Fann’s Star Shines a Little Brighter Than Bridewell’s

Albert Fann’s performance against UC Davis Saturday night would not win him many votes for the Harlon Hill Trophy, but Fann made do with the opportunities he had in Cal State Northridge’s 14-10 triumph.

In the process, Fann outshone quarterback Jeff Bridewell, the Aggies’ candidate for the prestigious award, which honors the best player in NCAA Division II.

Fann rushed for 88 yards in 22 carries and scored on runs of 18 and 11 yards. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior needs 95 yards next Saturday against Portland State to become Northridge’s all-time leading rusher with 3,573 yards.

“I believe I can get it (next week),” Fann said. “If we just play hard it’ll come. We’ve got to learn as an offensive unit never to let down. They (Davis) just put the clamps on us in the second half. A lot of times there was nothing there. I’d hit a big, old clog. I tried to bounce outside but by then the pursuit was there.”

As a result, Fann picked up only 23 yards in 15 carries after intermission. It was a stark contrast to the first half, when he gained 65 yards in just seven carries, scored both touchdowns and appeared to be on his way to his 17th 100-yard game.

The first time Fann touched the ball he ran for eight yards. On the next play, he caught a pass from quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, broke two tackles and eluded an Aggie defender for a 13-yard gain.

Again, the Matadors went to Fann. This time he broke to his left, cut inside and dashed to the end zone, carrying a Davis player with him. The 18-yard touchdown run capped a 72-yard drive and gave CSUN a 7-0 lead with 10:16 remaining in the first quarter. His other touchdown, after a Davis turnover, came on a pitchout from 11 yards.

Fann’s most exciting run also took place in the first half, a 43-yard kickoff return that he nearly broke for a touchdown. Initially, Fann fumbled the ball, then burst up the right side and nearly outran the Davis coverage.

“My hamstring won’t allow me to open it up and really run,” Fann said of an injury that has slowed him recently. “I tried to do what I could do, but I can’t open up.”

Although Bridewell struggled, he had a chance to rally the Aggies to victory on the final drive of the game. It started on the Davis 20 with 2 minutes 17 seconds left but ended on the CSUN 30 when Baron Atkinson intercepted Bridewell’s pass.

Bridewell (6-5, 220) also threw an interception in the first half--on a tipped pass--and was limited to 15 completions in 35 attempts for 161 yards.

Bridewell’s offensive line didn’t do him any favors--he was sacked five times. In one series, he was sandwiched by Ken Wallace and Atkinson for a 12-yard loss, and a play later, Wallace, Alo Sila and Danny Abraham were on top of Bridewell from the snap. Together they chased him for an 18-yard loss with Wallace finishing the play atop Bridewell’s head.