NFL game summary for 11/23/1972:
Trailing 7-0, with Dallas again threatening at its 7 yard line, San Francisco evened the score when linebacker Dave Wilcox's tackle jarred the ball loose from Craig Morton and 49er Skip Vanderbundt picked up the fumble and dashed 73 yards for a touchdown. On Dallas' next series, 49ers' cornerback Bruce Taylor intercepted a Morton pass to set up San Francisco's go-ahead touchdown. Vanderbundt also scored S. F.'s final TD, returning an interception 21 yards in the fourth period. The victory lifted the 49ers into first place in the NFC Western Division.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 107.1 (23) | 203.7 (1) | 310.8 (8) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 127.6 (10) | 159.1 (15) | 286.7 (14) | 26 | |
 | OFFENSE | 151.5 (7) | 185.5 (3) | 337.0 (3) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 102.3 (1) | 165.0 (19) | 267.3 (4) | 22 |
Line: Cowboys by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (6-4-1) | 0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Dallas Cowboys (8-3-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 7) DAL Walt Garrison 7 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7- 7) SF Skip Vanderbundt 73 yard fumble return (Bruce Gossett kick)
(14- 7) SF Ken Willard 1 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
(14-10) DAL Toni Fritsch 23 yard field goal
(21-10) SF Ted Kwalick 12 yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Bruce Gossett kick)
(24-10) SF Bruce Gossett 18 yard field goal
(31-10) SF Skip Vanderbundt 21 yard interception return (Bruce Gossett kick)
SF DAL
First Downs: 17 19
Rushes-yards: 34-123 26-107
Yards/rush: 3.6 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-24-177-0 19-39-267-2
Sacked-yards: 2-20 9-66
Net pass yards: 157 201
Net yards/pass: 6.0 4.2
Total net yards: 280 308
Total plays: 60 (56% run) 74 (35% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 3-2
Turnovers: 1 4
Penalties-yards: 2-14 3-30
Attendance: 65,124
Passing:
SF: Steve Spurrier, 16 of 24 for 177 yards and 1 TD DAL: Craig Morton, 18 of 34 for 255 yards (2 int); Roger Staubach, 1 of 5 for 12 yards
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 16 for 77 yards; Larry Schreiber, 9 for 26 yards; Ken Willard, 5 for 0 yards and 1 TD; Joe Reed, 3 for 22 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -2 yards DAL: Walt Garrison, 12 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 12 for 29 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 21 yards
Receiving:
SF: Vic Washington, 6 for 31 yards; Ted Kwalick, 4 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Gene Washington, 2 for 49 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 2 for 17 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 11 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 1 yard DAL: Walt Garrison, 6 for 64 yards; Ron Sellers, 4 for 84 yards; Billy Parks, 4 for 70 yards; Mike Ditka, 3 for 24 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 13 yards; Lance Alworth, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Ralph McGill, 1 for 22 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 3 for 73 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Skip Vanderbundt, 1 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 7 for 283 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 6 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/1 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 1/1
SF: Steve Spurrier, 16 of 24 for 177 yards and 1 TD DAL: Craig Morton, 18 of 34 for 255 yards (2 int); Roger Staubach, 1 of 5 for 12 yards
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 16 for 77 yards; Larry Schreiber, 9 for 26 yards; Ken Willard, 5 for 0 yards and 1 TD; Joe Reed, 3 for 22 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -2 yards DAL: Walt Garrison, 12 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Calvin Hill, 12 for 29 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 21 yards
Receiving:
SF: Vic Washington, 6 for 31 yards; Ted Kwalick, 4 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Gene Washington, 2 for 49 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 2 for 17 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 11 yards; Larry Schreiber, 1 for 1 yard DAL: Walt Garrison, 6 for 64 yards; Ron Sellers, 4 for 84 yards; Billy Parks, 4 for 70 yards; Mike Ditka, 3 for 24 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 13 yards; Lance Alworth, 1 for 12 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Ralph McGill, 1 for 22 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 3 for 73 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
SF: Skip Vanderbundt, 1 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim McCann, 7 for 283 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 6 for 241 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/1 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 1/1