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Sports 1B Weekend October 12-13, 2013 49ers prepare for new-look Cards in NFC West SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers usually have a nice familiarity with their NFC West foes. Not with these Cardinals, because so much has changed in Arizona. Coach Jim Harbaugh and his San Francisco coaching staff are doing more studying leading up to Sunday's game at Candlestick Park. There's new coach Bruce Arians, new quarterback Carson Palmer, and an upgraded, swarming defense that is winning games much like the Niners' vaunted unit. There's also familiar faces who have put up plenty of big numbers and stats against San Francisco: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, Patrick Peterson, Daryl Washington. "Quite a bit's new," Harbaugh said. "New coaching staff, new players. Quite a few guys that are staples on their team. But they've added a mix of quite a few good players and it's really a new team in that regard and they're playing very well." Arians typically talks to close friend and Colts coach Chuck Pagano every Friday, and now he can pick Pagano's brain on what worked for Indianapolis in a 277 win at San Francisco. "We have to play them in a few weeks, I don't think he's going to tell me too much," Arians said with a chuckle. Here are five things to watch when Arizona plays San Francisco, both at 3-2: BOLDIN'S OLD TEAM: Anquan Boldin launched his career with the Cardinals, who selected him in the second round of the 2003 draft out of Florida State. He became the fastest player to 500 catches in his 80th game in December 2008, and still holds an Arizona franchise record with five straight games with 100 yards receiving. Not that Boldin is becoming sentimental about this weekend's matchup. He won a Super Bowl last season with the Baltimore Ravens, beating his new team. Boldin no longer has a home in Arizona, with Florida his home base. "It's just another game for me. It's a divisional game," Boldin said. "I'm four years removed from Arizona, so it's pretty much a turnover. I barely know any of the guys there, so it's not a big deal for me." PALMER RETURNS: Palmer spent parts of the past two seasons in the Bay Area with the Raiders before being traded to his new home in the desert. He returns determined to get going after a slow start by Arizona's offense. Palmer has thrown nine interceptions with five touchdowns for a passer rating of 67.0. And Palmer knows the challenge ahead against an opportunistic, ball-hawking San Francisco defense. Tramaine Brock had a pick-6 and a second interception in last week's 34-3 rout of the Texans, and the Niners also forced a fumble and frustrated Matt Schaub all night. "NFC West games are NFC West games. There is a rivalry to it," Palmer said. "There is nastiness to this division, especially defensively." AP photo San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin, right, celebrates as St. Louis Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan stands in the background after Boldin caught a 42-yard pass during the second quarter Sept. 26. TAKEAWAYS: The "identity" is back. Ask anybody involved with San Francisco's defense and that word comes up somehow. The 49ers forced four turnovers against Houston and converted each one into points — three touchdowns and a field goal. San Francisco's defense had four takeaways for the first time since producing two interceptions and two fumble recoveries against New England on Dec. 16 last year. The 49ers' three interceptions were their most since three on Dec. 19, 2011, against Pittsburgh. Arizona must take care of the ball. "I think all the great ones do, they live on disruptive plays and taking the football away, and they're very, very good at it," Arians said. "That's been our problem, we've turned it over down in the red zone three times and lost points. Those have to be eliminated." DEFENSIVE CARDINALS: The Cardinals are win- ning with defense of late, much like the 49ers. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick has faced enough defenses doing all they can to slow him down that he will prepare for any tweaks and twists Arizona throws at him. "I think they were underrated last year as a defense, but this year they're very good," Kaepernick said. "They play hard, they play fast, show a lot of different looks. Defenses are going to change every time we see them. They're going to have new wrinkles." GORE KEEPS GOING: Frank Gore has put together impressive stretches before, like those five straight 100-yard rushing performances in 2011 after a slow start. He's on a roll of late, and it has meant so much given San Francisco's struggles in the passing game without a strong No. 2 wide receiver to complement Boldin and tight end Vernon Davis. Tehama Tracker Raiders want to keep Chiefs skidding Saturday's schedule 8-MAN FOOTBALL Loyalton at Mercy, 1 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Red