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Sports 1B Friday January 3, 2014 Big chill could freeze 49ers, Pack in wild card GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Cold hands and a hard football make for tough catches on chilly winter afternoons at Lambeau Field. But the arctic front expected to push through Wisconsin in time for this weekend's NFC wild-card game promises to bring conditions considered frigid even for the famous home of the ''frozen tundra.'' Temperatures will be in the single digits and dropping when the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers kick off Sunday afternoon. Maybe the teeth-chattering cold will give the Packers an edge to snap a three-game skid against San Francisco. ''It stings a little bit more outside,'' cornerback Tramon Williams said Thursday about ball drills. Wearing a stocking cap, wind pants and snow boots, Williams looked as if he was getting ready to join a sub-zero tailgate. ''Can't dodge it, man,'' he said with a laugh. ''Can't dodge it at all. But, yeah, it's going to be a cold one, one of those rare ones.'' The Packers (8-7-1) might have an advantage in that they'll have practiced two days outdoors this week. They're soaring with confidence after beating the Bears on a cold day at Chicago's Soldier Field last weekend to win the NFC North title. But the already below-normal temperatures in the teens Thursday might feel balmy compared to Sunday's big chill. The coldest game on record is the 1967 championship game, known as the ''Ice Bowl'' won by the Packers 21-17 over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau on New Year's Eve. The temperature dipped to minus-13, and the wind chill that day made it feel like minus-48. Lambeau Field also has the distinction of hosting the third-coldest game on record when it was minus-1 on Jan. 20, 2008 for the NFC Championship game won by the New York Giants over the Packers 23-20 in overtime. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said ball security is a top priority in the cold, and the conditions might also affect how he calls the game. Green Bay has a good one-two punch at running back with Eddie Lacy and James Starks if McCarthy decides to run more. ''The weather elements are part of it, and that's something you continue to talk about throughout the week,'' McCarthy said. ''But, really, the game day gives you the final path of how you're going to call it.'' Weather may be one reason that the team still had about 3,000 tickets available Thursday afternoon with a Friday deadline to sell them to avoid a local TV blackout of the game. The team said it was handing out 70,000 packets of hand warmers, in conjunction with sponsor Mills Fleet Farm, to ticket-holders sitting outside on Sunday. At the 49ers training facility in Santa Clara, Calif., players have been enjoying relatively balmy weather with highs in the upper 60s. Offensive linemen — a position group known for toughing out the cold in short sleeves — aren't going to take chances when they arrive in Wisconsin. ''It's safe to say you'll see something on my arms,'' center Jonathan Goodwin said. ''I gave up on the 'don't wear sleeves to look tough' a long time ago.'' There's not much that San Francisco can do to prepare for the deep freeze. The 49ers do have a running game ranked third in the league and a nasty defense, which could help. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick was born in Milwaukee but went to college at Nevada, where he said it was 20 degrees at kickoff in his coldest game — it doesn't change the grip on the ball, or the release, said Kaepernick, who isn't planning to wear a glove. OAK CREEK WOMEN'S GOLF CLUB AP photo San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in San Francisco on Dec. 23. Kaepernick can feast on Pack SANTA CLARA (AP) — Colin Kaepernick has no idea why two of his best games as a pro have come against the very team he grew up cheering as a Packers cheesehead. He has beaten Green Bay nearly every way imaginable in two meetings over the past year. In a sensational playoff debut last January, he used his speedy legs to run for a quarterback playoff-record 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In the season opener in September, the strong-armed San Francisco QB threw for a careerbest 412 yards and three scores. ''Really can't say why, it has just worked out that way,'' Kaepernick said about the success. ''We've played well when we've played against them.'' He is hoping for the same result by whatever means necessary Sunday, when the reigning NFC champion Niners (12-4) play in the bitter cold of Green Bay in the wild-card playoff round as they chase a return trip to the Super Bowl and the franchise's sixth championship. The biggest challenge for Kaepernick this time might be holding onto the ball as the temperature dips into single digits — or, gasp, below. ''The ball is going to be harder and that's really the No. 1 obstacle,'' offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Thursday. ''It's more about the ball and the grip.'' That divisional-round playoff win last year at Candlestick Park is still fresh for all involved. It went a long way to launch not only an impressive Super Bowl run for San Francisco but also an offseason filled with glamorous appearances and awards shows for Kaepernick with his newfound rock-star status. ''Everybody calls that kind of his breakout game,'' center Jonathan Goodwin said. ''He made a lot of big plays with his legs and that sticks out.'' Kaepernick's first full season as a starter this year has had some bumps, with a pair of two-game losing streaks as well as several big performances like that Week 1 outing against the Packers. San Francisco has outscored Green Bay 79-59 the past two games, while also defeating the Packers 30-22 in Week 1 of 2012 at Lambeau Field. Whether Kaepernick can duplicate what he has already accomplished against the team he long loved will be seen Sunday. ''Just pretty good execution there,'' Roman said. ''It's probably just happenstance really. Colin played really well and everybody around him played really well as well. Every game's different.'' Green Bay sure knows it. After spending significant time during the offseason focused on stopping the read option after the embarrassment that ensued following Kaepernick's performance, the Packers did well stopping the run in Week 1 only to see Kaepernick go off with his arm — completing 13 passes for 208 yards to Anquan Boldin. Kaepernick presents problems no matter what. