Sacramento has always been – and will always be – a baseball town.
The city is rich in baseball history and talent. From Joe Marty to Johnny McNamara, Larry Bowa to Steve Sax, and Fernando Viña to Dustin Pedroia, many local players went on to great pro careers.
But if you look closely, more of our former prep football stars are now playing Sundays.
Oak Ridge High School product Austin Collie is among the league's top rookies in receiving this season for the Colts with 32 catches, 356 yards and four touchdowns.
Granite Bay High grad Adam Jennings of the Detroit Lions has a league-wide reputation as a good special teams player. But in his only punt return this season – Oct. 4 against Chicago – Jennings suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
Former Nevada Union star Spencer Havner spent nearly two years on the Packers' practice squad, but is now a jack-of-all-trades hero in Green Bay as a tight end/linebacker and special teams player.
Sunday's local hero, however, was former Granite Bay star Sammie Stroughter. The rookie Tampa Bay wide receiver made his first NFL touchdown a memorable one. His seven-yard reception on fourth-down from fellow rookie quarterback Josh Freeman helped beat Green Bay.
There are others in the league and more to come, including Cal's Syd Thompson, the shutdown cornerback from Grant.
Have the boys of summer become the boys of autumn?
What to watch
NFL, Steelers at Broncos, 5:30 p.m., ESPN: Denver looks to rebound after loss.
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