San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Colin Kaepernick ran for a 79-yard
touchdown and Alex Smith threw for a score as the San Francisco 49ers topped
the Minnesota Vikings, 17-6, in preseason action on Friday.
Kaepernick finished with 92 yards on the ground on just three carries and
completed 5-of-9 through the air for 40 yards. Smith got the start for the
49ers and was 3-of-3 for 16 yards on his only drive of the game.
Scott Tolzien had a nice day through the air for San Francisco, throwing for
84 yards on 10-of-13 passing with an interception
Anthony Dixon ran for 46 yards on 12 carries and Rock Cartwright added 44
yards on eight carries. Brett Swain caught a touchdown and Chris Owusu snagged
three passes for 35 yards.
Veteran wide receiver Randy Moss made his debut for the 49ers, but the former
Viking wasn't asked to do much on this night, as he did not catch a pass.
Moss last played in the NFL in 2010, when the seven-time Pro Bowl participant
compiled career lows of 28 catches and 393 receiving yards while suiting up
for three different teams. One of them was the Vikings, who traded for the
wideout in October of that year only to cut him after four games following a
personality clash with then-head coach Brad Childress.
Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder got the start for the Vikings and
threw for 80 yards on 4-of-9 passing. Toby Gerhart carried the ball five
times for 31 yards in place of starter Adrian Peterson, who tore his ACL and
MCL last season.
Blair Walsh accounted for all of Minnesota's points with a pair of field
goals in the loss.
The Vikings opened the scoring on the game's first possession as Ponder led
the team on a six-play, 59-yard march that was capped by a 39-yard field goal
from Walsh.
The 49ers responded with a score on the ensuing possession to take the lead.
Smith led a lengthy drive of 12 plays and 84 yards which ate up just over
seven minutes of clock before the quarterback connected with Swain on a four-
yard touchdown strike.
Walsh capped a 13-play, 68-yard march with a 26-yard field goal early in the
second quarter to cut the lead to 7-6.
On the 49ers ensuing touch, Kaepernick took the ball around the right end and
down the sideline for the 79-yard score.
Giorgio Tavecchio finished off the scoring with a 29-yard field goal late in
the second quarter.
The Sports Network