Glendale’s Dyrek Shakes Off Injury to Steal Spotlight

Two weeks ago, a doctor told Jeff Dyrek that his career as a Glendale College football player was over.

But after a second opinion revealed that his back injury was less serious than thought, Dyrek on Saturday turned in a spectacular performance in which he made four interceptions against Valley.

That’s four more than in his previous 14 games with the Vaqueros dating to last season.

“I dropped three of them last season,” said Dyrek, a sophomore linebacker who donned a special set of extra bulky shoulder pads against the Monarchs. “It was a weird thing. Really, I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Over and over and over again.

The interceptions were not the result of any change in Glendale’s defense. Dyrek (6-foot, 225 pounds) took his usual drop on pass plays.

“We were getting a good rush and (Valley College quarterbacks) were just getting rid of it,” Dyrek said.

In all, Glendale made five interceptions--the other by Scott Blade, another linebacker.

“I heard a lot of comments,” Dyrek said. “When the other guy (Blade) got one, a guy who was rotating in (Pat Kennelly) wanted to know when it was going to be his turn.”

At this point, that’s an appropriate question for the Glendale team.

Valley, despite the interceptions, won, 20-17, leaving Glendale at 0-4.

WEEKEND OF DECISION

Playoff hopes harbored by the Northridge men’s soccer team will receive either a potent shot in the arm or be put to rest in the next four days.

The Matadors (8-4) will play at Washington on Friday and at top-ranked Santa Clara on Sunday.

“If we lose two games, we have no hope at all,” Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad said. “If we win two, we’re back in it.”

Although the Matadors have a good record, the next two games are crucial because only two of their victories have come against Division I teams and only eight games remain in the regular season.

Washington (4-6), which defeated defending national champion UCLA earlier this season, has been struggling lately.

Santa Clara (12-1) is an even greater challenge.

“We are primed to take a stand,” said Ass’ad, whose Matadors are coming off victories over Westmont and Cal Lutheran last weekend. “We can’t worry about Santa Clara. We have to worry about ourselves.”

Santa Clara, which lost its first game of the season, 3-0, to San Francisco State on Tuesday, has outscored its opponents, 44-9.

But Northridge, which is led offensively by Danny Daniels (eight goals, four assists) and Bobby Reyes (four goals, four assists), is ready to take its best shot.

“I like our chances against any team we play, including Santa Clara,” Ass’ad said.

Among Santa Clara’s top players is sophomore sweeper Cam Rast, a former Royal High standout who is considered a leading candidate for the Herman Trophy, college soccer’s version of the Heisman.

Rast, a senior who has two goals and five assists, played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team in the Pan-Am Games in Cuba last summer.

Cam and his brother Matt, a Santa Clara defender, are members of the U.S. under-23 Olympic team. Matt has four goals and two assists.

PARTY PER POINT

It doesn’t sell in the NFL, but some volleyball teams celebrate every point and sideout during a match. The Northridge women’s team is among them.

For the Matadors, celebrations on the court are as much a part of the game plan as passing, serving, hitting and defense.

“Big celebrations display lots of energy,” Northridge middle hitter Nancy Nicholls said. “We want to be a great team physically, mentally and in our energy level.”

So what happens if the team doesn’t cheer each play? “It displays negative energy,” Nicholls said.

So, whether it is a spike on match point or a simple sideout to start a game, Northridge (10-8) lets its fans and opponents know that it is playing hard.

“We want to be a fun team to watch,” said Dawn Krenik, an outside hitter. Northridge’s positive energy will be on display Friday night at CSUN against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

MARAUDER AIR FORCE

John Johnson transferred to Pierce from Antelope Valley, but his absence does not appear to have hurt the Marauder football team. At least not in terms of interceptions.

The Marauders--led by Johnson with nine interceptions--picked off 24 passes in 11 games last season. This season, Antelope Valley has 12 in five games, led by Ronald Bryant (five) and Wilson Hookfin (four), former teammates at Clark High in New Orleans.

And Johnson? He has yet to intercept a pass this season.

BUT TO BE FAIR . . .

Johnson’s interception total might be way down, but Pierce Coach Bill Norton has no complaints about the way the 6-2, 220-pound sophomore has performed.

