SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 9, 2012
49ers 27, Dolphins 13: Colin Kaepernick broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown run with 2:10 to play to wrap up host San Francisco's victory over Miami.
Frank Gore rushed for 63 yards and a 1-yard touchdown and Anthony Dixon also scored from a yard out as the 49ers (9-3-1) maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over Seattle atop the NFC West with three games to play.
Kaepernick, making his fourth start since replacing Alex Smith, threw for 185 yards and ran for 53 as San Francisco rebounded from last week's overtime loss at St. Louis.
Rookie Ryan Tannehill finished 17-of-33 for 150 yards and a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end Anthony Fasano that brought Miami (5-8) within 20-13 with 7:55 to play.
Michael Crabtree had a season-high nine catches for 93 yards for San Francisco, which limited the Dolphins to 227 total yards and all but KO'd their postseason chances. Aldon Smith added to his league-leading sack total with two, giving him a franchise-record 19.5 for the season.
Gore scored on a 1-yard plunge after Marcus Thigpen muffed a punt to give the 49ers a 13-3 lead with 11:17 left in the third quarter. It was his 50th career rushing touchdown, tying his for first with Joe Perry and Roger Craig on the franchise's all-time list.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kaepernick's TD set a franchise record for the longest scoring run by a QB, eclipsing a 49-yarder by Steve Young in 1988. ... Gore went over 1,000 yards for the sixth season, the most in franchise history. ... Fasano made a spectacular one-handed, diving catch for his 22nd career TD reception, moving him into a tie for second for tight ends on the franchise list. ... 49ers WR Randy Moss had two catches for 30 yards, both coming on a drive that led to David Akers' 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.