Corralling Kopp Is Titans’ Objective : Football: Fullerton hopes to control ball and keep potent Pacific offense, led by former Mission Viejo High standout, on the sideline.

You don’t go into a game against University of the Pacific expecting to shut down the Tigers’ offense. You just hope your offense can control the ball long enough to keep Pacific’s offense on the sideline more than on the field.

That will be Cal State Fullerton’s primary objective today when the Titans (1-3) play the Tigers (0-4) in the Big West Conference opener for both teams in Stagg Memorial Stadium.

Fullerton coaches have no illusions of dominating this game defensively. Despite Pacific’s record, the Tigers have a prolific offense that has averaged 29.8 points and 475 total yards a game.

Quarterback Troy Kopp, a former Mission Viejo High School standout, has passed for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns. Running back Ryan Benjamin leads the nation in all-purpose yards (273.8 a game) and is third in rushing (156.3). Receivers Aaron Turner, Jason Edwards and Daryl Hobbs have each caught at least 21 passes and have three touchdowns apiece.

“They have five legitimate, big-time weapons on offense,” Titan Coach Gene Murphy said.

Fullerton hopes to counter with its ground-gulping, clock-chewing running attack that has been fairly successful, especially in terms of controlling the ball. The Titans’ average time of possession is 33 minutes 29 seconds, compared to opponents’ 26:31.

And Murphy expects Pacific, which had a bye last week, to counter with a stacked defensive line, thus forcing Fullerton to pass--not the Titans’ strong suit this season.

“They’ve had two weeks to prepare, and you drive yourself nuts thinking about what they’re going to do,” Murphy said. “I imagine you’ll see an eight-, 10-, 14-man front to try to stop our running game. We just have to try to keep Kopp and our defense off the field and keep the score close.”

Fullerton did for a while last season, but Pacific broke a 33-31 game wide open by scoring five of the game’s last six touchdowns and won, 67-37. The Tigers amassed 747 total yards, most of them through the friendly skies. Kopp threw for 515 yards and seven touchdowns.

Pacific was almost exclusively a passing team last season, but Benjamin, who sat out most of 1990 after injuring his knee in the opener against Tennessee, has added another dimension to the offense.

“He’s making big plays, not just four- and five-yarders,” Murphy said. “He’s quick and fast, and in their no-huddle offense, people are so spread out he has a lot of room to run. They have a basic play called a draw, and they get a lot of yards out of it.”

The draw has been a staple of the Titan offense, too. Running backs Arthur Davis (133.3 yards per game) and Reggie Yarbrough (110.8) rank second and third, respectively, among conference rushers behind Benjamin, and have often been called to run on third and long.

But both are recovering from ankle injuries--Davis sat out last week’s 27-14 loss to Georgia--and while both are expected to play today, they may not be at full strength. Quarterback Chad May also suffered a broken nose against Georgia but is expected to start.

“There’s no question we have to stop the run, but we can’t let them make the big play with the pass,” Pacific Coach Walt Harris said. “We can’t get caught up in the fact that they’re keeping the ball and keeping our offense on the sidelines. We’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities when they’re there.”

Titan Notes

Pacific, which lost to California, 86-24, Sept. 7, has allowed an average of 53.5 points and 544.5 yards a game. But the Tiger defense made a respectable showing in a 30-21 loss to Hawaii Sept. 21, keeping the Rainbows out of the end zone on 10 of 13 possessions. Pacific, which is led defensively by former Whittier Christian High School linebacker Ron Papazian, had allowed 26 touchdowns in three previous games. . . . Three members of the Fullerton coaching staff are former Tiger coaches, and two are former Tiger players. Titan defensive coordinator Kirk Harmon coached linebackers at Pacific in 1984-85 and was a standout linebacker for the Tigers in the early 1980s. Fullerton offensive backfield coach Hue Jackson was a two-year starter at quarterback for Pacific (1985-86)and spent three seasons (1987-89) on the Tigers’ coaching staff. Titan defensive line coach Jim Wachenheim spent time coaching defensive backs, receivers and kickers between 1985-88. . . . Fullerton and Pacific have had a history of playing high-scoring games, combining for 104 points last season (67-37 Pacific), 80 in 1985 (43-37 Fullerton) and 77 in 1986 (39-38 Fullerton). . . . Pacific receiver Aaron Turner, who did not travel to Hawaii because of a disciplinary suspension, is expected to return to action today. He has 100 or more yards receiving in six consecutive games . . . . Pacific linebacker Gari Calhoun, a former Orange Coast College standout, is questionable for today’s game because of a shoulder injury.