This Time, CSUN Puts Portland on Ice : Kane’s 236 Yards Carry Matadors to WFC Showdown

Portland State was set up. Cal State Northridge appeared an easy mark.

The Matadors were 7-2, ranked 15th in the Division II and all that, but whom had they played besides UC Davis? Portland had a 6-3 record, but its losses had come to powerful Idaho, Nevada Las Vegas and Cal State Sacramento.

And everyone knew what happened last season when the teams met on Portland’s AstroIce. The Vikings won by 37 points.

What a difference a year makes.

Northridge defeated Portland, 34-0, before a North Campus Stadium crowd of 4,106. Can you spell blowout? The victory enabled the Matadors to tie a school record for victories in a season with eight. Northridge has gone from 4-7 to 8-2 in Coach Bob Burt’s first year.

The win also set up a showdown between Northridge and Sacramento for the WFC championship next week in Sacramento. Both teams are 4-1 in conference games.

The Matadors appear to be peaking at the right time.

Northridge outgained Portland, 428-270, and had a 343-118 edge in rushing. The Matadors also forced three turnovers and had only three penalties. Time of possession: Advantage Northridge, 37:10 to 22:50. The Matadors never attempted a punt.

No wonder Portland Coach Pokey Allen said afterward, “I don’t know how many plays they ran, but it seemed like a million.”

He’ll be seeing No. 44 in his sleep. Mike Kane, playing probably his last game in front of a home crowd, gave them a performance to remember--236 yards worth.

He admitted later that he wanted to go out with a bang. Consider it done.

“I’m sad about leaving this place,” Kane said as he stood near midfield excepting the congratulations of Portland players. “I hate it when I get so damn emotional about this team, but I just can’t help it.”

He wasn’t the only one with a tear in his eye. He was joined by Portland fans and players. The Vikings went into the game in a first-place tie with Sacramento.

“They just lined up and came at us,” explained Portland linebacker Brett Rodarte. It was a simplistic description. And so accurate.

The offensive line of Carlos Rivera, Tony Palamara, Brian Clark, Louis Murino and Don Tucker opened holes so big that . . .

“See that lady over there? That’s my mom,” Kane said. “She could’ve had about 100 with some of those holes tonight.”

And then there was the defense. Portland was averaging 30 points a game. In the Vikings’ last three games they had scored 28, 66 and 41 points. They had scored more than 20 points in seven consecutive games.

The key was the pressure Northridge was able to put on Portland quarterback Chris Crawford, the WFC’s top-rated passer going into the game.

Crawford was averaging 260 passing yards a game and had completed 63% of his attempts. He was 10 of 27 for 152 yards with three interceptions against the Matadors.

Steve Dominic, who planted the top of his helmet into Crawford’s chin on more than one occasion, said the defense wanted a shutout for nose tackle Darrell McIntyre, who, like Kane, was playing his final game at home.

Until Portland’s last drive of the first half, Kane had more yards rushing than the Vikings totaled.

Portland trailed, 13-0, by the time its offense got on track midway through the second quarter.

The Vikings drove from their 15 to the Northridge three where they had a first and goal.

Two runs and a pass later, Portland was at the Matador two, and on fourth down Crawford was crunched by Dominic just as he lofted a pass right into the waiting arms of Northridge’s Kip Dukes at the goal line.

Dukes returned it to the 12 and the Matadors ran out the rest of the first half. It was Dukes’ fourth interception of the season and Crawford’s first in 164 passes.

Portland threatened only one other time in the first three quarters. The Vikings drove to the Matador six on their second possession of the second half, but Mike Erickson missed a 23-yard field goal.

Erickson started the game leading WFC kickers in scoring with 53 points, but he lost that advantage after two first-half field goals by CSUN’s Mike Doan.

Doan, a senior who was all-conference last season, kicked a 41-yard field goal to cap the Matadors’ first possession of the game. He added a 44-yarder midway through the second quarter, a 40-yarder early in the third period, and a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

He also lost a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter when Burt took a roughing the kicker penalty to sustain a drive. Good call. Kane eventually scored the first of his three touchdowns on a one-yard run.

Kane added another one-yard plunge near the end of the third quarter, and then went 14 yards for his 15th touchdown of the season in the fourth period.

Doan’s extra point after the last touchdown gave him 14 points, tying a WFC record for kicking points in a game.