Bluff at Pleasant Valley Invitational MLB PLAYOFFS NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Los Angeles at St. Louis, 1:07 p.m. AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Detroit at Boston, 5:07 p.m. NHL Ottawa at San Jose, 7 p.m. Sunday's schedule MLB PLAYOFFS AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Detroit at Boston, 5:07 p.m. NFL Oakland at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Arizona at San Francisco, 1:25 p.m. Monday's schedule FIELD HOCKEY Corning at Davis, 4 p.m. MLB PLAYOFFS NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP St. Louis at Los Angeles, 5:07 p.m. NBA PRESEASON L.A. Clippers at Sacramento, 7 p.m. • 7:30 p.m., ESPN2 — California at UCLA • 7:30 p.m., ESPNU — Oregon State at Washington State EXTREME SPORTS • 1 p.m., NBC — Dew Tour, City Championships, at San Francisco • 8 p.m., NBCSN — Dew Tour, City Championships, at San Francisco GOLF • 6 a.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, Portugal Masters, third round, at Vilamoura, Portugal • 11 a.m., TGC — Champions Tour, SAS Championship, second round, at Cary, N.C. • 2 p.m., TGC — PGA Tour, Frys.com Open, third round, at San Martin, Calif. • 9 p.m., TGC — LPGA Malaysia, final round, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia MLB • 1 p.m., TBS — Playoffs, National League Championship Series, game 2, Los Angeles at St. Louis • 4:30 p.m., FOX — Playoffs, American League Championship Series, game 1, Detroit at Boston MOTORSPORTS • 1 a.m., FS1 — MotoGP World Championship, Malaysian Grand Prix, at Sepang, Malaysia NBA PRESEASON • 4:30 p.m., NBATV — Boston at New York • 10:30 p.m., NBATV — Indiana at Houston NHL • 5 p.m., NHLN — Buffalo at Chicago • 7 p.m., CSNC — Ottawa at San Jose Sports on TV Sunday's schedule Saturday's schedule EXTREME SPORTS • 1 p.m., NBC — Dew Tour, City Championships, at San Francisco • 8 p.m., NBCSN — Dew Tour, City Championships, at San Francisco GOLF • 9 a.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, Portugal Masters, final round, at Vilamoura, Portugal • 11 a.m., TGC — Champions Tour, SAS Championship, final round, at Cary, N.C. • 2 p.m., TGC — PGA Tour, Frys.com Open, final round, at San Martin MLB • 5 p.m., FOX — Playoffs, American League Championship Series, game 2, Detroit at Boston MOTORSPORTS • 10 a.m., FS1 — MotoGP Moto2, Malaysian Grand Prix, at Sepang, Malaysia (same-day tape) NFL • 10 a.m., CBS — Oakland at Kansas City • 10 a.m., FOX — Green Bay at Baltimore • 1:25 p.m., FOX — Arizona at San Francisco • 5 p.m., NBC — Washington at Dallas SOCCER • 6 p.m., ESPN — MLS, Seattle at Portland AUTO RACING • 4:30 p.m., ABC — NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Bank of America 500, at Concord, N.C. • 10:30 p.m., NBCSN — Formula One, Japanese Grand Prix, at Suzuka, Japan COLLEGE FOOTBALL • 9 a.m., ABC — Oklahoma vs. Texas at Dallas • 9 a.m., Big 10 Network — Nebraska at Purdue • 9 a.m., CBSSN — Eastern Michigan at Army • 9 a.m., CSNBA — Albany at Delaware • 9 a.m., ESPN — Missouri at Georgia • 9 a.m., ESPN2 — Indiana at Michigan St. • 9 a.m., ESPNEWS — Memphis at Houston • 9 a.m., ESPNU — Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech • 9 a.m., FSN — Kansas at TCU • 9 a.m., FS1 — Iowa St. at Texas Tech • 9 a.m., NBCSN — Lehigh at Columbia • 12:30 p.m., ABC — Northwestern at Wisconsin • 12:30 p.m., CBS — Florida at LSU • 12:30 p.m., CBSSN — San Jose State at Colorado State • 12:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Boston College at Clemson • 12:30 p.m., ESPNU — Virginia at Maryland • 12:30 p.m., FOX — Baylor at Kansas St. • 12:30 p.m., NBCSN — Richmond at James Madison • 1 p.m., FS1 — Oregon at Washington • 2 p.m., ESPN — Michigan at Penn St. • 3 p.m., PAC-12 Network — Stanford at Utah • 4 p.m., ESPN2 — Alabama at Kentucky • 4 p.m., ESPNU — Georgia Tech at BYU • 4 p.m., NBCSN — Villanova at Towson • 5 p.m., CBSSN — Boise State at Utah State • 5 p.m., FS1 — Tulsa at UTEP • 5:30 p.m., ESPN — Texas A&M at Mississippi • 7 p.m., PAC-12 Network — Colorado at Arizona State Monday's schedule BOXING • 6 p.m., FS1 — Junior middleweights, Jermell Charlo (21-0-0) vs. Jose Angel Rodriguez (17-2-1), at Sunrise, Fla. MLB • 5 p.m., TBS — Playoffs, National League Championship Series, game 3, St. Louis at Los Angeles NBA PRESEASON • 6 p.m., NBATV — San Antonio at Denver NFL • 5:25 p.m., ESPN — Indianapolis at San Diego NHL • 4:30 p.m., NBCSN — Minnesota at Buffalo KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The serious expression beneath Andy Reid's bushy moustache finally started to curl up into a smile when the history of the Chiefs and Raiders was broached this week. There's nothing that gets an old coach's fires stoked like a good rivalry. "I get it. I understand it," Reid said. "These are special in the National Football League, these types of rivalries that get your juices flowing and get them flowing early. "The black and silver," he