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ByChipThompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter LOSMOLINOS TheLosMolinosBull- dogs had a forgettable homecoming Friday night, falling to the Prince- ton Eagles 76-38. Not only did the Bulldogs lose to the league's leading rusher, Manuel Espinosa, and a very good Prince- ton team, the loss was compounded by complaints about non-calls and questionable calls from the officiat- ing crew and increasing frustration that caused tempers to flare. The teams traded jabs early, with each scoring a touchdown a few min- utes into the opening quarter and the Eagles scoring again from the 6 with 7 minutes left in the first. The Bulldogs answered with Alex Russell hitting Hunter Landingham for 32 yards to put the ball at the Princeton 10. After a motion penalty, Russell carried it in from the 15 for the score. The conversion failed and the Bulldogs trailed 14-12 with 5 min- utes left in the first. A couple of plays then tilted the momentum toward the Eagles. Espinosa would take it in again to put the Eagles up 22-12 in the closing minutes of the first, then a fumble at midfield put the ball back in Espino- sa's hands at the Eagles' 45. He con- nected with Jonathan Angel to open the second quarter with a score and put the Eagles up 30-12. The Bulldogs were having trouble slowing down Espinosa, and their FOOTBALL BULLDOGS TAKE TOUGH HOME LOSS TO PRINCETON LosMolinos'AlexRussellbreaksfreeonarunFridaynight against the Princeton Eagles. PHOTOS BY CHIP THOMPSON — DAILY NEWS Los Molinos' Jose Chavez breaks free on a run Friday night against the Princeton Eagles. By Josh Dubow The Associated Press ALAMEDA The Oakland Raid- ers have been playing with fire this season and mostly have come out unharmed. All five games they've played have come down to the closing minutes and Oakland has more often than not made the big play — or benefited from the big mis- take — to win. That has led to a 4-1 record that has the Raiders tied with Denver atop the AFC West and off to their best start in 14 years. But if the Raiders want to end their 13-year playoff drought and really be contenders in the AFC for the first time in years, it would probably help to come up with a couple of easy wins rather than nail-biters. "We have a healthy perspec- tive of what we want to look like and knowing that we're not quite there," coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. "There's a lot of work in front of us. I don't think anybody would disagree with that. There's a long season in front of us, a lot of things we must do better as we go for- ward." They had a chance for a com- fortable finish Sunday against the Chargers when they took a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter. But instead they quickly allowed San Di- ego to drive down the field for a touchdown, went three-and- out on the next possession and then needed to stop Melvin Gor- don on third-and-2 and have holder Drew Kaser drop a snap on a potential game-tying field goal attempt to hold on for a 34- 31 victory. Those types of games have been a pattern for Oakland this season. The Raiders took the lead with a touchdown and 2-point conversion with 47 sec- onds left in the opener against New Orleans and held on for the 35-34 win when Will Lutz missed a 61-yard field goal on the final play. The following week, the Raid- ers came up short when they failed to convert a fourth-and-2 down seven points to Atlanta and then couldn't get a third- down stop late to get another chance in a 35-28 loss . Oakland bounced back from that loss with its first three- game winning streak in five years but none of the victories came easy. Tennessee had a po- tential game-tying TD called back by penalty in the final min- ute and missed on a final throw into the end zone in the Raid- ers' 17-10 win. NFL Raiders thrive in tight games, fuels fast start By Chip Thompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter COTTONWOOD The Red Bluff Spartans, coming off their first win of the season Sept. 30, took a tough loss Friday to the West Valley Eagles 45-7. Marshall Brose was 20 of 40 for 213 yards and a touchdown on the night, with 54 yards on 9 carries to lead the team in rushing. Tanner Tweedt put up 14 yards on 12 carries and Quentin Tatro had 14 yards on 4 carries. Conner McKenzie led the Spartans in receiving with 87 yards on 8 catches and a touch- down. Cameron Orgtega had 3 grabs