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SPORTS A19
Wednesday 16 September
Carlos Hyde runs for two
TDs, 49ers top Vikings 20-3
By JANIE McCAULEY Colin Kaepernick threw for the field and put points on San Francisco 49ers’ Jarryd Hayne (38) fumbles a punt that was
AP Sports Writer 165 yards and second-year the board,’’ he said. recovered by the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an
SANTA CLARA, Calif. back Hyde ran 26 times to 49ers linebacker NaVorro NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 14, 2015.
(AP) -- The San Francisco easily best his top rookie Bowman had one of five
49ers have a new featured performance of 55 yards in sacks against Bridgewater Associated Press
running back with Frank his final game last year. and also seven tackles in
Gore long gone. A sloppy first half featured a his first game in 20 months
Carlos Hyde wanted to pair of botched field goals, following a left knee injury
outplay the better-known Vikings quarterback Teddy sustained during the NFC
No. 28 on the field, Adrian Bridgewater running into championship game loss
Peterson. He did that and his own teammate that at Seattle in January 2014
more, and Jim Tomsula’s led to a 10-yard sack, an that required surgery.q
San Francisco 49ers pro- 85-yard punt return touch-
duced a victory in his de- down called back on pen-
but as head coach minus alty, and a fumbled punt
the interim status he had - by the former Australian
for the final game of 2010. rugby league star Jarryd
Hyde carried the offense Hayne on his first NFL touch.
with 168 yards on the The 27-year-old rookie lost
ground and touchdown the fumble on a punt return
runs of 17 and 10 yards in in the first quarter when he
his first career start, spinning misjudged the ball and
away from a defender and had to dive forward to try
diving into the end zone to field it. He made a 1-yard
untouched on a rare nice run in the second quarter
play in a first half full of ugly and caught a 7-yard pass.
ones to lead the Niners past He was forced into running
the Minnesota Vikings 20-3 back duties as the only ac-
on Monday night. tive backup after Reggie
Peterson ran 10 times for 31 Bush was lost to a left calf
yards playing his first game injury with about 6 1/2 min-
in more than a year follow- utes left in the first quarter.
ing paid leave and then a ‘’We don’t think it’s very se-
suspension last year in the rious,’’ Tomsula said.
fallout from a child-abuse Kaepernick improved to
case against him in Texas. 5-0 on Monday nights with
Hyde had him on the mind. a victory in the first regular-
‘’That was also in the back season weeknight game
of my head, to outdo a guy at second-year, $1.3 billion
who’s been leading the Levi’s Stadium, where a
NFL in rushing. That’s tre- new field was put down for
mendous to outdo a guy this game.
like that, Adrian Peterson, a Peterson, playing for the
great running back,’’ Hyde first time since last season’s
said. ‘’I used to watch his opener at St. Louis, had just
highlights. To be able to four carries in the first half
outrush him, that’s great.’’ then doubled that total on
The new starter in place of the initial series after half-
departed franchise rushing time. He still hasn’t scored
leader Gore, Hyde’s yards a touchdown against San
were the most by a 49ers Francisco in four meetings.
running back since Gore’s No doubt Hyde made a
207 in Week 2 of 2009 name for himself.
against Seattle. ‘’I just try to be that mo-
‘’We want to run the foot- mentum builder for our of-
ball,’’ Tomsula said. ‘’Car- fense, get the offense roll-
los did an awesome job ing, spark the offense so
running the football.’’ we’re able to drive down
