CS Fullerton Runs Its Way Out of Losing Streak

Cal State Fullerton couldn’t pass, but it didn’t matter.

Reggie Yarbrough and Arthur Davis each rushed for more than 100 yards Saturday as the Titans beat Cal State Northridge, 17-10, before 2,921 in Santa Ana Stadium.

The defeat ended the nation’s longest Division I-A losing streak at 13. Fullerton hadn’t won since a 38-24 victory over Sonoma State in the 1990 season opener.

“We won ugly, and you know what? That’s fine,” Coach Gene Murphy said. “I love it.”

Fullerton, with freshman quarterback Chad May making his first start, passed for only 28 yards, the fewest the Titans have thrown for in their 22-year history.

The Titans fumbled four times, threw two interceptions, missed a field goal and botched apunt.

But Yarbrough ran for 138 yards in 33 carries and Davis had 133 yards and two touchdowns in 29 carries. It was the first time in Murphy’s 12 years at Fullerton that two runners have gone over 100 yards in the same game.

Darrius Watson, the sophomore cornerback who got burned so often last season he could have changed his name to Delirious, was the defensive star. Opponents averaged 304 yards passing a game against the Titans in 1990, and Watson, then a redshirt freshman who moved from safety to cornerback, took his lumps.

Saturday, he dished them out, stopping one fourth-quarter drive with an interception at the Fullerton 32-yard line and then intercepting a pass in the end zone with 1:18 remaining to preserve the Titans’ victory.

Northridge (1-2) drove from its 14 with 2:17 left to the Titan 15 with 1:30 left, the big play being Marty Fisher’s 35-yard pass to Paul Peters.

Fisher again tried to go to Peters on a slant pattern, but Watson stepped in front of the intended receiver for the interception at the goal line and fell into the end zone for a touchback.

“I’ve been waiting for a pick and a win for a long time,” Watson said. “I feel good right now. I feel like going out there and tearing down the goal posts.”