“I’ve been praying hard, working hard, and it’s no surprise to me.”

In a triumphant return to the NFL, La Grange-native J.K. Dobbins rushed for 135 yards, including a 12-yard TD, as his Los Angeles Chargers rallied in the second half for a 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in their season opener on Sunday.

Dobbins played in only one game last year when he tore his Achilles tendon during Baltimore’s opener. He’s been working his way back ever since, and it showed Sunday. It was the fifth 100-yard rushing game for Dobbins (who is in his fourth year in the NFL), after signing a one-year deal with the Chargers during the offseason. Dobbins graduated from La Grange after the 2016 season and played three years for Ohio State before going to the NFL.