Former Wisconsin running back leads 49ers to victory over Cowboys on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Former Wisconsin running back scores first NFL touchdown on “Sunday Night Football”

Former Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the San Francisco 49ers’ 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

The former Badger took a hand off from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy from the 4-yard line and plunged in for the score. His touchdown was the first of three third-quarter touchdowns by the 49ers. It put the team up 13-10 — a lead it did not relinquish.

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Guerendo finished the evening with a team-high 14 carries, 85 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, plus three receptions for 17 receiving yards.

Here is his touchdown:

The former Badger’s role has steadily increased since joining the team as a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He has become the team’s primary option at the position with star Christian McCaffrey out with an injury.

His evening against Dallas could have looked even better in the stat sheet. Instead of adding another touchdown in the game’s closing moments, Guerendo smartly slid to end the game.

Guerendo played for five years at Wisconsin (2018-2022) before transferring to Louisville for the 2023 season. He was never able to win the full-time starting job with the Badgers thanks to recurring injuries and the emergence of Braelon Allen in 2021.

The speedster’s best college output was, by far, his 810-yard, 11-touchdown 2023 season with Louisville. Otherwise, he totaled 99 carries, 582 yards and six touchdowns in his years with the Badgers.

Guerendo is up to 37 carries, 227 yards and one touchdown in his rookie NFL season. He and the 49ers will be back on the field on Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.

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