SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dijon Stanley needed only three plays to emerge as No. 11 Utah’s latest playmaker in the backfield.
Stanley hauled in three first-half catches during the Utes’ 49-0 season-opening rout over Southern Utah. The final two went for touchdowns. He raced 64 yards on an open wheel route on his second reception to put Utah on the scoreboard. Then, Stanley burned the Thunderbirds on the same play during the second quarter, going 79 yards to the house.
Stanley — listed as the fourth string running back on the depth chart — tallied 150 receiving yards and 34 rushing yards, leading the Utes in both categories.
The 6-foot sophomore is suddenly an x-factor for Utah heading into Saturday’s contest against Baylor.
“I feel like I bring a special skill, not only as a running back,” Stanley said. “I feel like I could be flexed out and also play receiver. I have a receiver-type body. It makes me a bigger attribute to the team in that way.”
Stanley ran the 400 meters in high school and teammates describe him as the fastest player on the team. A special package of speed and space plays were designed for him heading into the season to better utilize his talents.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Stanley isn’t quite ready to be an every down back for the Utes, but said his package of plays will be expanded if his production in week one carries over into subsequent games.
“He’s a weapon for us, at least he was in that first game, and if we can create some more big yardage chunk plays with him in the future, that could be a niche he could fill for us this year,” Whittingham said.
Stanley loves taking on an expanded role in Utah’s re-energized offense after tallying only 22 total yards a year ago while seeing limited snaps.
“To be in the thick of it is so much fun,” Stanley said. “Coach (Andy) Ludwig is going to keep making up plays and making up excellent schemes for us to run.”
Dequan Finn led Toledo to a MAC Championship last season before joining Baylor as a graduate transfer. His abilities as a dual-threat quarterback are making the Bears feel optimistic they will turn a corner on offense this season.
Finn threw for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns and also rushed 39 yards for another score in his Baylor debut, leading his new team to a 45-3 victory over Tarleton State in week one. While Finn did throw a pair of interceptions, he also showcased the dynamic playmaking and mobility that helped him win 23 games as a starter at Toledo.
“The best thing about all of it is that he’s way determined and way focused,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “We can see what he can be.”
Finn beat out returning starter Sawyer Robertson for the starting quarterback job in fall camp. His experience could pay dividends for the Bears on the heels of the team’s struggles last season. He threw for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 500 yards in each of his previous three seasons with the Rockets.
Cam Rising is closing in on another career milestone. The Utah quarterback needs to gain just 22 rushing yards to reach 1,000 yards on the ground for his career. Rising ran four times for 25 yards in the season opener, to go along with 254 yards and five touchdowns on 10-of-15 passing.
Utah cornerback Kenan Johnson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury against Southern Utah. Johnson, a Georgia Tech transfer, won the starting job in fall camp but played just 13 snaps before going down with the injury and being helped off the field.
Elijah “Scooby” Davis filled in at cornerback after Johnson went to the sidelines and is listed as the starter at right cornerback on the latest depth chart released on Monday. Smith Snowden, Utah’s starting nickel back, and Michigan transfer Cameron Calhoun could also be in the mix to start at that spot going forward.
Saturday’s game between Utah and Baylor is a designated non-conference matchup and will not count in the Big 12 standings for either team. It is the second part of a home-and-home series originally contracted between the two schools when the Utes were still in the Pac-12 Conference.
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Utah running back Dijon Stanley (23) carries the ball for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Utah Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
NEW YORK (AP) — The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards are over, with “Shogun” claiming the top drama prize and “Hacks” winning best comedy.
The hosts, father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, opened the show Sunday night. They won Emmys at the 2020 awards for “Schitt’s Creek.”
“Shogun,” “The Bear” and “Baby Reindeer” were favorites going into the night. “Shogun” emerged with the top drama prize and “Baby Reindeer” snagged the limited series trophy. “Shogun″ extended its lead for most wins by a show in a single season, collecting 18 Emmys this year.
But “Hacks" emerged as the top comedy series, denying “The Bear” a comedy series repeat.
The Emmys are back in their traditional mid-September spot after a single strike-delayed edition in January.
