After opening the season with three losses by a total of 13 points, the Houston Texans have won three of their past four games as they seek their third straight postseason berth.

On Sunday, the Texans downed the San Francisco 49ers 26-15, and Houston cornerback Kamari Lassiter came down with an interception that made sure of the victory.

After former Saks High School quarterback Tremon Smith downed a punt at the San Francisco 1-yard line, former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones passed the 49ers to the Houston 29-yard line as San Francisco sought to overcome its 11-point deficit.

But when Jones tried to connect with wide receiver Jauan Jennings down the left sideline, Lassiter caught the football instead at the Texans 1-yard line with 1:56 to play.

Lassiter’s second interception of the season was the fifth in his 21 regular-season games since joining Houston from Georgia in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Lassiter was an All-State selection for American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa in 2020.

Lassiter was among the 33 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the eighth Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.

Nine other former state players were involved in the San Francisco-Baltimore game:

• Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.
• Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) was designated as a game-day inactive. A concussion kept Collins out of Houston’s lineup.
• Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.
• Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at right offensive tackle for the Texans.
• Forty-Niners defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) was designated as a game-day inactive. A hamstring injury prevented Huff from playing.
• Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) did not record any stats.
• Forty-Niners defensive back Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) made two tackles on special teams.
• Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) did not record any stats.
• Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.

Living in the Bay Area is expensive. We’re all trying to figure it out — and figure out how everyone else is making it work. In a new series, we want to explore how real people live and spend their money here, and offer you the chance to get personalized, judgment-free advice from our personal finance columnist (that’s me!) 

Welcome to “What I Spend in the Bay.”

We’re not asking you to start tracking today. Sign up if you’re interested and Jessica will fill you in on more details. 

We want to know where your money goes, and give you the chance to get budgeting advice from a pro. Here’s how to sign up to participate.

Sign up by filling out the form below. If selected, we’ll send you a template for your spending diary and reminders along the way. You can be completely anonymous if you want — we won’t publish any personally identifying information without your permission.

What we’ll want from you: 

1. Track every purchase you make for a week, including where, when and how much, plus any context you want to share about what you bought. 

2. Tell us where your money went that week, plus list your big-picture monthly line items (rent or mortgage, car payment, insurance, loans, etc.)

3. Get practical, actionable feedback from our advice columnist to change your budget for the better.

You’ll get custom financial advice from a pro and help other people make better money decisions — and maybe feel a little less alone about it all. 

We can’t wait to hear from you.

In the realm of independent cinema, few narratives resonate as deeply as the journey of self-discovery. Peter Zerzan’s film, The Tourist, is one such piece of fiction that encapsulates the reality, discomfort and liberation that exist in soul-searching. Now, the film embarks on its festival journey, presenting at the 20th San Francisco Short Film Festival, marking a significant milestone in its cinematic voyage.

The debut screening is intended to introduce the audience to the film’s rich cultural and creative tapestry while setting the stage for its anticipated presence in future festivals worldwide. “I’m excited for the screening,” Zerzan shares. “I think the film looks best on the big screen. We shot it specifically for that, on location. It’s meant to feel big.”

Set against the lush coastlines of Goa, India, The Tourist follows the journey of Akiko, a Japanese businesswoman who travels to Goa to attend a crypto convention and finds herself at the crossroads between following her heart and following the path she thought was right. Her journey unfolds as she encounters a local man, leading to a transformative experience that challenges her perceptions of success and fulfillment.

Zerzan’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in every frame. The film was intentionally created for the big screen, employing anamorphic lenses and a carefully curated color wheel inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Theory of Colors. “Colors can hold many emotions and narratives within themselves; they’re pivotal to storytelling,” Zerzan shares. “As Akiko’s journey progresses, her wardrobe transitions with the color wheel too, symbolizing her emotional and personal evolution.” That kind of meticulous attention is emblematic of Zerzan’s approach, striking a balance of cinematic craft and human resonance.

With co-writer Melissa Pennel, Zerzan has brought to life a narrative that delves into themes of authenticity and inner peace. With the upcoming film festival screening debut, Pennel takes pride in her words materializing on the screen. “As a longtime writer, I’ve always trusted that my words would find a way to someone; that necessary belief is what keeps me pounding away alone at the keyboard,” she reflects. “But as a writer that’s new to film, this isn’t something I get to witness often. It’s a thrill to hear the words I typed alone at my desk come to life through talented actors.”

Collaborating with Zerzan, Pennel adds, was a lesson in both creativity and generosity. “Peter was a dream collaborator. He welcomed feedback and new ideas with such openness that it made the process feel fluid and creative. His experience helped us make decisions about when a scene’s cost might outweigh its impact, laying a solid foundation for the story.”

The San Francisco Short Film Festival has been a platform for independent filmmakers and films like The Tourist to be celebrated. “It’s nice that we’re still having festivals and events where independent films have a place,” he says, noting the post-COVID challenges that have reshaped the theatrical landscape. “Film festivals give new work a moment to be seen and valued, which is essential when the industry is so focused on the same things over and over again.”

Zerzan’s reflections touch on broader industry concerns as well. Amid a climate increasingly dominated by franchise filmmaking and AI-assisted content, he sees film festivals as a crucial equalizer, a space for originality, creativity and human perspective to persist. “AI is inherently backward-looking,” he says. “It works with what’s already been done. Festivals let fresh voices exist, and they remind audiences what the medium can do when creativity comes first.”

As The Tourist embarks on its festival journey, the team looks forward to sharing Akiko’s story with a broader audience, hoping to inspire reflections on personal fulfillment and the pursuit of authenticity. “I hope people leave with the reminder that we don’t have to chase anyone else’s idea of success,” Zerzan shares. “True satisfaction comes from being real, from living in a way that feels true, and from noticing the beauty and awe around us.”

The film’s debut marks the first stop on what Zerzan hopes will be a longer festival journey. “This is the start of sharing it with as many eyes as possible,” he says.

Those viewing the screening will encounter a narrative that is visually deliberate and emotionally expansive. In the cinematic landscape often dominated by franchise-driven narratives, The Tourist stands as a testament to the power of original storytelling and the enduring impact of film festivals in nurturing creative voices, all while paying it forward for the industry.