hostetler Never Saw What Hit Raiders : Pro football: Chargers’ 102-yard interception return ruins quarterback’s record day, 30-23.

It was the greatest passing day in Raider history.

But it wasn’t enough.

Time after time Sunday at the Coliseum, quarterback Jeff Hostetler would fade back and look for No. 81, receiver Tim Brown.

And time after time, Hostetler would find him. For the Raiders’ first touchdown. For the Raiders’ last touchdown. For 156 of Hostetler’s team-record 424 yards passing.

But Hostetler went looking for No. 81 one time too many. And he never saw No. 27.

San Diego Charger defensive back Donald Frank picked off a pass intended for Brown in the Charger end zone in the third quarter and returned it 102 yards for the touchdown that broke the Raiders’ backs, leading to San Diego’s 30-23 victory before a frustrated crowd of 45,122.

Afterward, Hostetler, his shoulder aching from a blindside tackle, his pride aching from two crucial interceptions, could only shake his head at the bizarre turn the day had taken.

“It’s a shame,” he said, “to put that many stats on the board and lose.”

It had all begun so brightly for the Raiders. Studying game films, they had noticed that the Charger secondary was vulnerable to what the Raiders call a “stutter-and-go.” The receiver goes down 10-12 yards, fakes a turnaround and then takes off.

Coach Art Shell decided to come out firing.

First Raider play from scrimmage. Brown goes down, makes his fake, makes his move and makes Frank look foolish.

Streaking down the right sideline all alone, Brown settled under a perfectly thrown pass by Hostetler at the Charger 35-yard line and cruised into the San Diego end zone to complete a 71-yard play.

Raiders 7, Chargers 0.

Brown 1, Frank 0.

Hostetler was thrilled, but he wasn’t complacent.

“When you start out like that,” he said, “you know there’s going to be a letdown. You know it can be a long day.”

Sure enough, the Chargers answered with a touchdown pass of their own. John Friesz went to Anthony Miller for a 29-yard score.

The score was still tied at the half, 10-10, Jeff Jaeger’s 38-yard field goal matched by John Carney’s 45-yarder.

Hostetler opened up the second half by going back to Brown on a 38-yard touchdown pass play.

Marion Butts’ 12-yard run again tied the score--and left Hostetler looking for still more through the air.

As has been the case all season, the Raiders were plagued by an ineffective running game. With Nick Bell deactivated because of leg injuries that have kept him sidelined most of the season, the Raiders were left with Greg Robinson, an eighth-round draft choice, Ty Montgomery, a converted receiver, and Randy Jordan, a rookie free agent playing in his first NFL game.

At the half, the Raiders had a grand total of seven net yards rushing on a day when they would wind up with 65.

“We need to get the running game in gear,” Hostetler said, “to take the pressure off the passing game. Otherwise, they just tee off on you.”

But without an alternative Sunday, Hostetler kept passing.

With the score tied at 17, he went to James Jett on a 55-yard pass play to give the Raiders first and goal at the Charger five.

Robinson carried to the three.

On second down, Hostetler was planning on going to Brown on a slant across the back of the end zone.

As Brown took his place at the line of scrimmage, he was stunned by what he heard. “If you need help, don’t worry,” Frank yelled to his fellow defenders. “I’m coming back.”

The plan had been for Jett to go in motion, hopefully taking Frank with him. “I wanted to call a timeout,” Brown said.

Instead, he went forward with the Raider plan, Frank followed his plan of ignoring Jett, picked off the pass and had only Hostetler to beat. He danced the last 25 yards.

San Diego 24, Raider 17.

Brown 1, Frank 1.

“When I let it go,” Hostetler said, “I thought I had thrown a touchdown. It was a nice ball.”

That wasn’t the only ball Hostetler wanted back.

On the next series, attempting to go to tight end Ethan Horton, Hostetler threw another interception, this one picked off by linebacker Gary Plummer.

“Six inches higher,” Hostetler lamented, “and it would have been a big play for us.”

Instead, the Chargers got a 36-yard field goal by Carney to give them a 27-17 advantage.

The Raiders made yet another charge, Hostetler going to Robinson on a 58-yard pass play. But this drive bogged down at the Charger three, the Raiders settling for a 21-yard Jaeger field goal.

Each side kicked one more three-pointer, Carney from 38 yards and Jaeger from 31.

The loss left the Raiders a game behind the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs at 4-3. But the Chargers, now 3-4, are only a game behind the Raiders.

When the game was over, defensive lineman Anthony Smith, who got his 11th sack, recalled his days at Alabama.

“We used to have a coach,” he said, “who made us wear a rubber band on our wrist. When the other team would make a big play, he would tell us to snap that rubber band, to remind us that we could snap back.”

But Sunday, forced to go to the air too often, it was Hostetler who finally snapped.

Raider Notes

Jeff Hostetler completed 20 of 32 passes to get his 424 yards. The former Raider record was 419 yards by Cotton Davidson in 1964 against Denver. The second-best total in Raider history had been 407 yards by Tom Flores, a quarterback before he was a coach, in 1963 against Houston.

Big Numbers

424--Quarterback Jeff Hostetler sets a Raider record for passing yardage, but interceptions hurt in loss to Chargers.

324--Miami’s Don Shula equals George Halas’ record for coaching victories with a 30-10 decision over Kansas City. Story, C4.

237--Emmitt Smith breaks Tony Dorsett’s team mark for rushing yardage as the surging Cowboys beat the Eagles. Story, C4.