CSUN Squanders Chances in 29-17 Loss to Davis

The Cal State Northridge defense learned once again Saturday night that it has to carry the team. The offense certainly didn’t come to the rescue in a 29-17 loss to UC Davis before 4,200 at Toomey Field.

Northridge quarterback Marty Fisher was sacked six times and four of his passes were dropped. Moreover, the Matadors were limited to 28 yards rushing in 36 carries.

“The defense isn’t always gonna win the games,” Fisher said. “When they struggle we have to pick up the slack and we didn’t.

“We moved the ball, but in key situations we dropped the ball and missed blocks.”

Fisher completed 19 of 39 passes for 211 yards. He threw one interception and was deprived of a touchdown pass for the third consecutive game.

Davis (4-1) was coming off a 50-18 loss to Cal State Sacramento, but Northridge (2-3) didn’t have the pass defense--much less the offense--to kick the Aggies when they were down.

“We were very inconsistent on defense,” Northridge Coach Bob Burt said. “Some series we played well and other series we didn’t look like (it was) our defense.”

Northridge had allowed an average of just 250 yards a game, but behind quarterback Mike Quinn the Aggies rolled up 404 yards.

Quinn completed 16 of 29 for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He threw two interceptions, to freshman cornerback Vincent Johnson and senior cornerback Tremelle Barnes, but the CSUN offense couldn’t take advantage of either turnover.

“It is always frustrating when you get the ball from the defense--after they’ve worked their butt off--and you can’t do anything with it,” Fisher said.

Even more frustrating was Billy Nealy’s dropped fourth-down pass in the end zone with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.

Fisher led Nealy with the 31-yard pass and Nealy appeared to have control of it, but the ball bounced off his fingers and onto the grass, preserving Davis’ 20-9 lead.

On CSUN’s next possession, Davis lineman Mike Shepard intercepted a short toss by Fisher on the Northridge 31. Three plays later, Shaun Ayers scored on a 20-yard run to give the Aggies a 27-9 lead with 13 minutes 46 seconds remaining in the game.

A two-yard touchdown run by CSUN’s Cedric Ingram with 4:14 left and a safety by the Aggies with 2:55 to go made for the final score. Davis was awarded the safety when Northridge backup quarterback Damone Scott was whistled for intentional grounding in the end zone.

The Northridge offense looked promising on its first possession. Buoyed by a 15-yard reception by Adam McKinney and a 29-yard catch by Paul Peters, CSUN drove 54 yards to the Davis 20.

But at that point the Matadors self-destructed. Bill Harris was stopped for no gain on second down then Fisher fumbled the snap for a one-yard loss, forcing CSUN to kick a field goal.

Dan Eastman, who missed two field-goal attempts in CSUN’s last game, came through with a 37-yarder for a 3-0 lead with 9:27 left in the first quarter.

Davis responded on its second possession with a 16-yard touchdown catch by Andrew Murden on a pass that was tipped by O.J. Ojomoh of CSUN and Tim Ancira of Davis. It gave the Aggies a 7-3 lead that grew to 14-3 late in the quarter on Josh Weinstock’s 39-yard touchdown catch.

Northridge gained some momentum with a late second-quarter drive to pull within five at 14-9. Harris capped the 61-yard march with a 10-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left in the half.

A 31-yard punt return by Davis’ Joe Genasci gave the Aggies the ball on the 44 with 1:12 remaining until intermission.

After a sack by CSUN’s Carlos Adley for a loss of 10 yards, Quinn completed five consecutive passes. The touchdown came on a leaping six-yard grab by Weinstock for a 20-9 halftime lead.