Sports
Ultimate game-changer? Derius Davis has been a 'bolt of lightning' for Chargers
One was clutch. The other was acrobatic.
Both of Derius Davis’ touchdown catches have been electrifying.
The second-year receiver has sparked the Chargers’ offense at just the right time with the first two touchdown catches of his career. Heading into their regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the Chargers (10-6) have clinched a playoff berth behind two consecutive wins with 74 combined points in the victories.
Davis has 60 of his 107 yards receiving in the last two weeks. His total from the last two games almost exceeded his output from his rookie season, when he finished with 66 yards and made the majority of his impact on special teams as the NFL’s leading punt returner.
Davis averaged 16 yards per punt return last year with one returned for a touchdown. This season he’s helped flip the field on kick returns, averaging 27.6 yards compared to 22 last year.
“He’s one of those guys that just has a knack at being a spark, being a tone setter,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.
“There’s times it just comes like a bolt. A bolt of lightning.”
Davis’ twisting touchdown catch in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos in Week 16 helped the Chargers grab control of their playoff hopes in a pivotal divisional game. The Chargers took the lead on Davis’ touchdown, surging back from an 11-point, first-half deficit.
Fellow receiver Quentin Johnston recognized the importance of Davis’ play against the Broncos, but was more impressed by his former Texas Christian teammate’s diving catch in the first quarter against the New England Patriots on Saturday.
Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis finds room to run against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 19.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Davis reached a full stretch in the air to reel in a 23-yard touchdown catch. He lunged, grabbed the ball by his fingertips, then tucked it away as he’ fell to the ground.
“Just perfect technique,” Johnston said.
Davis didn’t even realize he had left his feet for the play until he watched a replay. He even had to crack a smile.
“Touchdowns are hard to come by in this league,” Davis said. “So you, for sure, gotta pat yourself on the back.”
Davis waited patiently for the breakthrough moment. He was a first-team All-American punt returner at TCU and won the 2022 Jet Award, which honors the nation’s top returner.
After training camp, Harbaugh predicted that the fourth-round pick would have a larger role on offense this season, but Davis didn’t catch any passes for the first four games. He made brief cameos out of the backfield with three rushes for 17 yards, getting opportunities on screen passes or jet sweeps.
But with leading receiver Ladd McConkey and tight end Will Dissly nursing injuries in recent weeks, Davis’ role has grown.
“Whether it’s handing him the ball or throwing to him, we just got to find a good way to get him the ball,” quarterback Justin Herbert said. “Because, as we’ve seen, whether it’s punt returns or whether it’s catching it, and whether it’s out of the backfield, he makes people miss.”
Gilman designated for return to action
The Chargers opened the 21-day practice window for safety Alohi Gilman, who has missed the last five games while on injured reserve.
The 27-year-old’s return is especially key for the secondary as fellow safety Elijah Molden went on IR Wednesday because of a broken fibula he suffered Saturday against the Patriots.
Gilman has 47 tackles and one interception.
Etc.
Kicker Cameron Dicker was named the AFC special teams player of the week Tuesday, earning the honor after hitting four field goals and four extra points against the Patriots. His 16 points were the most for any kicker in Week 17. He has set a career best and a single-season franchise record with 35 field goals. … McConkey (toe) and fellow receiver Joshua Palmer (heel) did not practice Wednesday, along with running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and defensive lineman Poona Ford (elbow).
Sports
Olympic medalist suffers serious injuries after ‘death-defying’ skateboarding stunt
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An Olympic medalist and 13-time X Games winner suffered serious head injuries after a stunt went wrong.
Nyjah Huston, who won bronze in Paris in 2024, said he suffered a fractured skull and eye socket.
“A harsh reminder how death-defying skating massive rails can be…” Huston wrote in an Instagram post which included a photo of himself in a hospital bed. “Taking it one day at a time. I hope yall had a better new years then me. We live to fight another day.”
Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the men’s street prelims during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at La Concorde 3. (Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Sports)
The post also featured Huston being treated by first responders and friends, along with another photo showing a large black-and-blue mark on Huston’s eye.
Numerous skating legends showed their support for Huston, who is considered one of the best skateboarders in the United States today.
Nyjah Huston of Team USA reacts at the Skateboarding Men’s Street Prelims on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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“Been watching @nyjah grow up into one of the best skaters to ever do it and it amazes me the amount of grit this kid has,” Shaun White shared on his Instagram story, via Pro Football Network. “You got this brother. Heal quick!”