for 67 yards and Tweedt caught 4 for 38 yards. Kaden Pearce was named player of the game for the Spar- tans. The Spartans (1-6 overall, 1-2 league) return home Oct. 14 for the Tehama County Shootout against the Corning Cardinals (5-1 overall, 2-0 league), who were on a bye this week. Mercy29,Greenville72 GREENVILLE The Mercy War- riors lost on the road Friday night to the Greenville Indians 72-29. Quarterback Kavin McClel- lan was 8 of 9 for 143 yards and a touchdown through the air and he ran for 153 yards on 9 carries for 3 touchdowns to lead the Warriors on the ground. Carlos Rosales got 77 yards on 3 carries and connected to McClellan for a 19-yard comple- tion. Sophomore Michael Yingling had 34 yards on 4 carries and caught to passes for 55 yards. Alvaro De La Fuente led the Warriors on defense, with 20 tackles and 2 sacks. Noe Rodriguez had 17 tack- les and 2 sacks, Dartagnan Kin- gwell had 12 tackles and recov- ered a fumble and Ricky Or- neles had a sack. The Warriors (2-3 overall, 1-2 league) will host the Los Molinos Bulldogs (3-3 overall, 2-1 league) at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Sacred Heart School in the Lit- tle Tehama County Shootout. Corning bye The Corning Cardinals (5-1 overall, 2-0 league) were on a bye Friday. They prepare this week for the Tehama County Shootout against the Spartans (1-6 overall, 1-2 league) Oct. 14 in Red Bluff. FOOTBALL Spartans,Warriorsoverpoweredonroad BULLDOGS PAGE 2 MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in Oakland Sunday. RAIDERS PAGE 2 MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE The comeback of Tiger Woods is going to have to wait at least two more months. Three days before he was to return at the Safeway Open, Woods said he wasn't ready to return against PGA Tour competition. By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press The comeback of Tiger Woods is going to have to wait at least two more months. Three days before Woods planned to end his longest break from golf at the Safeway Open, he abruptly withdrew on Monday and said his game was not ready to take on PGA Tour competition. "My health is good, and I feel strong," Woods said on his web- site. "But my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be." And so the waiting continues. Woods first announced on Sept. 7 that he planned to play three times by the end of the year, start- ing with the Safeway Open at Sil- verado Resort in Napa, California. Then, he officially committed to the tournament on Friday. The buzz was building for his return, with word leaking that he would be paired with Phil Mick- elson and defending Silverado champion Emiliano Grillo. In- stead, Woods withdrew from the Safeway Open and the Turkish Airlines Open on Nov. 3-6 after what he described as "a lot of soul searching." He said he plans to play at his Hero World Challenge on Dec. 1-4 in the Bahamas. "When I announced last week I was going to Safeway, I had every intention of playing, or I wouldn't have committed," Woods said. He was at the Ryder Cup two weeks ago as an assistant captain and said the experience "inspired me even more to play." Woods said he practiced the last several days in California, where he also went to Stanford's football game against Washington State. "But after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn't ready to compete against the best golfers in the world," he said. "I would like to apologize and send my regrets to Safeway, the Turkish Airlines Open, the fans in California and Turkey and those that had hoped to watch me compete on TV. This isn't what I wanted to happen, but I will con- tinue to strive to be able to play tournament golf. "I'm close, and I won't stop un- til I get there." Woods last played on Aug. 23, 2015, at the Wyndham Champi- onship. Two shots out of the lead going into the final round, he closed with a 70 and tied for 10th. A month later, he announced he had another operation on his back. Then, Woods had a third back surgery in October. He missed all four majors for the first time in his career. Johnny Miller, the tournament host at Silverado, said Woods pledged he would return to the Safeway Open next year if he is able. The Safeway Open is the first tournament in the PGA Tour's wraparound schedule. GOLF Woods to withdraw from Safeway Open in Napa WOODS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, October 11, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1