49ers players continue to marvel at Kaepernick’s star turn

By Jim Trotter

NEW ORLEANS — This was the tipping point Who Dat Nation had been waiting on. Its beloved Saints, after surrendering 21 consecutive points, had scored to make it a one-touchdown game, and now they had 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick facing 3rd-and-11 from his 35-yard line.

The Superdome shook with anticipation. Surely the second-year QB — in his first road start — would feel the pressure of the moment, if not the New Orleans pass rush. He was outstanding six days earlier in his first career start, but that was at home, against a Bears team with a relatively vanilla defense and an awful offense whose porous line couldn’t protect backup-turned-starter Jason Campbell.

But now Kaepernick was in a hostile environment and matched against a desperate opponent seeking its fifth win in six games, with a quarterback who’s one of the game’s best closers. The roar inside the dome was deafening as he took the snap in the shotgun, but not so loud that running back Frank Gore couldn’t hear what Kaepernick barked as he released a pass that sailed down the right seam before landing behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties for a 25-yard gain to tight end Delanie Walker.

“Yeah! You motherf—-rs!” he said.

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