Kick-Return Specialist Signs With Northridge

A player who once dashed the postseason hopes of one local football team has signed a letter of intent to play for another.

Paul Peters, a wide receiver and kick returner from Rancho Santiago College, is among nine junior college transfers who have accepted football scholarships to attend Cal State Northridge.

It was Peters, then a freshman, who cost Moorpark College a victory in 1988 when he returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown with 1 1/2 minutes remaining in the Orange County PONY Bowl.

Peters, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, enhanced his reputation as a dangerous return man last season, breaking loose for an 87-yard touchdown run on a kickoff return against Fullerton and scoring on a 66-yard punt return against Cerritos.

He returned 14 kickoffs for a 26.4-yard average and 13 punts for an 11.7-yard average.

The addition of Peters gives Northridge a trio of big-play threats. Albert Fann, the Western Football Conference’s top offensive player last season, has been among Division II kickoff-return leaders the past two seasons. CSUN also has Clayton Bamberg, a first-team All-WFC selection as a punt-return specialist. Bamberg returned two punts for touchdowns and had another called back because of a penalty.

Even if Peters does not end up fielding kicks, Matador Coach Bob Burt says that Peters likely will catch his share of footballs as a split receiver. Peters, a first-team All-State selection, had 71 receptions for 1,301 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter for the Dons.

“We’ve been able to attract some outstanding football players,” said Burt, whose Matadors finished 6-5 last season. “We had a few holes to fill on our lines, but we’re well on our way to doing that.”

Already in the fold are Ed Allum, a 6-4, 250-pound center from San Joaquin Delta; Chris Allen, a 6-1, 250-pound center-guard from Glendale College and Alemany High; Anthony McLellan, a 6-3, 265-pound guard from Santa Monica; Ken Jackson, a 6-4, 245-pound defensive tackle from San Joaquin Delta; Dan Abraham, a 6-2, 230-pound outside linebacker from Orange Coast; George Fua, a 6-3, 230-pound tight end from San Joaquin Delta; Eric Barnes, a 5-10, 178-pound cornerback from Cerritos; and Tony Church, a 6-3, 175-pound cornerback from El Camino College.

Burt is particularly high on Church, a second-team All-State selection. “I think we got the best JC back in the state,” Burt said.