SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers moved the ball with little trouble in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys, but had only a pair of field goals to show for it.

The 49ers quickly corrected that problem to open the second half, marching 60 yards in 2:03 to regain the lead at 13-10. Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo, filling in for an ailing Jordan Mason, plunged in from 4 yards out after George Kittle caught a short pass from quarterback Brock Purdy and raced 43 yards to Dallas’ 4.

Kittle fumbled for 43 yards on this play 💪 #NationalTightEndsDay pic.twitter.com/W7jcy5cBr0

—NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024

The touchdown is the first of Guerendo’s young career after the Niners selected him in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft. It came after the 49ers averaged 7.64 yards per play in the first half, the highest they had averaged in the first two quarters without a touchdown since at least 1991, according to The Associated Press.

Isaac Guerendo takes it for his first TD of his career!

📺: #DALvsSF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JlKN99zx3T

—NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024

It marks the sixth time in seven games that the Cowboys have allowed points on the opening drive of the third quarter and the fifth touchdown in that situation.

It didn’t take long for the 49ers to extend their new lead when Kittle caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Purdy in the right corner of the end zone to extend their lead to 20-10 with 7:14 left in the third. .

It’s fitting that George Kittle scores #NationalTightEndsDay 🔥 @gkittle46

📺: #DALvsSF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tOnCd7dPL2

—NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024

For Kittle, the founder of National Tight Ends Day, it was his sixth touchdown of the season, making him the second-highest of his career. The score came on cornerback Deommodore Lenoir’s second interception of the season.