AROUND THE WFC : UC Davis Breaks Stranglehold of WFC on Rivals to the North

UC Davis’ 21-15 victory over Santa Clara last Saturday marked the first time this season that a Northern California Athletic Conference team had defeated a Western Football Conference opponent. WFC teams are 9-1 against the NCAC. Cal State Northridge and Cal Lutheran are a combined 4-0.

Davis, the No. 12-ranked team in Division II, historically has had good luck against the WFC, winning 21 of its past 22 games. The Aggies’ last loss to a WFC opponent was in 1984 against Santa Clara (24-21).

The rankings: Portland State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are the only WFC teams ranked in the Division II top 20. Portland (3-1) is No. 3 and San Luis Obispo (3-0) is No. 18.

They shall return: Cal State Northridge has the two top return specialists in the conference. Kip Dukes is averaging 14.5 yards on punt returns and freshman Albert Fann is averaging 32 yards on kickoff returns.

Trent Morgan of Northridge and Kent Sullivan of Cal Lutheran are the top punters in the conference. Morgan’s 46.2 average is second best in Division II. Sullivan has a 40.5 average.

Joe Monarrez of Cal Lutheran leads in pass receptions with 20 for 170 yards.

Bonds-rate increase: There is evidence that the Cal Lutheran offense is one dimensional. Tom Bonds is the top-rated quarterback in the WFC, but the Kingsmen are last in total offense. Bonds is averaging 219.7 passing yards a game and the Cal Lutheran offense is averaging 284.

Bouncing back: The Northridge defense has made a nice recovery after suffering a 30-0 defeat at the hands of Boise State in the season opener.

The Matadors are second in the WFC in defense, allowing 218 yards a game, and are No. 1 against the rush, giving up an average of only 48 yards a game.

In victories against San Francisco State and Sonoma State, CSUN surrendered 25 rushing yards on 72 carries.

Cal Lutheran’s defense is third in the WFC at 271.3 yards a game and No. 1 against the pass, allowing opponents a completion ratio of 38.6%.