SAN DIEGO -- The NFL season has kicked off and it features a number of former Aztecs.
Damontae Kazee drew the start at safety for Atlanta in its season-opening loss against Seattle. The former two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year made four solo tackles in the game, while playing all 62 snaps on defense as well as five on special teams. Daniel Brunskill, meanwhile, started at guard for San Francisco as it fell to Arizona to start the season. Brunskill was on the field for all 62 offensive snaps in addition to four on special teams. On the other side, long snapper Aaron Brewer appeared in 10 special teams snaps for the Cardinals. Miami's Calvin Munson (eight snaps) and Houston's Kahale Warring (nine snaps) also saw special teams play against New England and Kansas City, respectively. Rookies Keith Ismael (Washington) and Luq Barcoo (Jacksonville) did not play in wins for their respective team, while running back Rashaad Penny is on the physically unable to perform list for Seattle and fullback Nick Bawden is on injured reserve for Detroit.
In the NBA, Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers are tied 3-3 in their Western Conference Semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets. The series concludes Tuesday night with the winner advancing to the Western Conference Finals. So far this series, Leonard is averaging 26.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
On the baseball diamond, Ty France has been heating up since his trade to Seattle. The former San Diego Padre is batting .308 with two home runs, six RBIs and five runs with Seattle, including a modest six-game hitting streak from Sept. 7-13. Greg Allen has appeared in one game since his trade to the Padres, reaching base three times against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 2 with two walks and a hit by pitch, while scoring a run and stealing a base.
On the PGA tour, Xander Schauffele tied for second at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, shooting 15-under par to move up to seventh in the Official World Golf Rankings. Last weekend at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif., former Aztec J.J. Spaun tied for ninth at 16-under par, while Scott Piercy missed the cut. Schauffele is slated to compete at this weekend's U.S. Open at Winged Foot GC in Mamaroneck, N.Y.