New Stars Come out on Night of Rivalry

The big question going into the Cal State Northridge-Cal Lutheran game Saturday night was whether or not Kingsman quarterback Tom Bonds, the leading passer in the Western Football Conference, would play.

The sophomore spent the entire game on the sideline at CSUN’s North Campus Stadium nursing the right shoulder he injured last week against St. Mary’s. The entire game, that is, until Cal Lutheran gained possession trailing, 27-23, with 6:19 remaining in the game. Bonds then replaced a resourceful but battered Vic Wilson.

The Matadors held on to spoil CLC’s first WFC game ever, Bonds entry notwithstanding.

But who would have thought CLC could have played the Matadors so close without Bonds? All the Kingsmen believed it, especially after the first quarter.

Call a Northridge play as the first quarter expired “The Equalizer.”

Mike Kane, who had tied a CSUN record for touchdowns in a season (11) on an 18-yard reception minutes earlier, limped off the field after another 18-yard gain, this one on a handoff. It was his last gain--and carry--of the day.

“I was in pain and still am,” Kane said after spraining his right ankle. “There was no way I could come back in the game.”

With CSUN’s most dangerous offensive threat on the sideline, Cal Lutheran again believed it was in an even match.

“Kane going out gave us an emotional lift,” CLC Coach Bob Shoup said. “But we were plenty pumped up anyway.”

When it became apparent Kane wasn’t able, the Kingsmen fired up, taking a 17-13 halftime lead.

The injury deprived Kane, a junior, of a near certain chance at reaching 2,000 yards rushing in his career. He entered the game with 1,945 and added 40 on four carriers for an appropriate total of 1,985.

Kane’s replacement, however, was Richard Brown, a slashing runner who gained 98 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns.

“We got down for a while when Mike was hurt,” CSUN Coach Tom Keele said. “But Brown did a great job in the second half. He is our second-best athlete.”

Said Brown: “It was unexpected, but when Mike went down, I knew I had to do the job. I didn’t think too much, just ran hard.”

Wilson replaced Bonds as effectively as Brown replaced Kane. He couldn’t complete deep passes as well as Bonds, but two of his short tosses turned into 80-yard touchdowns, one by Noel Hicks and the other by Greg Harris. Wilson hit 15 of 38 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

Wilson paced the sidelines after Bonds entered the game. Teammates congratulated him on his performance, but he was teary-eyed and emotionally spent. He would not talk to reporters.

Also picking up the slack in the absense of Bonds was diminutive senior tailback Hicks (5-8, 165), who took screen passes from Wilson for touchdowns of 80 and 11 yards in the first half. A comment uttered by both coaches, was meant for every player on the field, but applied especially to Brown and Wilson, the unexpected stars.

“What a courageous effort,” CSUN Coach Tom Keele said, flashing a broad smile. Shoup said the same words, but his head was bowed as he spoke.

Certainly, the thrill-a-minute nature of the game will enhance an already intense rivalry. Northridge leads the series, 6-3, and has won the last three games by a total of nine points.