Reviews Mixed for Barrett

In the parlance of movie reviewers Siskel and Ebert, former Burroughs High quarterback Jeff Barrett earned one thumb up and one thumb down for his debut as a starter for Brown University’s football team.

Barrett completed 27 of 49 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown and had three interceptions in Brown’s 36-20 loss at Yale on Saturday. “Statistically I did well, but a loss is a loss any way you look at it,” Barrett said. “I made too many mistakes.”

Those errors included “misreads, interceptions, not being able to punch it in on the goal line, little things that add up over the day,” said Barrett, a junior who played the past two seasons for Santa Monica City College.

However, Brown Coach Mickey Kwiatkowski was far more upbeat.

“I think he did exceptionally well,” Kwiatkowski said. “He threw some passes that were more of a function of some things that Yale did as opposed to things he did incorrectly. He’s getting a little bit more sophisticated coverages than he’s used to, but he’s adapting.”

STATE OF FLUX

Cal State Northridge left tackle Jack Montes is doubtful for Saturday’s nonconference football game against Central Oklahoma because of a sprained ligament in his left knee. Montes, a junior transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, sustained the injury on the first play of the second half Saturday in a 17-10 loss to Cal State Fullerton. Jose Casillas, a junior from Citrus College, is expected to start in place of Montes.

With the injury to Montes and earlier injuries to center Skip Allum and backup right guard Kevin Bess, the Matadors will be fielding their third offensive line in four games Saturday.

Depth is a major problem. With only eight offensive linemen, the Matadors do not have a different backup at each position.

Casillas, for example, is the backup for right tackle Don Goodman. Bess, who still is recovering from a dislocated kneecap, is right guard Anthony McClellan’s backup, and Scott Norman is the backup for left guard Art Espino and Allum, whom he replaced in the first half against Fullerton.

THE PENALTY BOX

Northridge nose guard Carlos Adley was understandably fired up to play Fullerton, the school he transferred from after playing there in 1984, ’85 and ’87.

Unfortunately, he was perhaps a bit too riled up. Adley was whistled for offside violations twice. After teammate Ken Jackson was offside a few minutes later, Matador Coach Bob Burt informed assistant Dennis McConnaughy that the defensive line would face some intensive drills this week.

At least the line learned from its mistakes. After the three offside calls, Fullerton on two occasions attempted to draw the Matadors offside. The Northridge line held fast and the Titans were penalized for delay of game.

WATERLOGGED

The Pierce College water polo team nearly sank before it swam this season. During class registration, a computer error showed the program to have been canceled, and, as a result, only seven players showed when school started.

Since then, Coach Larry Mouchawar has picked up five more players by recruiting from swimming classes and posting advertisements on campus bulletin boards.

“We have a pretty good starting lineup this year if we can get everyone to the games,” said Mouchawar, whose team will open the season today at Pasadena City College. “I’m just hoping we don’t have problems with class schedules conflicting with the games.”

BRIEFLY. . . .

Northridge fullback Jim Warren is expected to put on pads Tuesday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a left knee injury suffered Aug. 24 in an intrasquad scrimmage. . . .

Northridge has rushed for only 232 yards in three games, an average of 77.3 yards a game. Last season, the Matadors averaged 147 yards. The passing game is only slightly ahead of last year’s pace. CSUN is passing for 157 yards per game compared to 139 last season. . . .

Scott Mowl, a pitcher and outfielder who played at Cerritos College and Cal State Los Angeles, has been working out with members of the Northridge baseball team. Mike Schwartzer, a former Reseda High standout who played at San Diego State last season, also reportedly has enrolled at Northridge.

Staff writers Steven Herbert, Mike Hiserman, Theresa Munoz and John Ortega contributed to this notebook.