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Special to the Daily News The Red Bluff High School wrestling team earlier this month capped its season by hosting its end of the season banquet at Red Bluff High School. This year's team was both young and had little experience, but that did not mean the Spar - tans didn't see any success on the season. The majority of the team was composed of first-year seniors, and the rest were underclass- men with some experience. This made the team consistent under- dogs at its matches, which could have made it easy for the team to give up on the year. "What was difficult was show - ing up to practice, facing oppo- nents twice a week at duals and tournaments knowing they had more experience and a better chance at winning," Red Bluff coach Ty Minto stated. "Having the ability to step on the mat be - ing the underdog takes courage and dedication." The Spartans instead enjoyed a different kind of success. "The success was not seen on award stands, medal accep - tances or tournament victories," Minto said. "It was seen in the program's foundation building, and the athletes' persistence and dedication to persevere and im - prove." There was one Red Bluff wres- tler, however, who stood out. Christian Shaffer, who saw consistent success at duals and tournaments, was a league and division champion, and ended his season fourth in the North - ern Section Masters tournament, one place away from reaching the state championships. Shaf- fer's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling experience coming into the season helped him tremen- dously, and his skill helped set a bar for the team. "I hope that the team's success next year reflects Shaffer's ac - complishments, thus continuing to build upon the foundation that has begun this year," Minto said. HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING Red Bluff wrestlers' banquet pins season Shaffer a standout on the season as league and division champion for the Spartans COURTESY Red Bluff High School wrestler Christian Shaffer (right) stands with Red Bluff coach Ty Minto at the team's banquet this month. Shaffer was a league and division champion last season. By Steve Corkran Bay Area News Group By signing with the Raiders on Friday, Maurice Jones-Drew gave himself a chance to resurrect his career with the team he grew up rooting for. The Oakland na - tive and former Antioch resident doesn't plan to waste his first reg- ular snaps in front of friends and family since he starred for De La Salle High. "It's going to be a competition and that's really all I ask," Jones- Drew said of being told that he'll get a chance to earn the start - ing job at running back. "… I only wanted a chance to compete and play. The Raiders gave me that opportunity, and I'm going to take it and run with it." Jones-Drew, 29, signed a three- year contract with the Raiders, making him the latest big-name free agent to join the team as part of their massive roster makeover. He brings with him an impres - sive resume, having amassed 10,944 yards and 79 touchdowns rushing and receiving in his first eight NFL seasons, all with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones-Drew said he also brings a chip on his shoulder, something he feels makes him fit right in with a Raiders roster chock full of castoffs from other teams. "It's something that's going to drive us and push us to that next level," Jones-Drew said in a con - ference call. Jones-Drew said he received interest from other teams since the start of free agency. However, he wasn't interested in mentor - ing younger players or being a backup. Jones-Drew made the most of his opportunity with the Jaguars once he earned the starting job. He rushed for 4,321 yards and 28 touchdowns and caught 130 passes from 2009-11. Injuries each of the past two seasons hampered Jones-Drew, he said, and a surgery in 2012 might have scared off teams from taking a chance on him this off - season. Jones-Drew acknowledged that he had a down year last sea- son, when he averaged a career- low 3.4 yards rushing. However, he said a lot of that owed to play- ing injured so often. He's healthy and ready to go now. "I have a ton left in my game," Jones-Drew said. "People tend to look at running backs and say, 'Oh, you're 29, you don't have any - thing left.' … I feel like I have a ton left in the tank and I get an opportunity to show that here in Oakland." Jones-Drew said he is excited about the prospect of competing against incumbent starter Dar - ren McFadden for playing time, if not the starting job. "He kind of has a leg up on me NFL FREE aGENCy Jones-Drew signs contract with Raiders Running back is Oakland native, De La Salle High graduate and longtime Jaguars standout STEpHEn MORTOn — THE ASSOCiATEd pRESS Running back Maurice Jones-drew, above with the Jacksonville Jaguars, scores on a 30-yard run against the Oakland Raiders on dec. 12, 2010. Jones-drew signed a three-year contract with the Raiders on Friday. Staff Reports Red Bluff High's boys golf team, in its second Sac River League match of the season, placed third Thursday at Anderson Tucker Oaks Golf Course with a team score of 413. Red Bluff's Dylan Grossman, a junior, shot a team-low 75. Derek Runnels, a sophomore, followed with an 80, Nathen Fregoso, a freshman, shot an 82, Kyler Puck - ett tallied an 88, Tanner Durfee finished with a 91 and Ben Crain shot a 110. Shasta finished first with a team total of 351. Foothill followed with a 406, with West Valley (513) fourth. Shasta's Nick Rivera shot the low score on the cloudy day, finish - ing with a 68. Foothill's Coleman Thomason was the top performer for his team, tallying a 78. The Spartans host a league match at 1 p.m. Thursday at Wil - cox Oaks Golf Club. pREp BOyS GOLF Spartans place third at league match Red Bluff's Grossman shoots a team low 75 JEFF LARSOn — MEdiAnEWS GROUp FiLE Red Bluff High golfer Ben Crain putts. Staff Reports REd BLuFF » The inaugural Red Bluff High School "Fore Baseball" golf tournament over the weekend proved to be a success. The tournament, which benefit - ted Red Bluff High's baseball pro- gram as well as the American Le- gion Red Bluff Bulls, was hosted by the Wilcox Oaks Golf Club. The fundraiser drew 108 players and more than 300 dinner attendees. Plenty of sunshine made it a per - fect day for golf and festivities. Tournament results: First place: Travis Martinez, Ryan Stephens, Mike Cox and Ty - ler McKim with a score of 59. Second place: Katrina Perdue, Josh Westmoreland, Dwain Bar- fuss and Tim Troberg scored a 59 as well, but fell in a tiebreaker. Third place: Ernie Martinez, Mike Lashley, Tommy Macdonald and Les Poppleton with a 60. KP winners: No. 4 Doug McGie 3'6 ½", No. 8 Steve Stone 7'6", No. 18 Kim Miranda 51' ½" Men's longdrive winner: Mike Cox Women's longdrive winner: Kel - lie Froome Men's accuracy drive winner: Michael Young Women's accuracy drive winner: Michelle Chapin Putting contest winners: First place: Mike Mason Second place: Jason Avila FuNdRaISER 'Fore Baseball' golf tourney benefits Red Bluff sports Kevin durant scored 29 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 94-81 on Friday night. durant has scored at least 25 points in 37 consecutive games. NBa BaSkETBaLL Durant lis Thunder to victory over Kings FULL STORY ON PAGE b2 Sign-ups for Red Bluff Jr. Spartan open football players will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at Red Bluff High School's field house. aROuNd TOWN Red Bluff Jr. Spartan open football sign-ups The Lady Cardinals are sched- uled to continue their run in the Lassen tourney on Sat- urday, March 29, with games against Wheatland at 9:40 a.m., and durham at 1 p.m. SpRING SpORTS Corning High's soball team hits the road deAndre daniels scored 27 points, 19 in the second half, and UConn held off iowa State 81-76 on Friday to reach the East Regional final a year aer the Huskies were barred from the nCAA tournament. NCaa TOuRNamENT UConn holds off Iowa State 81-76 FULL STORY ON PAGE b2 RaIdERS » paGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, march 29, 2014 » MORE AT FACEbOOK.COM/RbDAILYNEWS And TWITTER.COM/REDbLUFFNEWS B1