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AROUND THE SHIELD — Dalton Schultz picked a great time to have the best game of his Dallas career.
The Cowboys picked a great time for a comeback, too.
The former Bingham High standout caught nine passes for 88 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to help spark the Cowboys on a 16-0 run to beat the Falcons, 40-39.
That Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott went to Schultz when the Cowboys needed it most speaks to the third-year tight end’s development and fit with the team.
Short story: He’s finally fitting in.
“I definitely feel a lot more comfortable with the offense,” Schultz told Cowboys media just prior to the 2020 season. “First year, it’s sink or swim. Second year, you’re learning. But third year, it’s your chance to make sure you go out and make sure you capitalize on every play.
“I feel a lot more comfortable with where I’m at as a player.”
.@BinghamBaller9 to the end zone!
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 20, 2020
Watch now on @NFLonFOX#ATLvsDAL | #DallasCowboyspic.twitter.com/RHaiicw5Jk
Schultz, who played collegiately at Stanford, was targeted 10 times by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who completed 34-of-47 passes for 450 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 18 yards and three more scores.
The Cowboys (1-1) trailed 20-0 after the first quarter and fell behind 39-24 midway through the fourth before Schultz’s touchdown that sparked the comeback.
“This is a big moment to build off of. But the fact of the matter is that we are 1-1,” said Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, the former Packers coach who is undefeated at AT&T Stadium. “We want to make sure we establish home-field dominance, and to come back and get that win today was great.
“We found out a lot about ourselves today.”
In one game, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end nearly doubled his previous production with the Cowboys. Schultz caught 12 passes for 116 yards as a rookie in 2018 but had just one reception for 16 yards a year later while struggling with injuries and a new offensive system.
What's more, Schultz had just one catch for 11 yards with two drops in the 2020 season opener. If Sunday is an indicator for his future, Schultz may be back in Dallas’ plans for the future.
"After last week, it was my duty for myself and my team to get back in there and have a really good work week of practice," Schultz told reporters after the game. "I felt like I did that and I came out and I did what I was supposed to do."
Former Utah standout Bradlee Anae came off the bench for the Cowboys but did not register a tackle.
Here’s how the rest of the former college and high school football standouts from Utah fared in Week 2 of the 2020 season.
Utah State product Bobby Wagner had eight tackles and a quarterback hurry, and the Seahawks stopped Cam Newton’s run at the 2-yard line on the final play of the game to hold on for the win on Sunday Night Football.
Former Utah defensive back Marquise Blair added two tackles for Seattle (2-0), and Highland High grad Bryan Mone had a tackle.
Cody Barton, who played at Utah and Brighton High, made one tackle on special teams against the Patriots (1-1).
Kansas City 23, LA Chargers 20 (OT)
Former BYU star Daniel Sorensen had four tackles and a quarterback hurry to help the Chiefs move to 2-0 with an overtime win over the Chargers.
Ex-Utah State running back Darwin Thompson ran for 21 yards and four carries for Kansas City.
Former Utah offensive lineman Sam Tevi started at left tackle for the Chargers (1-1), and Utah State alum Nick Vigil and Orem High product Alohi Gilman both came off the bench for Los Angeles.
Former Utah standout Kylie Fitts came off the bench to help the Cardinals to 2-0 with a win over the Washington Football Team (1-1).
Tim Patrick caught two passes for 24 yards, and fellow Utah alum Garett Bolles started at left tackle for the Broncos (0-2) in a loss to the Steelers (2-0).
Former Utah safety Terrell Burgess had one tackle on special teams to keep the Rams (2-0) undefeated with a win over Philadelphia (0-2).
Former BYU star Fred Warner had a team-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, for the 49ers in an injury-riddled rout of the Jets.
Former Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky averaged 49.8 yards on four punts for the Niners (1-1), including a touchback and two punts downed inside the 20.
Bingham High and BYU alum Harvey Langi made one tackle on special teams for the Jets (0-2).
Utah all-time leading rusher Zack Moss ran for 37 yards on eight carries to keep the Bill undefeated.
Former Weber State star Taron Johnson had five tackles for Buffalo (2-0).
Former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy had four tackles, added a pass breakup and forced a fumble, and former Utah cornerback Eric Rowe had two tackles and a pass breakup for the Dolphins (0-2).
Former Layton High and Utah standout Julian Blackmon had two tackles and a pass breakup to in the Colts’ win.
Hunter High product Noah Togiai came off the bench at tight end for the Colts (1-1).
Former BYU all-time rusher Jamaal Williams ran for 63 yards on eight carries to help the Packers (2-0) to a win over the Lions.
Former Utah defensive tackle John Penisini and SUU standout Miles Killebrew rotated off the bench for Detroit (0-2).
Utah alum Jaylon Johson made four tackles with two pass breakups in another start at cornerback in Chicago’s win over New York.
Fellow Aggie and Weber High grad Patrick Scales played seven snaps at long snapper for the Bears (2-0).
Former Utah State linebacker Kyler Fackrell had four tackles, including a six-yard sack and a quarterback hurry, for the Giants (0-2).
Former BYU pass rusher Sione Takitaki had five tackles in the Browns’ win over in-state rival Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football.
One-time Salem Hills quarterback Porter Gustin, a USC alum, added four tackles and a sack for the Browns (1-1), who got one punt return for 13 yards from former Utah State wide receiver JoJo Natson.
