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2C Daily News – Thursday, September 13, 2012 FRESHMEN —5:30 p.m. tonight at Red Bluff By ANDRE BYIK DN Sports Editor The Spartans have struggled to start their season, losing they're first two games, against Oroville and Anderson, without scoring a touchdown. But what first-year head coach Ty Minto has seen from his squad this week gives is impressive, Minto said at a recent practice. The team hasn't given up, or wallowed, they've begun to show an intensity that could lead to a "monumental" first win. "The kids this week have had a lot better attitude than most teams that have lost two in a row without scoring a touchdown," Minto said. "And they seem pretty fired up and eager to play another game. Espe- By ANDRE BYIK DN Sports Editor The Corning Cardinals freshmen football team, head- ed by Bob Albertini, has got- ten off to a 1-1 start, losing to Las Plumas 14-8 in Week 1 and then downing Oroville 16- 12 last week. Bluff at 5:30 p.m. tonight on the Spartans' field in their Tehama County Shootout, and Albertini said he's looking for his team to lose their slow- start tendency. The Cardinals play Red He said the team, which pri- marily runs the ball but is looking to improve their pass- cially against Corning." Minto, who was an offensive guard and outside linebacker for Corning's section championship team in 2002, said "it's pretty important to me that I can beat my old school." He added, "A lot of my co-work- ers know that I'm from Corning, my athletes know that I'm from Corning and I prepare for it just like any other game with myself but there's definitely a heightened sense of things," he said. Minto brought his Cardinals helmet to practice on Tuesday to motivate his team, which is 47 strong. Red Bluff looks to run first, he said, and the development of the passing game will come when the team is comfortable. ing as the season goes on, has played well in the fourth quar- ter in both games. The hope for any team, and especially for freshmen, he said, is that they improve as the season progresses so they're competitive against league opponents. Albertini said the close proximity of Red Bluff and Corning, and the frequency of which make it a rivalry. —— Sports Editor Andre Byik can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 111 or at sports@redbluffdailynews.com. Fol- low him on Twitter:@TehamaSports JUNIOR VARSITY — 5:30 p.m. Friday at Red Bluff By ANDRE BYIK DN Sports Editor Red Bluff overcame a few men- tal lapses in its 28-22 loss against Oroville in Week 1 to get a road win against Anderson last week. The team will be full-strength against Corning, and its No. 1 asset, besides a dominant two-way line- man in 6' 2" 260 pound Justin Nunez, is its identity as a family, head coach Dan Ackley said. "You would sooner quit on your- self than a on a family member," Ackley said. He added that he is fortunate to be coaching the squad this year because of his experience with the team as the freshman coach last year. By ANDRE BYIK DN Sports Editor The Cardinals are off to an unde- feated start this year, beating Las Plumas 34-6 in Week 1 and then fighting for a 21-20 win last week. Oroville was a more physical opponent, Tomlinson said, "and I think it made us tougher." But the main difference for Corn- ing this year is their athleticism, head coach Tom Tomlinson said at practice Tuesday. The team, bigger than Tomlinson has seen in about seven years at 46 players, is faster and more athletic than last year, he said. They have a focus, seem to enjoy the game and compete against each other at practice, which makes them better, Tomlinson said. But while he enjoys the small- school, underdog aspect of the RED BLUFFRED BLUFF Tehama County Shootout, he's not overhyping the event. "We'd like to be 3-0," Tomlinson said, "and I don't think there's too much more emphasis on it." Some standouts so far have been Chance Nelson, who plays quarter- back and corner, Joe Aguirre, who has had success running the ball and tackling and Tony Creo, who had good games against Las Plumas and Oroville. On the line, two-way tackle Tyler Dennis has been a force on offense, Tomlinson said, adding that he's been blocking well. The Cardinals, a running team that completes about three to five passes per game, are taking the Shootout as a stepping stone on their path to league play, Tomlinson said. DAILYDAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTYTEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Your "Local" Daily Newspaper Since 1885 To subscribe, place a display or a classified ad Call Today! 527-2151 NEWS Thank you Tehama County for voting us the Best Mexican Restaurant 2 Consecutive Years Go Spartans! 914 Walnut St. Red Bluff, CA 528-9496 Authentic Mexican Food against the Cardinals, he said the team's look forward to it all year to capture those bragging rights. "Corning-Red Bluff is always, always a dogfight," Ackley said. The Spartans have been trying to control the clock like they did with a nine minute drive against Ander- son in the third quarter last week, he said. "We have athleticism and size and so try to utilize both," Ackley said, adding "We don't need a whole lot of gimmicks. We just need to play football." But success starts with being accountable, he said, so "they can be good students, good employees someday, good husbands, good fathers," Looking toward Friday's game And he said the team has bought in to that philosophy. RESTAURANT MEXICAN