The San Francisco 49ers ended their 2024 preseason schedule with a 24-24 tie over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.

Starters played the first quarter for the 49ers and looked much sharper than they did in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. A handful of non-starters also shined in their final chance to make the case for a 53-man roster spot.

Here are our observations from each quarter of Friday night's game:

First quarter

- Rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo is back to return the opening kickoff. This is his NFL debut after missing most of training camp and the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury.

- Jordan Mason is the starting running back ahead of Elijah Mitchell.

- Sweet catch by Deebo Samuel on the first offensive play of the game. Brock Purdy lofted one up to him and Samuel high-pointed it. He's had a great camp and it continues in his preseason debut.

- Woof, Brayden Willis got walloped and couldn't set the edge on a run to the left. It looked like starting left guard Nick Zakelj got pushed back too.

- Decent opening drive for the 49ers offense. They had to settle for a field goal after Purdy's third-and-15 throw was tipped at the line. It looked like right tackle Colton McKivitz got pushed into the pocket and allowed the DE to get a hand up and on the ball. It wasn't a crisp offensive showing, but it was much better than last week. That's a win.

- The 49ers starting defense got a three-and-out. On third down, Maliek Collins blew up the pocket from the middle and Leonard Floyd cleaned it up to drop the quarterback. It didn't go down as a sack, but it was still a good sign that two newcomers created havoc on a third down.

- Jake Tonges lined up at fullback with the first-team offense. That's kind of interesting for the tight end. He may be finding his way onto the roster.

- Woof. Jaylon Moore and Nick Zakelj both got beat and allowed a sack. The 49ers need Trent Williams and Aaron Banks back in the worst way.

- George Kittle is in midseason form. Purdy got hit as he threw and left it high for Kittle, but he leapt up between two defenders and grabbed it. Whether it was intentional or not, the ball placement was perfect just over the linebacker.

- Jordan Mason is outstanding. He's up to 26 yards on four carries.

- Oh hey a Guerendo sighting on offense! He plowed ahead for six yards on his first carry. Nothing particularly notable about the run. He found the lane and hit it. His second run featured a sweet cutback to his left and went for another six yards. Good work from the rookie.

- Touchdown for Mason. He is so tough to bring down. The left side of the OL cleared the way that time. It's 10-0, 49ers. Mason is up to 30 yards and one touchdown on five carries.

- Not good. Leonard Floyd got rolled up on and is being tended to by trainers. One of his calling cards as a pro has been his availability, and the 49ers don't have the depth to replace him.

- One snap after Floyd left, Ji'Ayir Brown forced a fumble. He's very good at generating takeaways. That time he dislodged the ball and Robert Beal recovered for the 49ers.

Second quarter

- Yikes! A red-zone interception for Purdy. His throw to Samuel was a little hot and got tipped in the air for a pick.

- De'Vondre Campbell is having a heck of a game. He's all over the field and came up with a couple of really nice tackles.

- Third-down pass breakup for Rock Ya-Sin ends the Raiders drive after the interception. He's had a heck of a preseason.

- Brandon Allen is QB2 for the final preseason game. His first series went three-and-out.

- More special teams woes for the 49ers. They gave up a punt return touchdown. This shouldn't typically be a problem with Mitch Wishnowsky kicking, but this is now two huge returns 49ers coverage units have given up in the preseason. Not great!

- How about Guerendo! The fourth-round pick took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards deep into Raiders territory. That was a sweet return where he made a couple of good cuts and broke a tackle before finally being wrapped up. It looked like TE Cameron Latu put a nice block in that helped spring the return.

- The 49ers punched a touchdown in a couple plays later with veteran Patrick Taylor. Both players made their preseason debuts.

- Good tackle in the flat by CB Samuel Womack.

- Now a good pass breakup from rookie CB Renardo Green.

- Look at Latu! He made a couple catches on throws from Allen. One was a short toss, but the second one was deeper on a corner route. He's still a long way from a roster spot, but it's good to see him putting good snaps on tape.

