SAN DIEGO – One former Aztec led his team in all receiving categories while another made his MLB postseason debut and a third placed in the top 10 in a golf tournament.
In the NFL, for the second time this season, New York Giants rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger (2018-21) started and led his team in targets, receptions and receiving yards while tying for the lead in touchdowns. After getting shut out in the first half, Bellinger turned it on in clutch time, catching all five targets for 38 yards and a touchdown. Both of his catches in the third quarter picked up first downs. In the fourth, Bellinger leaped and caught a contested ball for an 8-yard touchdown to bring the Giants within a field goal with just six minutes remaining. In the final two minutes of the game, he made a huge block on Saquon Barkley's game-winning touchdown run as the Giants defeated Baltimore to move to 5-1. He saw action on 61 snaps on offense (94 pct.) and five on special teams in the win. The Giants head to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Atlanta cornerback Darren Hall (2018-20) made two tackles (one solo) and logged two passes defensed. His biggest contribution was tipping a pass at the beginning of the fourth quarter away from Deebo Samuel and to his teammate Jaylinn Hawkins for an interception in Atlanta territory. He played for 38 snaps on defense and eight on special teams in the win over San Francisco. The Falcons go to Cincinnati in Week Seven. On the other side of the field, San Francisco offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill (2013-16) recorded his first tackle of the season and was on the field for 46 snaps on offense and one on special teams. Next week, the 49ers host the Kansas City Chiefs. Arizona rookie defensive lineman Cameron Thomas (2019-21) made two tackles (one solo) and recorded his first career sack. In the first quarter, Seattle had driven the ball into the red zone looking for a touchdown to take the lead. On third down, Thomas sacked Geno Smith to hold Seattle to a game-tying field goal. He appeared on nine defensive snaps and a special teams snap. His teammate, long snapper Aaron Brewer (2008-11), was on the field for six snaps on special teams. The Cardinals host New Orleans on Thursday night.
Seattle running back Rashaad Penny (2014-17), Pittsburgh safety Damontae Kazee (2013-16) and New York Jets fullback Nick Bawden (2014, 16-17) are on injured reserve. Linebacker Calvin Munson (2013-16) signed with New England's practice squad. Other former Aztecs on practice squads are offensive lineman Zachary Thomas (2017-21) on Chicago, linebacker Segun Olubi (2020-21) on Indianapolis, defensive back Trenton Thompson (2016, 18-21) 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 at first base in all three of Seattle's ALDS games against Houston. On the first day of divisional games, no player had more hits than France who singled in the first inning, knocked in Julio Rodriguez with another single in the second and drove in Rodriguez again with an RBI double in the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead. He walked in the second game and singled again in the final game to reach base in each game as Seattle was swept. Houston infielder David Hensley (2015-18) made his postseason debut by coming off the bench as a pinch hitter in the first two games of the ALDS. In the ninth inning of Game One, Hensley was hit by a pinch. Jake Meyers ran for him and scored the tying run on a Yordan Alvarez walk off homer. The Astros take on the winner of Tuesday afternoon's game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians game in the ALCS with the first game taking place on Wednesday night.
On the PGA Tour, Xander Schauffele (2013-15) tied for ninth in the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP at 10-under-par while J.J. Spaun (2009-12) tied for 25th at 6-under-par. Schauffele is ranked sixth in the world and 47th in the FedEx Cup while Spaun ranks 87th in the world and 37th and Scott Piercy (1999-2001) ranks 75th in the FedEx Cup. Next weekend, Spaun will compete in the CJ Cup in Ridgeland, South Carolina.