San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco 49ers received a 4-yard touchdown run from Jewel Hampton and a 1-yard score from Anthony Dixon in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 34-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Colin Kaepernick played well in just a quarter of action, going 7-of-13 for 72 yards with a touchdown pass to Quinton Patton. Lavelle Hawkins added 105-yard touchdown on a kickoff return and Phil Dawson went 2-for-2 on field goals.
Minnesota stayed winless this preseason, with quarterback Christian Ponder losing a fumble and throwing an interception. Besides the turnovers, he threw for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-23 efficiency.
The Niners struck first, getting a 30-yard field goal from Dawson after the team recovered a Ponder fumble deep in Minnesota territory. Later on in the first, Kaepernick made it 10-0 with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Patton.
Colt McCoy then entered at quarterback and was picked off on San Francisco's first drive of the second period. Chad Greenway recorded the interception, and Ponder capitalized by tossing a touchdown to Zach Line from a yard out.
Hawkins restored a 10-point edge for the 49ers by taking the ensuing kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. Dawson then made it 20-7 with a 50-yard field goal before the half.
Ponder's last series ended in touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 20-14 in the third, but Hampton and Dixon each had rushing scores in the fourth to break the game open.