added, "if anybody is wearing it, be careful." Fair warning, especially with a group of fans trying to set a record for loudest sports stadium Sunday. They picked the Raiders to try to hit the earsplitting mark of 136.7 decibels set by Seahawks fans earlier this year precisely because they're such a heated rivalry. The Chiefs and Raiders have been playing since the days of the old AFL, back when Lamar Hunt and Al Davis were in the ownership suites. The animosity hasn't dimmed in recent years as Oakland (2-3) rattled off six consecutive wins at Arrowhead Stadium. "It's a great environment to play football in, a tough environment," Raiders coach Dennis Allen said. "But I think our guys get excited about coming and playing a division rival in Kansas City, and Raiders-Chiefs, how does it get any better than that?" The Raiders will be trying to continue their road dominance of Kansas City (5-0), which will be trying to continue a dream start to Reid's tenure in charge. They have the league's best scoring defense, they've been efficient on offense and they've been opportunistic on special teams. The result is that Kansas City has become the first franchise in NFL history to win its first five games after winning two or fewer the previous year. Now, the Chiefs will try to get that Raiders bugaboo off their back. "I just found out that we haven't won at home against Oakland since 2006," said quarterback Alex Smith, traded to the Chiefs in the offseason. "I'd like to get that changed." Here are five things to keep in mind as Smith and the Chiefs try to do it: HURT HAMSTRINGS: The Raiders are hopeful running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings will be available as they work their way back from hamstring injuries. Three of McFadden's 13 100-yard rushing games have come against the Chiefs, including two last year. "Both of them looked pretty good in practice," Allen said, "and hopefully we'll be able to have both during the game." TENDER TOES: McFadden and Jennings aren't the only ailing running backs. The Chiefs' Jamaal Charles has been dealing with badly blistered toes that have kept him off the practice field the last couple of weeks. Reid called the blisters "a mess," and several other Chiefs players offered up all manner of home remedies this week. "They've got to be bugging him," tight end Sean McGrath said. "It's something he has to take care of and the training staff will do a great job of getting him ready." UPON PRYOR REVIEW: Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor has steadily improved during his first full season as the starter. He joined a group of eight QBs to have compiled 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in the same game earlier this year against Indianapolis, and was efficient in a 2717 win over San Diego last week. "We want to put him in those situations and let him go out and perform the way he needs to perform," Allen said, "and not try to be somebody else. As long as he does that I think he'll have a chance to be successful." NO BOWE SHOW: The Chiefs have yet to get wide receiver Dwayne Bowe involved in their offense after giving him a $56 million, five-year deal in the offseason. He has 17 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He'll be going against a defense that allowed 391 yards passing last week against San Diego. "Teams have put a lot of emphasis on him early," Reid said. "Normally, good things are happening when the ball is in his hands." TASTY TURNOVERS: The Chiefs lead the NFL with 15 takeaways through their first five games, and have turned them into 50 points. Meanwhile, the Raiders forced five turnovers and had their first three interceptions of the season last week against San Diego. PREP ROUNDUP TENNIS The Red Bluff High girls tennis team downed visiting Enterprise, 8-1 on Thursday. The Lady Spartans were led by straight set, 6-0, 6-0 victories by Aislynn Lair, Josie Clements and Emmaline Iverson. Among Red Josie Bluff 's winners were Erika Ellis (6-4, 6-1), Tina Ortega (6-0, 6-1) and Victoria Yates (6-4, 7-5). On the doubles side, Lair and Ortega teamed up and won, 10-0. Megan Boone and Shelby Humphrey won, 6-1. Enterprise gained a victory in No. 3 doubles, 8-1. VO L L E Y BALL The Los Molinos Lady Bulldogs (274, 4-1 Five Star League) were back in Clements action this week, and ended with a split, losing 3-2 to Redding Christian, but winning 3-0 on the road at Mercy High. In the Bulldogs' 25-11, 25-15, 25-20 win, Clarivel Castillo led the way with 20 kills and 15 digs. Kaitlyn Seaman notched 29 assists, Katie Morgan added 16 digs and Emily Bailey had 9 kills. The Mercy High girls team (11-9, 4-1 Five Star League) notched a 3-0 win on Tuesday against Liberty Christian. Jessica Curl had 9 kills, 5 aces and 7 digs. Michelle Jaramillo added 12 assists, and Marissa Starman added 14 digs. The Corning Lady Cardinals fell twice this week, losing to Yreka, 3-0 and Lassen, 3-0.