SAN DIEGO -- It was a special week for former Aztecs.
Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals won the 2019 World Series over the Houston Astros. After his pitching gems in Games 2 and 6, Strasburg was named World Series Most Valuable Player. His championship and World Series MVP come just months after another former Aztec - Kawhi Leonard - won the NBA Finals and the Finals MVP Award.
Xander Schauffele, another successful athlete that played at SDSU, finished second in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China, last weekend. Schauffele shot 19-under par (269 strokes) to tie Rory McIlroy for first, but fell in the first hole of the playoff.
Kawhi Leonard played two games the last week, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a pair of wins. Los Angeles beat San Antonio on Halloween night and the Utah Jazz on Sunday. Leonard averaged 34.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks, including a 38-point, 12-rebound performance against his former team the San Antonio Spurs. The Clippers are 5-2 and tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Daniel Brunskill led the way for former Aztecs in the NFL again. He played in all 74 offensive snaps for San Francisco in its 28-25 win on against Arizona on Halloween. The 8-0 49ers are the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL and will try to stay that way in a Monday night matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Across the field from Brunskill on Thursday night, Aaron Brewer appeared in eight snaps on special teams for Arizona. The Cardinals travel to Tampa Bay for a Week 10 matchup with the Buccaneers. Rashaad Penny played against the Buccaneers in Week 9 as Seattle picked up a 40-34 overtime win. Penny appeared in 11 offensive snaps for the Seahawks, receiving four carries for 12 yards (3.0 avg) and a target on a passing play. Penny and the Seahawks will play the 49ers in Week 10, against whom Penny ran for 65 yards and a touchdown last time he faced them. Detroit fullback Nick Bawden appeared in nine snaps on offense and 16 on special teams against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Bawden tackled Oakland's Trevor Davis on a punt return in the third quarter in Detroit's 31-24 win. The Lions will play in Chicago against the Bears on Sunday. Kameron Kelly saw the field for 14 snaps on special teams in the Pittsburgh Steelers' win over Indianapolis. The Steelers take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. Damontae Kazee and the Atlanta Falcons were on bye in Week 9. They return to action on Sunday in New Orleans against the Saints. Calvin Munson is on the practice squad for New England and Kahale Warring is on injured reserve for Houston.