Kyman Lifts Northridge to Victory : College football: Volleyball star comes off bench to quarterback Matadors past Eastern New Mexico.
So the question becomes: Ever played basketball, Coley?
Any inquiries about football were answered Saturday night at North Campus Stadium, where Coley Kyman led Cal State Northridge to 24-13 win over Eastern New Mexico before a crowd of 2,864 in CSUN’s home opener.
Kyman, best known around Northridge as a volleyball standout, might never be a football All-American. But he will definitely do as a third-string quarterback.
With 6 minutes 40 seconds left in the first quarter of the nonconference game, Kyman lined up behind center for the first time in two years, since his high school days at Reseda.
Nearly 3 1/2 minutes later, he celebrated his first collegiate touchdown pass.
The victory evened CSUN’s record at 1-1 and, suddenly, when all seemed lost--two quarterbacks included--after a loss at Northern Arizona last week, the Matadors found renewed hope from a number of sources.
There had been big wins, blow-out wins in the past, but none quite as sweet “because of what we had to do to get it,” CSUN Coach Bob Burt said.
Indeed, it was a night of unknown stars.
Already playing short at the quarterback position, Northridge also won without Albert Fann, its All-American tailback.
After gaining 72 yards in 17 carries, Fann spent most of the second half seated behind the CSUN bench, his left thigh heavily taped. Just before the end of the first half, Fann pulled a hamstring and after finding his mobility limited on CSUN’s first offensive series of the third quarter was held out.
Victor DeVaughn played in Fann’s place, finishing with 59 yards in 14 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown gallop on fourth down with 19 seconds left.
“Vic is a great back,” Burt said. “A lot of people would love to have him.”
In addition, the Matador defense, humbled only a week ago, allowed only 62 yards rushing and forced four turnovers.
Even Homan Farahmand, a seldom-used defensive back, got into the act. When Eastern New Mexico’s Mario Smalls muffed a punt at the Northridge 15 with 1:23 left and the score 17-13, Farahmand was there to pounce on it for the Matadors.
And then there was Kyman, who is considered one of the nation’s top young volleyball players. Kyman, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, completed only eight of 21 passes for 73 yards, but his play was key nonetheless.
“Coley came through, just like winners do,” Burt said.
Northridge’s starter was Greg Bratten, a fifth-year senior whose game experience coming in consisted of two series two years ago. His debut as Matador starter lasted no longer.
Bratten’s first pass attempt bounced off the shoulder pad of fullback Jason Ferguson and into the arms of Eastern New Mexico tackle Victor Tarin at the CSUN 21.
That set up a 33-yard field goal by Mike Nesbitt, which gave the Greyhounds a 3-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.
On Northridge’s ensuing possession, Bratten fumbled while rolling to his right. He fell on the ball, but the Matador march was going backward. CSUN started on its own 41, ended up on its 25, and Kyman got the green light to take over on the Matadors’ next possession.
Kyman’s first pass was a seven-yard completion to tight end George Fua. His second was an 11-yard strike to Joe Rice. His third was complete to Fann, but it lost four yards.
On the next play Kyman found Anthony Harris in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown.
“I threw it a little behind him and he went up and made a great catch for me,” Kyman said.
Kyman’s totals on the seven-play, 51-yard scoring drive: four for four, 34 yards. Spike that.
From the sidelines, the Northridge defense watched with wonder.
“I was saying, ‘I didn’t know Coley was that good,’ ” said linebacker Ken Wallace, who spent a good portion of the game in hot pursuit of Todd Lacey, Eastern New Mexico’s quarterback. “I said, ‘Damn, he should have been with us last year.’ ”
The touchdown to Harris put Northridge in front, 14-3.
Linebacker Mario Hull accounted for the game’s first touchdown and the first by CSUN this season. The junior from Cleveland High stepped in front of a Lacey pass with 8:22 to go in the first quarter and returned the ball 15 yards for a score and a 7-3 Northridge lead.
After Kyman and Harris hooked up to put CSUN ahead by 11 points, Eastern New Mexico cut the lead to four 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter on a 15-yard pass from Lacey to Andrei McGriff.
The final points of the half came on a 21-yard field goal by CSUN’s Abo Velasco with 6:11 to go in the second period.
Hull, a transfer from Santa Monica City College, thwarted a 60-yard Greyhound drive just before the half with his second interception of the game. His theft came at the CSUN two and he returned the ball to the Eastern New Mexico 43.