Even Tony Hawk shared well-wishes on Huston’s Instagram post.
“Heavy. Stay strong; we know you’ll be back,” the skateboarding legend wrote.
“Man.. prayers for healing brother!” added Ryan Sheckler.
It is unknown whether Huston was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
Nyjah Huston, of the United States, celebrates during the men’s skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Huston has seven gold medals and five silvers in world championships. He has not competed since the 2024 Olympics, but the California native has his eyes set on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
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Sports
Prep talk: JuJu Watkins returns to Sierra Canyon on Friday
JuJu Watkins is returning to Sierra Canyon High on Friday, the place where she was a high school basketball All-American.
The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
She will be presented with a framed jersey.
Watkins is sitting out this season at USC while recovering from a knee injury.
Sierra Canyon girls’ basketball coach Alicia Komaki said, “She raised our standards, which was hard to do because we had won four state championships. She was an incredibly talented player.”
Watkins was also making a huge impact in the college game until her injury last season during the NCAA playoffs.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Miami beats Ole Miss behind Carson Beck’s game-winning touchdown to reach CFP National Championship Game
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The Miami Hurricanes are heading to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, coming away with a narrow victory over Ole Miss, 31-27, in an all-time postseason contest.
The Hurricanes will now await the winner of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks to see who they will play on Jan. 19. But Miami will do so on their home turf, with the National Championship Game being played at Hard Rock Stadium – the site of their home games.
The game began slowly for both teams, with only Miami getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a field goal on their 13-play opening drive. But the fireworks came out from there for the Rebels thanks to the speed of running back Kewan Lacy.
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Charmar Brown of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes celebrates a run in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos)
On just the second play of the second quarter, Lacy was off to the race, finding a seam and busting out a 73-yard touchdown run to go up 7-3 after the extra point.
But this game was back and forth for quite some time, including the ensuing Hurricanes drive as quarterback Carson Beck led the way on a 15-play touchdown series with a CharMar Brown rushing score from four yards out.
The game was deadlocked at 10 apiece when Beck decided to air it out to Keelan Marion, and it was worth the risk. Marion made the grab for a 52-yard touchdown to help Miami go up 17-13 at halftime.
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The third quarter was an odd one for both squads, as their opening drives resulted in a missed field goal apiece. Then, after Beck threw an interception, the Rebels were able to cut the lead to 17-16 in favor of the Hurricanes heading into the fourth quarter for the ages.
There was no absence of electric plays when it mattered most in the final 15 minutes, as Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got his team downfield enough to take a 19-17 lead with a field goal.
But the speed of Malachi Toney changed the scoreboard for Miami in the best way possible, as he took a screen 36 yards to the house, capping a four-play, 75-yard answer drive for the Hurricanes right after Ole Miss took the lead.
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
With a 24-19 lead and five minutes left to play in the game, Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense had quite enough time to retake the lead. He did just that, finding trusty tight end Dae’Quan Wright for 24 yards to send the Rebels faithful ballistic.
Ole Miss wanted to go for two in hopes of making it a three-point lead, and Chambliss came through again, finding a wide open Caleb Odom for the key score.
It was up to Beck and the Miami offense to keep the game alive with at least tying the game at 27 apiece. On a crucial third-and-10 just inside field goal range, Beck was confident with his pass to Marion to get well within range. Another pass to Marion made it first-and-goal, and it was clear Miami wasn’t trying to force overtime. They wanted to win it all.
How fitting was it that Beck, scanning the field, found a seam to his left and just sprinted for the colored paint to score the game-winner with 18 seconds left.
But things got fascinating at the end, with Ole Miss going 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win. Chambliss had the space to loft a pass to the end zone, and though it hit off the hand of a teammate, it landed incomplete for the Miami victory.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes passes the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
In the box score, Beck was 23-of-37 for 268 yards with his two passing touchdowns and an interception. Marion was a key player in the victory with seven catches for 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone in the ground game with 133 yards rushing on 22 carries. Toney also tallied 81 receiving yards for Miami.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23-of-37 for 277 yards with his touchdown to Wright, who finished with 64 yards on three grabs. De’Zhaun Stribling was five for 77 through the air, while Lacy rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries.
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