SAN DIEGO -- A pair of former Aztecs made clutch plays for their NFL teams.
In the NFL, New York Giants rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger (2018-21) drew his first target in the NFL and scored a touchdown. He took a dump off from Daniel Jones at the 16-yard line and leaped past safety Jeremy Chinn at the 5 to score. He saw action on 42 snaps on offense. The Giants host Dallas on Monday night. Atlanta cornerback Darren Hall (2018-20) made a huge play in Atlanta's comeback against the Los Angeles Rams. After trailing, 28-3, in the second half, Atlanta closed the deficit to just six points. Last year's top wide receiver Cooper Kupp had the ball, but Hall punched it out and ran around to recover the fumble, returning it for three yards. This gave the Falcons the ball in Los Angeles territory inside of four minutes with the opportunity for a touchdown to take the lead. Atlanta could not capitalize on the chance, however. He also made five tackles (four solo) while playing 25 snaps on defense and six snaps on special teams. The Falcons travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in Week 3. Seattle running back Rashaad Penny (2014-17) started again, despite rookie Kenneth Walker III making his debut. Penny totaled six carries for 15 yards (2.5 avg.) for the Seahawks. Penny played on 20 offensive snaps. The Seahawks will play host to Hall's Falcons squad in Week 3. Arizona rookie defensive lineman Cameron Thomas (2019-21) appeared for a defensive snap against Las Vegas. His long snapper teammate Aaron Brewer (2014-17) was on the field for four snaps on special teams.
San Francisco offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill (2013-16) missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury. He will try to return for a Week 3 matchup in Denver. The Cardinals host the Los Angeles Rams next week. Pittsburgh safety Damontae Kazee (2013-16), New York Jets fullback Nick Bawden (2014-17), and Miami linebacker Calvin Munson (2013-16) are on injured reserve. Former Aztecs on practice squads are offensive lineman Zachary Thomas (2017-21) on Chicago, linebacker Segun Olubi (2020-21) on Indianapolis, safety Trenton Thompson (2016-21) on the New York Giants, offensive lineman William Dunkle (2019-21) on Pittsburgh, and offensive lineman Keith Ismael (2017-19), defensive lineman Alex Barrett (2013-16) and safety Tayler Hawkins (2017-21) on San Francisco.
In the MLB, infielder Ty France (2013-15) started all six games for Seattle at first base. Last week, he had six hits with six RBIs, five runs scored and a homer. On Friday night, he launched a two-run homer to deep left field in a narrow loss to the Los Angeles Angels. France closed out the week with a monster game on Monday. He hit an RBI double to the gap in the first before going deep for a three-run homer in the seventh, driving in four of Seattle's nine runs. On the season, France is batting 272 with a .336 on-base percentage, 19 home runs, 73 RBIs and 55 runs scored. Catcher Seby Zavala (2012-15) started for the Chicago White Sox in two games and also came off the bench twice. Last week, he collected an RBI single, a run scored, and a walk. So far this season, Zavala is batting .269, with a .345 on-base percentage, two home runs, 21 RBIs and 21 runs. Pittsburgh outfielder Greg Allen (2012-14) started three games in left field and came off the bench twice. He singled, walked, and scored. This season, Allen is batting .200 with a .279 on-base percentage, two homers, seven RBIs, 16 runs and eight stolen bases. Houston infielder David Hensley (2015-18) started three games, one each at shortstop, third base, and designated hitter. He walked twice and scored on Wednesday. This season, he is batting .261 with a .370 on-base percentage, two RBIs and four runs scored. Colorado infielder Alan Trejo (2015-17) started five of his six games at shortstop. Last week, he batted .294 with a .333 on-base percentage, a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Trejo got off to a hot start this week as he launched a two-run home run on Tuesday nigh, off Michael Kopech, in the third inning, giving the Rockies their only runs of the game. In Wednesday's game, he knocked an RBI double off Cy Young favorite Dylan Cease in the second inning to get the Rockies on the board in what would be a 3-0 victory. On the season, he is batting .269 with a .313 on-base percentage, three home runs, 13 RBIs and 11 runs. Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg (2007-09) is on the 60-Day IL and is not expected to return this season.
On the PGA Tour, J.J. Spaun (2009-12) tied for 59th at the Fortinet Championship at 2-under-par while Scott Piercy (1999-2001) did not make the cut. Xander Schauffele (2013-15) is ranked fifth in the world. Next weekend, Schauffele will represent the United States in the Presidents Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina.