Great Clips of the Week: Donovan Mitchell knocks it out of the park again

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES — Football is back.

On the opening week of the Utah high school football season, there were plenty of highlights, lowlights, late-game drama, walkoff game winners and electric plays to go around — both on the field, and during 21 lightning delays.

See the best moments in the highlight reel above, but first — the Utah Jazz’s former rookie sensation (now just sensation) was at it again.

As always, click the video above for the best Great Clips of the Week.

Is there anything Spida can’t do?

We’ve seen Donovan Mitchell’s rise from NBA draft pick to full-time starter with the Utah Jazz to rookie of the year in the NBA.

We’ve also recently seen several other angles of the Jazz’s latest superstar, including being a mama’s boy, a festive barbecuer, and an all-around good guy willing to pay for a fan's iPhone to be repaired.

Add one more adverb to the list: star softball player.

While playing in James Harden's charity softball game over the weekend, Mitchell crushed a first-pitch curveball over the right-field fence while playing alongside Jazz teammate Royce O'Neale and Houston's Chris Paul.

This isn’t Mitchell’s first experience on the diamond, of course. He played baseball until high school, when he broke his wrist in a home-plate collision while playing pitcher.

His father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., played seven years of minor-league baseball and works as the manager of player operations for the New York Mets.

So, you think you can dance?

Weather delays forced the cancellation or suspension of 21 high school football games Friday during the opening week of the sport across Utah.

But while the crowds on football fields across the state were advised to seek shelter with thunderstorms hammering the Wasatch Front, high school football fans watching at home could only hope for some prolonged-halftime entertainment.

On the KSL TV game of the week at East High School, sideline reporter Haley Smith provided all the entertainment.

Next week's game is the inaugural home game of the brand-new Farmington High School, and you'll definitely want to tune in to see what Haley does next.

Best of the best

The annual tradition of the return to football lived up to the hype Thursday and Friday with one of the most entertaining early weekends in recent memory.

It started Thursday, when defending Class 6A champion Bingham pulled away from 4A champ Orem, 39-22 behind a dominant Miner defense that forced seven sacks and three interceptions.

But not to be forgotten was Orem wide receiver Puka Nacua, the Southern California commit who caught six passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns — including an athletic riser that earned a spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10.

The magic continued Friday night, despite the lightning delays.

Twenty-one games were decided by two touchdowns or less, including Springville’s incredible come-from-behind win on the road at Dixie in the final seconds.

The Red Devils trailed 21-12 after a scoreless third quarter in St. George, but Payton Murphy connected with Clayton Johnson twice in the final minutes — separated by a successful on-sides kick — to edge the Flyers as the clock struck zero.

You saw the behind-the-end zone angle on SportsBeat Game Night at 6 p.m. MT Saturday. Now see the alternate angle, courtesy of Springville High senior Corbin Dallin.

Drop the mic, Clayton.

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