Norton points out that Johnson has been moved to free safety after playing cornerback last year. “He’s made some big hits in the middle, and he’s done a great job defending the pass when it’s come his way,” Norton said. “But he’s just not at a position this year where he’s going to be challenged by the pass as much as he was last year.

“He’s got a reputation as an interceptor, and when you’re like that people don’t throw your way as often.”

PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE

In golf, there are handicaps and then there are handicaps.

For the past two seasons, the Northridge golf team has practiced without a driving range. Its former on-campus training area became a site for student housing.

As a result, Northridge players practice at ranges and courses at Porter Valley, Braemar, Lakeside and River Ridge where they work for playing privileges and garner tips from the course pros.

Fortunately, Northridge Coach Jim Bracken does not have a large ego.

“Some of them have had the same pro since they were 12 years old,” Bracken said. “Some coaches have different philosophies, but the way I look at it, if they have a teaching pro they should stay with him. I help with course management, shot selection and temperament.”

On Tuesday, the Matadors tied Colorado for seventh place in the 16-team Robertson Homes tournament in Stockton. Sophomore Rick Sessinghaus was low scorer for CSUN with a one-under 212 that tied him for 12th. Senior Mike Zambri was next for the Matadors with a 217, good for a five-way tie for 24th.

Two matches in the fall schedule remain, the Stanford Cardinal invitational in Palo Alto, Saturday and Sunday, and the Aztec invitational in San Diego, Nov. 4. Eight more tournaments are scheduled for next spring.

MINOR LEAGUER

Denny Vigo is in training for his fourth season on the Northridge baseball team. It also will be his first as a father.

Dennis Jr., six pounds, 11 ounces, was born during the early morning hours of Sept. 16 after his mother Lisa endured 25 hours of labor.

Among the gifts Dennis Jr. received was a two-piece baseball uniform from Northridge catcher Mike Sims, who also enclosed a squeaky ball and a bat.

It should come as no surprise that father Denny reports that a significant portion of his son’s wardrobe “is all baseball.”

BRIEFLY . . .

The Ventura College men’s basketball team will hold its second “Midnight Madness” session in the Ventura gym Friday at midnight, marking the first practice of the season.

The event, which attracted about 250 fans last season, will include practice drills, a scrimmage, a slam-dunk contest and a three-point shooting contest. . . .

A stress fracture has forced Noelle Righter to redshirt in cross-country at Fresno State. Righter, who finished second in the 800 meters and third in the 1,500 for Moorpark in the state track and field championships in May, was told by doctors of the injury in September, four days before the Bulldogs’ first meet. . . .

After Northridge revoked his basketball scholarship, Sean Davis decided to resume his baseball career. Last month, Davis, a pitcher, hooked up with a Dodger scout team under the guidance of former Dodger Bobby Darwin. The players compete in loosely organized games in hopes of being drafted or signed as free agents. . . .

Northridge wide receiver Adam McKinney set career highs with seven catches for 106 yards in the Matadors’ 29-17 loss to UC Davis on Saturday. The senior from San Diego leads the Matadors with 17 catches for 207 yards.

Teammate Billy Nealy has eight receptions for 189 yards (23.6 average). After being knocked out of bounds into a kicking net against Davis, Nealy has a sore leg and is listed as questionable for Northridge’s Western Football Conference opener at home against Santa Clara on Saturday.

Ron Twersky and staff writers Mike Hiserman, Kirby Lee, Theresa Munoz, John Ortega and Wendy Witherspoon contributed to this notebook.

A look at last week’s top performers from area colleges.

PASSING

Player Att. Cmp. Yds. TD Marty Fisher, CSUN 39 19 211 0 Matt Brimigion, Ventura 28 13 197 2 Joe Pica, Pierce 17 10 161 2

RUSHING

Player TC Yds TD Bobby Webster, Glendale 28 144 1 Jamal Anderson, Moorpark 19 104 0 Rafik Thorossian, Glendale 18 72 1

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yds TD Adam McKinney, CSUN 7 106 0 Cornell Ward, CSUN 4 42 0 Shawn Young, Ventura 3 91 2