The show began at 8 p.m., Eastern time, and is airing on ABC from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Here's the latest:
“I’m blessed with all the people around me who helped me make it happen. I kind of just feel a bit overwhelmed right now. I wasn’t expecting this,” Richard Gadd said backstage after his three wins for “Baby Reindeer.” “I’m just so glad that the show has touched the lives of so many people, and the Academy have acknowledged it in this way. It’s the greatest night of my life. What can I say?”
Gadd also initially declined to answer a question about the $170 million defamation lawsuit Netflix is facing for the show, but then spoke to its impact. The lawsuit comes from the woman who claims to be the inspiration for the series, which is based off of Gadd’s life and experience with a woman who stalked him.
“It’s easy in this day and age to focus on the negatives,” he said before saying the show has driven some viewers to donate to sexual assault and stalking-focused charities and has done “phenomenal things worldwide for so many people.”
Hiroyuki Sanada is the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for best actor in a drama.
“I am beyond honored to be here with amazing nominees,” he said. “‘Shogun’ taught me when we work together, we can make miracles. We can create a better future together.”
Sanada received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Anna Sawai is the first Japanese actor to win best actress in a drama. The actor, who is a first-time nominee, was tearful throughout her speech.
“I was crying before my name was announced. I’m a mess today,” she said.
“This to all the women who expect nothing and continue to be an example for everyone,” she added.
“Shogun” also won best drama series.
John Oliver, who won scripted variety series for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,'' said he was ‘honestly’ happy to get the cue to wrap up when he mentioned his dog during his acceptance speech.
“I’m not well versed in sincerity, as a British person and as a comedian, so I didn’t really want to get upset and thankfully, whoever was on that board, I think said, ‘You can’t carry this off’ and walked me straight into a joke. So, I’m very, very grateful that they gave me the parachute so I could avoid my feelings once more. But yeah, we had a great dog, and we had to say goodbye this week, and it’s brutal,” he said backstage.
In his acceptance, Oliver dedicated his Emmy to his recently deceased dog — and “all dogs.” He quarreled with the play-off music in a bleeped exchange.
Lamorne Morris, star of “Fargo,” is taking home his first Emmy award on his first nomination.
The “New Girl” star was clearly flustered as he accepted the award, saying he has a poster of fellow nominee Robert Downey Jr. in his house and asked him to sign it.
“My beautiful daughter, Lily. I love you. I told you I would do it. You’ve always doubted me,” he joked.
The breakout star from Netflix’s most recent season of “Bridgerton,” Nicola Coughlan added an Artists4Ceasefire red pin to her glittering off-the-shoulder gown. Coughlan has been outspoken in supporting Palestinians and calling for a cease-fire.
Actors across the award season have been wearing the Artists4Ceasefire red pin with a hand holding a heart to demand a cease-fire in Gaza and a release of the Israeli hostages.
Ahead of the premiere of the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” on Sept. 28, cast members from the sketch show’s storied history have gathered for an unforgettable reunion.
Former members Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Seth Meyers joined current regular Bowen Yang onstage.
The segment leans into the January Emmys’ nostalgia-laden programming, which included Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presenting an award in the style of SNL’s famed “Weekend Update,” along with the casts of “Cheers,” “Martin” and other hit shows reuniting.
Jessica Gunning, who haunts as stalker Martha on “Baby Reindeer,” accepts the Emmy for her performance from a group of actors who have portrayed iconic villains in a fitting pairing. She got emotional as she thanked Richard Gadd, the star and creator of the series.
“I tried so many times to put into words what working on ‘Baby Reindeer’ meant to me and I fail every time,” she said. “It really means a lot. So, thank you, reindeer.”
“Today, a Republican vice president would never attack a woman for having kids. So, as they say, my work here is done,” Candice Bergen wryly said before presenting the lead actress in a comedy series award.
She was referring to her Murphy Brown character being attacked by then-Vice President Dan Quayle for being a single mom.
Her subsequent “meow” got a big laugh and applause from the audience, including Jon Stewart.
For more on this year’s Emmy Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards
Richard Gadd accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for "Baby Reindeer" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Hiroyuki Sanada accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for "Shogun" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Anna Sawai accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for "Shogun" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Hosts Eugene Levy, left, and Dan Levy speak during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
