Kyman Highlights CSUN Intrasquad Football Game

Nine days after he played in Cal State Northridge’s final volleyball match of the season, Coley Kyman led the Black team to a 10-2 victory over the White in CSUN’s annual intrasquad spring football game before 400 Saturday night at North Campus Stadium.

In the Black’s first offensive series of the second quarter, Kyman replaced Damone Scott at quarterback and guided his team on a seven-play scoring drive highlighted by a 22-yard reception by Troy Strange, a transfer from College of the Desert, and Kyman’s seven-yard scramble. It set up a 28-yard field goal by Francisco Ortega, a walk-on from Lincoln High.

On White’s ensuing possession, Black linebacker Ken Vaughn stopped tailback Danny Edwards on fourth-and-one from the 38, allowing Kyman to march the Black squad down the field again.

Undaunted by a 15-yard holding penalty on the first play of the drive, Anthony Nicholson broke several tackles on a run up the middle for a nine-yard gain, the longest run from scrimmage to that point.

On the ensuing play, Cornell Ward came up with a 33-yard catch after it was tipped twice.

Two plays later, Ward made an eight-yard catch on third and seven, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Nicholson, a senior fullback who came on strong toward the end of the 1990 season.

That was all the scoring the Black squad needed.

Kyman finished with 138 yards passing and 14 yards rushing in five carries. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Kyman completed seven of 10 passes.

“I had a lot of fun,” Kyman said. “The offensive line blocked real well and gave me a lot of time.”

Kyman, who will be a sophomore next fall, was not surprised that he played so well just a week after reporting for football practice.

“It is a lot easier going from volleyball to football than football to volleyball,” he said. “It is almost the same arm motion.”

Northridge Coach Bob Burt also took Kyman’s performance in stride.

“It was consistent with the type of competitor he is,” Burt said. “He makes things happen.”

Burt expects competition at quarterback during the fall, especially after Kyman outshined his competitors--Scott, a transfer from Western Michigan, and Marty Fisher, the most experienced returning quarterback.

“We’re not going to have a quarterback controversy though, not ever,” he said. “We’re going to give the ball to the guy doing the best job and if he can’t get it done, we’ll give it to the next guy like we do at all the positions.”

Scott, who split time with Kyman, completed four of eight passes for seven yards. Although he overthrew his receivers a few times, he showed some scrambling ability in getting out of the pocket and getting the passes off under pressure.

“It is different than it was in Western Michigan,” he said.

“A lot of times tonight I got caught up in my old offense and started calling audibles. This is a more run-oriented offense than I’m used to.

“I still have a lot of growing to do. I just have to be patient. I didn’t expect to be No. 1 or No. 2, my goal is to be there later. It is a good situation because nobody has true experience.”

Fisher, who backed up senior Sherdrick Bonner last fall, played the entire game and completed just three of 14 passes for 14 yards.

“I did what I could,” he said. “We had a lot of breakdowns, guys just don’t know the system yet, but that is what spring is for, learning.”

While Fisher admitted that Kyman’s performance adds even more pressure, he also said he welcomes it. “It is just going to push me more,” he said.

The tailback position was also scrambled when Jess Garner and Danny Edwards joined the race for playing time with Victor DeVaughn and Bill Harris.

Garner ran for 32 yards in seven carries and caught an 11-yard pass, Edwards picked up 14 yards in four carries, DeVaughn gained 27 yards in 14 carries and Harris was limited to three yards in six carries.

“The two things I found out tonight,” Burt said, “are that we have three people at quarterback and at least three to four at tailback.”

Among the outstanding performers Saturday were Doug Bledsoe (seven tackles, 2 1/2 sacks), Alo Sila (11 tackles), Ron Walters (10 tackles), Vaughn (eight tackles), Keith Turner (eight tackles) and Danny Abraham, who had seven tackles and recorded the safety.