- Allen took two sacks. The second one was rough for left tackle Brandon Parker. He just got smoked by the DE and Allen had no chance.

- Tremendous coverage by Darrell Luter Jr. He was credited with a pass breakup, but it might've been an interception if he saw it sooner.

- Womack came up with a pass breakup. He's having a really nice game while battling for a roster spot.

- Raiders TD pass just before the half features a hold by rookie safety Malik Mustapha. It looked like he just got a little grabby with the tight end when the QB started rolling out of the pocket. That's a forgivable mistake for the rookie.

- Ouch. Patrick Taylor churned out a nice return right before the half, but Latu was flagged for holding.

Third quarter

- Heck of a run stop by T.Y. McGill. Rookie linebacker Tatum Bethune also got downhill to finish that play off.

- Oh no. Womack just got dogged by a running back. He got blown by and then couldn't recover in time. He got twisted around and allowed a 35-yard touchdown. Ouch.

- It's still Allen at QB to start the second half. His first throw is to Cowing over the middle. He's having a heck of a preseason after missing most of camp with a hamstring injury.

- Sick throw by Allen up the seam to Ronnie Bell, but Bell couldn't locate it.

- Good punt return by Bell after he inexplicably let the ball bounce and roll past him. He's tough to bring down with the ball in his hands. That was clear in last year's preseason as well.

- Josh Dobbs is under center for the 49ers' second series of the second half.

- It's hard to judge Guerendo as a runner because of the talent he's playing with and against, but he's super smooth and is showing off some really nice instincts.

- Heck of a throw under pressure by Dobbs on a third-and-7 for a first down. He should probably be QB2.

- Taylor is a unit. The 49ers are going to have to cut a good RB no matter who they wind up letting go.

- Tack a touchdown onto Cowing's outstanding preseason. Dobbs drilled in a nice throw to him for a 10-yard score. That's really good football by both players.

- Nice bounce back for Womack, who had a pass breakup late in the third.

Fourth quarter

- Ouch. A fumble by Tay Martin on his first target of the night. He was already a longshot for the roster and that won't help.

- Bethune may have played his way onto the roster this preseason. He's been awesome.

- Another outstanding play by a young linebacker. The Raiders tried a zone read on third-and-goal and Jalen Graham read it the whole way to drop the play for a loss.

- Excellent work by Darrell Luter Jr. for an interception on a fourth-down fade. The receiver never had a chance and Luter read it the whole way.

- Whew heck of a throw by Dobbs on the run and a great catch by TE Brayden Willis. The throw was a little short, but Willis came back to snag it. Dobbs was on the move with a defender in his face and still got enough on the throw to get it to his TE.

- Hey look at the undrafted rookie Evan Anderson! He got inside to force a throwaway on a third-down screen.

- More undrafted action with Tanner Mordecai under center and Cody Schrader in the backfield.

- Heck of a throw by Mordecai rolling to his left. He threw a dart downfield to Ronnie Bell.

- Another pass breakup for Womack. Save for the TD he allowed earlier, Womack has had a heck of a night.

- Raiders are driving. An exciting finish! Luter got beat for a catch on the sideline and Jaylen Mahoney had great coverage on a throw over the middle, but got beat for a reception.

- Holy cow. Now it's Womack getting beat with a sensational catch through tough coverage. This is tough for the two 49ers CBs who are battling for roster spots.

- Sam Okuayinonu with a sack. Nice work by a DE the 49ers may need depending on their injury situation.

- Vegas kicked a game-tying field goal. They played for overtime in the preseason. Antonio Pierce: stock down.

- Hilarious. No overtime in the preseason. Mordecai tried a Hail Mary that didn't get to the end zone, but it was still caught by Trent Taylor. The chaos was a fun end to the preseason. Next up: Week 1!

Final score

49ers 24, Raiders 24

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Notes and observations from 49ers final preseason game