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1B Sports Spartans overcome slow start, win 42-8 By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Tehama Tracker Tennis Shasta at Red Bluff, 3:30 p.m. Corning at Yreka, 3:30 p.m. Volleyball: Red Bluff at Chico, 6 p.m. Hayfork at Los Molinos, 7 p.m. Mercy at Anderson, 6:30 p.m. MLB: San Francisco at N.Y. Mets, 4:10 p.m. L.A. Angels at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. Sports on TV MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL • 4 p.m., NBCSN — Triple-A National Nelson sparks Cardinals By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer It took 14 minutes for the Red Bluff Spartans to find their rhythm and maybe more importantly some respect for their opponent in their home opener Friday night against Anderson. But once the Spartans got over the turnovers, bad snaps and penalties they cruised easily to a 42-8 win and a 2-0 start to the season. Red Bluff's first three drives ended with a three-and-out punt, a fumble and an interception and the Spartans found themselves tied 0-0 with an Anderson team that had been outscored 78-10 in its first two games. "I think we might have doubted them a bit," Red Bluff senior Christian Shaffer said. If the Spartans were doubting their own performance it came to an end just minutes into the second quarter when Shaffer picked off a Jacob Melton pass and ran it back some 70 yards down the sideline to the Anderson 3-yard-line. The Spartans then did the respectful thing and dialed up Shaffer's No. 33 for the following play from scrimmage. Shaffer took it into the end zone and Red Bluff was up 6-0. The teams traded 3-and-outs until Greg Dufour, who hadn't had much success as the Spartans quarterback to that point, picked off his counterpart Melton at Red Bluff's own 33-yard-line. With the traditional offense a bit stagnant the Spartans called on some trickery and on the first play following the interception ran a double-reverse wide receiver pass. It was a play the Spartans had utilized last season, but wide receiver Jared Poore said the team hadn't begun practicing it until this week. Poore said when he heard the play call he had a belief it would be a touchdown. When he saw the safety bite on one of the two reverses, he knew for sure. Joseph Bosetti took the second pitch and found a wide open Poore, who only had to cradle the ball in and cruise into the end zone on a 67-yard scoring play. Shaffer pounded in a 2-point conversion and Red Bluff led 14-0. If the interception followed by trick play hadn't knocked the wind out of Anderson the following kickoff did. Garrett Ward's kick clanged off of one of the Cubs front line blockers and Austin Torres was there to recover for the Spartans. For once the Spartans didn't score on the ensuing play – that was a 30-yard scramble by Dufour. But on the second play Mike Stone speed bursted through the Anderson defense from 19 yards out and a 20-0 Red Bluff lead. Anderson almost found the scoreboard before halftime, but the Spartans defense held the Cubs on a fourth-and-four play at the Red Bluff 11-yard-line in the final minute. Red Bluff coach Corey Hein said the Spartans struggles in the first half were a combination of a strong Anderson game plan and some changes on their own offensive line, namely their starting center sitting out the game. Hein said he was proud about how his team came out of the locker room to start the second half. He should have been. Red Bluff used an 11-play, 81-yard drive to put the game out of reach, capped by Shaffer's second touchdown of the night. Red Bluff led 28-0 following a circus 2-point reception by Bosetti. Shaffer gave plenty of credit to his offensive line after the game for contributing to his special night. Dufour finally found his passing rhythm on the drive as the Spartans adjusted to utilize more traditional snaps under center. Dufour finished the game 6-for-11 for 94 yards and a touchdown. That scoring pass went to Sean Freeny, who put an outstanding double move on the Anderson man covering him to get himself wide open in the end zone for a 35-0 lead capped by a Ward extra point. Daniel Koenig had a game high 68 rushing yards for the Spartans and finished Red Bluff's scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run. Cesar Favela had a fumble recovery for the Spartans defense, which played a strong game despite being put in some rough spots field position wise and with some uncertainty headed into the game regarding the Cubs quarterback situation. Anderson utilized a combination of running back Tyler Webb taking snaps from center and Melton throughout the game, which Hein said Red Bluff wasn't expecting but was able to adjust for at halftime. The Anderson quarterbacks combined to go 2-for-8 for nine yards passing. The Cubs did get a feel-good score late in the game behind the hard running of Jacob Hanes. He scored from two yards out and finished as Anderson's leading rusher with 56 yards on 10 carries. Kade Lewis relieved Dufour in the second half and completed two passes for 19 yards to Dale Danis. Poore led Red Bluff's receivers with two catches for 79 yards. Freeny had a pair for 45 yards and Walker Dodero and Wyatt Clement each had a reception. On the ground Koenig racked up 68 yards on 10 carries. Dufour had 57 yards and Stone had 52 yards on three carries. Shaffer finished with 20 yards and Dylan Schaible had 18 on the ground. Red Bluff heads to rival Corning next week for the annual Tehama County Shootout. Today's schedule Tuesday September 17, 2013 Championship, teams TBD, at Allentown, Pa. MLB • 4 p.m., CSNB — San Francisco at N.Y. Mets • 7 p.m., CSNC — L.A. Angels at Oakland SAILING • 12:30 p.m., NBCSN — America's Cup, race 13 and 14, at San Francisco (if necessary) SOCCER • 11:30 a.m., FSN — UEFA Champions League, CSKA Moskva at Bayern Munich • 11:30 a.m., FS1 — UEFA Champions League, Leverkusen at Manchester United • 5 p.m., FS1 — UEFA Champions League, Manchester City at Plzen (sameday tape) Corning High running back Chance Nelson roared louder than the Tigers on Friday. Nelson rushed for three touchdowns, nabbed two interceptions and the Corning Cardinals football team beat the visiting Oroville Tigers, 31-6 to improve to 2-0 on its season. The Cards' offensive output was in stark contrast to their Week 1 win, in which it enjoyed six touchdowns from as many players. On Friday, Nelson was the star as notched 101 rushing yards on the night. "I couldn't have done it without my line," Nelson said. The Cards opened like it did in Week 1, opting to receive the opening kick and scoring on their opening drive. Nelson ran for a 17-yard touchdown with 8:23 remaining in the first quarter. Oroville struggled to gain field position throughout the first half, unable to secure a single first down on five possessions. "I was very, very pleased with our defense," Corning coach John Studer said. "Our defense slammed them I felt all night long. Right from the get-go. They gave us pretty good field position and I think our defense played really throughout the whole game, played the way we want to them to play." Corning's Alex Davila Daily News photo by Andre Byik Corning's Aiden Nye run the ball against visiting Oroville Friday night. broke for a 38-yard touchdown with 2:55 remaining in the first, and the Cards would take a 14-0 lead to the second. Nelson displayed his athleticism when he ran for a 31-yard with 1:55 remaining in the first half. The 5-foot-10 junior rushed through the middle of the field, breaking tackles and eluding defenders on his way to the end zone. "I think that's the type of performance we know that he can give us week in and week out," Corning coach John Studer said. "He's just an outstanding athlete. He's got so much speed and quickness offensively." The Tigers' struggles continued to start the third quarter. On their second possession in the period Nelson intercepted a throw from Marcus Flores Phillips in Oroville territory and ran it four yards from the goal before being tackled. He pushed in a 4-yard touchdown, his third of the night, on the subsequent play with 6:21 remaining in the third. The Cards took a 28-0 lead to the fourth. But the Tigers received a much-needed break just before the third quarter buzzer sounded. The Cards were forced to punt deep in their own territory. On Corning's 17-yard line, Oroville looked doomed to a turnover on downs as they were eventually met with a fourth and long. But Tigers quarterback Phillips connected with Brandon Tewksbury for a 20-yard touchdown down the right sideline to put Oroville on the board with 11:53 remaining in the game. Corning High's Thomas Lowe blocked the Tigers' extra point attempt. The Cards' Jayve Uriostegui knocked in a 23-yard field goal with 1:49 left in the game to give Corning a 31-6 lead. Uriostegui was a perfect 4of-4 on extra point attempts on the night as well. PREP ROUNDUP Lady Bulldogs win Beth Pilger Courtesy photo The Los Molinos Lady Bulldogs volleyball team poses Saturday after winning the Beth Pilger Invite. VOLLEYBALL Beth Pilger Invitational For the second straight weekend the Los Molinos Lady Bulldogs won a tournament — this one felt even more special as it was their own Beth Pilger Invitational. In the process the Lady Bulldogs ran their season record to 18-0-1. Los Molinos opened up Thursday pool play with a 25-7, 25-11 win over Chester. Clarivel Castillo had 10 kills and 11 digs and Emily Bailey had three aces. Kaitlyn Seaman had 16 assists. Los Molinos then knocked off Princeton 25-16, 25-21 behind another 10 kills from Castillo. Dom Henderson had 23 digs, Castillo had 17, Seaman 16, Katie Morgan 15 and Jasmine Ortega 14. Seaman had 21 assists. Los Molinos then beat county rival Mercy 25-21, 25-15. Castillo had 11 kills, four blocks, and 19 digs in the win. Seaman had five aces and 16 assists. Bailey had three blocks and 13 digs. Morgan had 14 digs and Henderson had 11. Los Molinos opened up Saturday with a 25-16, 25-10 win over Portola. Castillo had 11 kills and 11 digs. Morgan and Henderson each had 12 digs, while Seaman had 12 assists. The Lady Bulldogs beat Quincy 257, 25-9 behind another 11 Castillo kills. Henderson and Seaman each had three aces in the match. Seaman also had 13 assists. Bailey had 13 digs and Castillo had 12. Los Molinos wrapped up pool play with a 25-11, 25-13 win over Colusa. Castillo had 12 kills, five aces, four blocks and 12 digs. Bailey had 18 digs in the win and Seaman had 17 assists. In the semifinals Los Molinos beat Princeton 25-11, 25-20. Castillo had nine kills and 19 digs. Morgan had 15 digs and Bailey 11. Seaman provided 14 assists. In the final Los Molinos dropped its first game of the tournament to Fall River, but rallied back for a 23-25, 2516, 15-5 win. Castillo had 16 kills and 26 digs. Ortega had 25 digs, Bailey had 15, Morgan 14 and Henderson 13. Seaman had 23 assists. CROSS COUNTRY Las Plumas Invitational Corning's Rogelio Silva won the boys' cross country race Friday at the Las Plumas Invitational. Silva turned in a time of 16:19 to win a race featuring 98 runners. Durante Rodriguez finished seventh for Corning in 17:05 and Miguel Rios was 10th at 17:27. Erik Rios finished 15th and Francisco Gonzalez was 25th. In the girls' race West Valley took the top four positions led by Jenna Storms with a time of 18:46. Corning's Ana Carillo was 15th with a time of 22:26. FOOTBALL Weed 41, Los Molinos 0 The visiting Weed Cougars handed the Bulldogs (0-2) a 41-0 loss Friday night in Los Molinos. Hayfork 58, Mercy 15 Hayfork beat visiting Mercy 58-15 Friday night in 8-man football. Alejandro Guerrero led Mercy with 74 rushing yards on 10 carries. Tommy Garcia rushed and passed for an 80-yard touchdown to Brenten James.