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy knows there will be new wrinkles. ''Obviously, very versatile,'' McCarthy said. ''Excellent, big athlete. We're preparing for their whole offense. Definitely the quarterback is always a focus. I look back at Week 1's game from a defensive perspective, our run defense played well. The big plays were something that factored into that game.'' Big hits, too. Typically one to say as little as possible, Kaepernick offered a parting shot for Packers linebacker Clay Matthews afterward. Kaepernick took a late, out-of-bounds hit from Matthews — out for Sunday's game — in the second quarter. ''If intimidation is your game plan, I hope you have a better one,'' the tattooed play-caller said at the time. The 26-year-old Kaepernick went on to lead his team back to the playoffs, this season as the wild-card team after missing a third straight NFC West crown with a second-place finish to the rival Seattle Seahawks. The explosive Kaepernick threw for 3,197 yards and 21 touchdowns with eight interceptions while also rushing for 524 yards and four TDs. Before each game, linebacker Patrick Willis pulls Kaepernick aside with the same message: ''Go out and do your thing. We've got you on defense.'' The support from the other side of the ball means a lot. Kaepernick has come a long way in a year's time. ''Just more comfortable with the situation, with the scenario,'' he said. ''I think last year everything just happened fast, this year I have the experience of being in the playoffs. I have the experience of being in the offense.'' While Kaepernick only makes it back to his native Wisconsin every year or two, he cherishes that time as a boy before he moved to Turlock, Calif. Kaepernick might have scripted it quite like this. Same venue perhaps, warmer weather. ''I don't think my dream was to play in freezing weather,'' he said, ''but to be in the playoffs and have this opportunity, yes, it's part of the dream.'' Future Florida State, Auburn players star Courtesy photo The Oak Creek Women's Golf Club recently installed their 2014 Officers. From left to right are secretary Elaine Russell, rules/handicap chair Janett Boyce, vice president Nora Rick, president Nellie Barber, past president Irma Rickert and treasurer Patti Walker. Oak Creek Women's Golf Club plays on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Tehama Tracker Today's schedule GIRLS BASKETBALL Corning at Enterprise Tournament Mercy at American Christian Academy tournament at Simpson University BOYS BASKETBALL Mercy at American Christian Academy tournament at Simpson University WRESTLING Corning at Joe Rios Tournament in Chico Sports on TV BOXING 6 p.m. ESPN2 — Champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1) vs. Rances Barthelemy (19-0-0), for IBF junior lightweight title, at Minneapolis COLLEGE FOOTBALL 5 p.m. FOX — Cotton Bowl, Oklahoma St. vs. Missouri, at Arlington, Texas 5:30 p.m. ESPN — Orange Bowl, Clemson vs. Ohio St., at Miami GOLF 2:30 p.m. TGC — PGA Tour, Tournament of Champions, first round, at Kapalua, Hawaii MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5 p.m. FSN — Savannah St. at Baylor WINTER SPORTS 5 p.m. NBCSN — Olympic trials, speed skating: men's and women's 1500 short track, at Kearns, Utah ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Four days before Florida State and Auburn meet for the national title, two of their top recruits teamed up Thursday night to help Team Highlight beat Team Nitro 31-21 in the Under Armour All-America Game at Tropicana Field. Auburn recruit Sean White, from Fort Lauderdale, was selected Team Highlight's MVP, and Florida Statebound Travis Rudolph, from West Palm Beach, had four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown for Team Highlight. Another Seminoles recruit, Dalvin Cook of Miami, rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on eight carries for Team Nitro. Minnesota-bound running back Jeff Jones, from Minneapolis, was the MVP for Team Nitro after gaining 72 total yards and scoring a touchdown. New Orleans running back Leonard Fournette, widely considered the nation's top prospect, caught a 36-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give Highlight a 3114 lead before making his verbal commitment to LSU. Fournette, USA Today's offensive player of the year, chose the Tigers over Alabama and Texas. ''I want to thank God for giving me this talent and ability to play this game ... for the next three or four years, the Boot baby, LSU,'' Fournette said on the broadcast. ''It came down to Alabama and LSU so I had to weigh both programs and I just think LSU is the best place for me.'' Two other New Orleans-area players, defensive lineman Gerald Willis III and wide receiver Devante ''Speedy'' Noil, decided to go different routes. Willis committed to Florida, and Noil chose Texas A&M over LSU. ''(Texas A&M) just felt like home when I went on my official visit,'' said Noil, who had three receptions for 90 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown catch. ''My former teammate, Noel Ellis, is at A&M and he has been like a brother to me during this process.'' Other commitments included Washington, D.C., defensive back Jalen Tabor to Arizona; Lewisville, Texas, safety Jamal Adams to LSU; and Beaumont, Texas, defensive back Tony Brown to Alabama. White finished the game 10 of 12 for 156 yards with touchdown passes to Fournette and LSU commit Jacory Washington from Westlake, La. The other quarterbacks for Team Highlight, Michael O'Connor, a Penn State commit from Bradenton, Fla., and Brandon Harris, an LSU commit, from Bossier City, La., threw touchdown passes as Team Highlight racked up 316 yards passing. Arkansas commit Rafe Peavey from Bolivar, Mo., and Oregon commit Morgan Mahalak from Kentfield, Calif., threw touchdown passes for Team Nitro. Braxton Berrios, a Miami commitment from Raleigh, N.C., caught a touchdown pass for Team Nitro.