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49ers top Vikings; Moss ineffective in debut

Aug 11, 2012 - 4:40 AM 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.