The San Francisco 49ers had several noteworthy performances on special teams in a 23-6 home victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Let's take a look at five of the best from Sunday night.
1. P Bradley Pinion
The rookie out of Clemson continues to showcase his booming right leg. Only on this night, the fifth-round draft pick was utilized on kickoffs in addition to his punting work. Two of Pinion's kickoffs went for touchbacks, the others went into the end zone and were returned to the 25- and 22-yard lines by Dallas returners.
As for Pinion's punting duties, the rookie averaged 46 yards per punt on seven attempts. Pinion also had three punts drop insided the 20-yard line, including one that was downed at Dallas' 6-yard line by snapper Kyle Nelson.
2. RB Jarryd Hayne
The Australian import continued his solid return work, only this time, Hayne fielded punts exlcusively. The 27-year-old NFL newcomer averaged 28 yards on three punt returns. After making an over-the-shoulder catch, with a smudged helmet visor, Hayne also ripped off a 34-yard punt return in the first quarter. Two of Hayne's long returns helped set up field goals in the first half.
"I'm still a long way off from where I want to be," Hayne said. "I want to go into games confident that everything I do I'm comfortable with. It's only my second game so I'm still very fresh."
3. WR Quinton Patton
The third-year wide receiver blocked a Tom Hornsey punt at Dallas' 6-yard line and scooped up the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Patton's impressive play made it a 23-0 lead for the 49ers with 12:46 left in the fourth quarter.
Patton's scoop-and-score moment left his teammates practically speechless.
"I don't know what happened," second-year cornerback Dontae Johnson said. "All of a sudden, I saw him in the stands with the football and I was like, 'Let's go celebrate!' Congratulations to him on that, he made a great play. A special teams play like that definitely helps us tremendously."
4. K Phil Dawson
The 17th-year pro connected on field goals from 25 and 33 yards out in the first half. Dawson is a perfect 3-for-3 in the preseason. He also connected on a 33-yard extra point after Mike Purcell's 37-yard pick-six in the second quarter.
View the top photos from San Francisco's matchup against Dallas in the first game at Levi's Stadium of 2015.
5. K Corey Acosta
The undrafted rookie connected on his first made field goal in the NFL, a 38-yard attempt in the third quarter to put San Francisco up 16-0. Acosta later tacked on a 33-yard extra point following Patton's touchdown return.
