SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 30, 2011
Frank Gore ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the offensively challenged Cleveland Browns 20-10 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory.
David Akers kicked two field goals and Michael Crabtree caught his first touchdown of the season for the 49ers, who have won five straight for the first time since 2001. Led by Coach of the Year candidate Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco is 6-1 for the first time in 13 years.
A big reason for the fast start is Gore, who has recorded four straight 100-yard games for the first time in his career and passed Roger Craig for the second on the franchise's all-time rushing list.
The 49ers were in control for most of the game, but Cleveland (3-4) cut the lead to 17-10 with 6:17 left on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Colt McCoy to Josh Cribbs. It was the Browns’ first offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of a Week 6 loss to Oakland.
San Francisco, however, chewed up just over four minutes on the ensuing drive, which ended with a 26-yard field goal from Akers.
The 49ers’ defense set the tone early as Ahmad Brooks sacked McCoy on the second play from scrimmage and Isaac Sopoaga recovered at the Browns’ 20. Five plays later, Gore scored from the 4.
Akers added a 29-yard field goal and Alex Smith’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Crabtree gave the 49ers a 17-0 lead with 1:31 left in the half.