A Double-Back Formation With a Triple Threat

UCLA isn’t the only college football team in the area with a pleasant problem at tailback. Cal State Northridge has its own trio of talented tailbacks.

Mike Kane, who holds the school record for career rushing yardage, may end up sharing the rushing load with Richard Brown and Lance Harper. Kane has 2,007 yards and 14 touchdowns in three seasons as a Matador, but he’s being pushed for playing time by Brown, the team’s most valuable offensive back last year, and Harper, a freshman from San Fernando High.

Brown, who started for an injured Kane in three of the last four games, rushed for 372 yards (5.1 average) and 2 touchdowns last season. He was also second on the team in receiving (47 catches, 486 yards, 2 touchdowns).

Harper made The Times’ All-Valley team last year after rushing for 853 yards (6.7 average).

Burt says Kane is the most powerful of the three runners and compares his style to that of UCLA’s Eric Ball. Brown, the fastest of the three, has a style similar to Gaston Green, while Harper, a slashing runner, is compared to James Primus.

“We can’t go wrong with any of the three,” Burt said. “All three are a little different, which means we can attack a defense three different ways.”

A bruised foot forced out Kane late last season, but he still led the team with 481 yards (5.2 average) and 6 touchdowns. He will start at tailback, but Burt said all three runners will see action.

Burt also would not rule out the possibility of teaming Brown or Harper with Kane in the backfield. LeVelle Brown, Tony DePiro and Duane Lawler are still locked in a tight battle for the starting fullback spot in CSUN’s I formation.

Add CSUN football: Who’s the best football player on the team? Burt says it’s center Brian Clark, a junior from Inglewood. “Without a doubt, he’s our best player right now,” Burt said. “He’s one of the best I’ve been around. He’s extremely quick, very bright, very tenacious and a great technician.”

Clark, 6-1, 235, has been waging spirited battles with All-Western Football Conference nose tackle Darrell McIntyre during practices.

Cal Lutheran will have an intrasquad scrimmage at noon Saturday at Mt. Clef Stadium. The Kingsmen begin the regular season the following Saturday, playing host to San Francisco State. Cal Lutheran was 1-4 in the Western Football Conference, 6-5 overall last season.

At halftime of each home game this year, one of the school’s five playoff teams (1971, ‘75, ‘77, ‘79, ‘82) will be honored. The 1962 team will be recognized at the final home game, Nov. 15 against Azusa Pacific. Cal Lutheran is celebrating its 25th year of football.

Daiva Tomkus, an All-Southern Section selection last year at Chaminade, will make her first appearance for the UCLA women’s volleyball team.

The Bruins, 1984 national champions, open tournament play Friday at UC Davis.

Tomkus, a 6-1 middle blocker, is still adjusting to the quick pace of the college game and is on the second string, according to Coach Andy Banachowski.

“She’s doing fine,” Banachowski said. “She’s progressing just like I thought she would. She has excellent instinct for the ball. Soon, I’m sure, she’ll be pressing for some playing time.”

Playing in front of Tomkus are senior Lisa Ettesvold from Port Hueneme, a second-team All-American last year, and Stacey Buck, a junior from Tarzana.

Joining Tomkus on the second team is sophomore Sharyl Bilas, the sister of former Duke basketball player Jay Bilas.

At the same tournament, Cal State Northridge will make its regular-season debut. The Lady Matadors humbled a strong alumni team, 15-7, 15-12, 15-6, 15-11, 16-14, in an exhibition Tuesday.

Add Alumni game: Karen Langston and Karen Lontka of CSUN’s volleyball team delivered a message during this week’s alumni game. They wore it on their shirts.

Langston, a redshirt freshman, wore a shirt reading “Alumni ‘86” with a line through the lettering. Below that, it read, “Hafner Who?”

Lontka, a senior who was an honorable mention All-American last year, wore the same “Alumni ‘86” insignia with the words “Get the hell out of Dodge” under it.

“Hafner” is Heather Hafner, a three-time All-American who helped the Lady Matadors reach the Division II final in each of the four years she played. The rest referred to three-time All-American Shelli Mosby’s comment to a Times reporter last year when asked how she thought Division I power UCLA felt about playing CSUN. “When we get there, they’ll probably tell us to get the hell out of Dodge,” she said.

Apparently, this year’s team felt differently about playing the alumni squad.

Cal State Northridge’s exhibition soccer game with the Hollywood Kickers has been rescheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. at North Campus Stadium.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m.