Burt Stirs Northridge to 9-7 Win

Responding to a halftime scolding by its coach, Cal State Northridge rallied to down Central Oklahoma, 9-7, in a nonconference football game before 3,776 Saturday night at North Campus Stadium.

“I was a little bit upset,” CSUN’s Bob Burt said in an understatement, “All I did was point out to them that we stunk. We were as flat in the first half as I’ve ever seen a team since I’ve been here.”

CSUN quarterback Marty Fisher took those words to heart and connected on eight of 12 passes for 130 yards in the second half after completing just three of 10 for 17.

“It was that bad?” Fisher asked when his first-half statistics were relayed. “I don’t think I was in the ballgame in the first half. I made some bad throws and bad decisions. As a team I think we came out and expected to run them over. We didn’t have any emotion.”

In winning their ninth consecutive home opener, the Matadors (2-2) benefited from a defense that held the Bronchos (1-2) to 126 yards.

The only Central Oklahoma score came with 6 minutes 36 seconds left in the second quarter. The drive started on the CSUN 41 after a 22-yard punt return by Elton Rhoades. After consecutive illegal-procedure calls that moved them back to their 49, the Bronchos got a break. On first down and 20, CSUN linebacker Keith Turner stopped Tyrone Jones for no gain, but as he grabbed Jones he also grabbed Jones’ face mask, resulting in a 15-yard penalty that gave the Bronchos a first down on the CSUN 36.

Jones gained 10 yards on three plays and on first down from the 25, Central Oklahoma quarterback Ben Morrison found freshman John McGuire in the right corner of the end zone.

The only promising drive the Matadors managed in the first half was sabotaged by a personal foul. On first and goal from the Broncho nine, Jess Garner gained two, but Cornell Ward hit Central Oklahoma’s Jason Stubbs after the whistle.

The penalty--the second of its kind in as many games--moved the ball back to the Broncho 21 where it stayed after consecutive incomplete passes by Fisher. On fourth down, Dan Eastman’s 38-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

On Northridge’s second drive of the second half, Eastman was given another chance, and he made good on a 29-yard attempt, leaving CSUN in arrears, 7-3, with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter.

After a march that ended with Fisher sacked for a 14-yard loss, the Matadors put together a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive that gave them a 9-7 lead with 9:33 remaining.

The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard catch by Nealy and a 24-yard catch by Paul Peters and was capped by a hard-fought five-yard touchdown run on third down by Anthony Nicholson, who converted the other third down of the drive.

It was a gutsy effort by Nicholson, who had reinjured his left ankle in the third quarter.

Matador notes

Burt will open up the extra-point and field-goal kicking job again between Eastman and Joe Jezulin. . . . Ron McKinney, Doug Bledsoe and Ken Vaughn each recorded sacks for CSUN. . . . Vaughn led the Matadors with 15 tackles. Northridge nose guard Carlos Adley was held out of the game because of a sore shoulder. Tackle Alo Sila moved to nose guard and made eight tackles. . . . Tremelle Barnes replaced Bill Harris as kickoff returner and gained 63 yards on two returns. . . . Harris played his best game as a Matador at tailback, gaining a team-high 63 yards in 17 carries. . . . CSUN has a bye next week.