Burt Bidding to Mastermind a Turnabout

Cal State Northridge football Coach Bob Burt is emphasizing his role as psychologist this week, tapping into his team’s psyche to determine what will produce a strong performance against Western Football Conference leader Portland State on Saturday.

After consecutive lopsided losses, the Matadors (3-5, 1-2 in WFC play) are in a fragile state of mind.

“We’re trying to get the mental frame of mind back to where it needs to be,” Burt said. “The physical (aspect) will take care of itself. After the last two weeks, their nerves are fairly raw.”

Particularly those of the Northridge defense.

Once the team’s pride--and statistically the WFC’s top unit--the Matador defense has allowed 64 points the past two weeks. And that’s not counting a touchdown by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on a kickoff return and two touchdowns by Southern Utah on interception runbacks.

“Losing here used to be commonplace and now it’s something we’re not used to handling,” Burt said. “We’re trying to recover from that shock. The kids here are not used to getting beat. They have not lost on a consistent basis. Two losses in a row is too many.”

In six seasons as CSUN coach, Burt has a 37-26 record. In the two seasons before his arrival, the Matadors were 6-15.

POOR TIMING

Freshman Jonathan Campbell, Northridge’s backup tailback, is a victim of poor timing.

Campbell, who had planned to redshirt this season, was inserted into the lineup Oct. 19 against Santa Clara after Victor DeVaughn quit the team. Until then, CSUN lacked a dominant tailback and it appeared that Campbell would split time with junior Bill Harris and sophomore Jess Garner.

But Harris ran wild against the Broncos, rushing for a season-high 123 yards in 22 carries. The following week against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he gained 128 yards in 14 carries and he ran for 109 yards in 21 carries against Southern Utah on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Campbell has been limited to the 24 yards in eight carries that he picked up against Santa Clara. And with only two games remaining, Campbell’s chances of salvaging some experience for the season he used are up in the air.

“It just didn’t work out,” Burt said. “Then again, you never know. If he gets an opportunity, we’ll go with it. Right now, we don’t need to. Bill Harris is our tailback.”

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Another Northridge player beset by misfortune is quarterback Marty Fisher.

After waiting two seasons to earn the starting job, Fisher was erratic early in the season.

Once Fisher gained accuracy and confidence, the offensive line was hit by injuries. In a three-game span, beginning with the third game of the season, Fisher was sacked 17 times.

The protection eventually improved, but Fisher’s luck did not. In the second quarter of a game against San Luis Obispo two weeks ago, Fisher left because of a severe case of the flu.

Against Southern Utah, he sustained a broken ankle that has sidelined him for the season.

“Marty Fisher has done everything we asked him to do,” Burt said. “He led. He threw the ball well, and he was getting better and better every week.”

Fisher completed 107 of 190 passes for 1,141 yards and six touchdowns with seven interceptions this season.

CATCH-22

Damone Scott, who has inherited the job as Northridge quarterback from the injured Fisher, gives the Matadors the added dimension of a third runner in the backfield.

But Scott’s scrambling ability also has Burt in a quandary. Because Scott is the only one of CSUN’s top four signal-callers who is healthy, Burt might be hesitant to call Scott’s number on option plays.

“The problem is if we improvise and he runs around and gets hurt, then what do we do?” Burt said. “If he gets hurt, Katie bar the door.”

In six relief appearances this season, Scott has completed 24 of 56 for 220 yards and he has gained 65 yards in 16 carries, not counting sacks.

STATWATCH

With five interceptions, Northridge cornerback Tremelle Barnes is tied for the lead in the WFC with Santa Clara’s Bill Rainey. . . .

Northridge junior wide receiver Paul Peters racked up 193 all-purpose yards (six catches for 102 yards, including a touchdown, and 91 yards in five kickoff returns) to earn CSUN offensive player-of-the-week honors. . . .

Northridge senior outside linebacker Mario Hull forced a fumble and had 1 1/2 sacks for 16 yards and four solo tackles to earn the defensive player-of-the-week award.

UNSUNG HEROES

The Cal Lutheran football team has won three consecutive games and Coach Joe Harper attributes much of the team’s recent success to a couple of unheralded linemen.

Tom Pellegrino, a junior defensive lineman, leads the Kingsmen in sacks with nine for 77 yards.

“He is a tireless pursuer,” Harper said, “It’s very difficult to practice against him.”

Although his 235 pounds are spread on a frame that is only 5-11, Pellegrino makes up for his lack of stature with moxie. “He’s got a heart that’s bigger than anyone’s,” Harper said.

Mike Pezonella, a senior offensive lineman, received similar praise.

“Our running success basically is over him,” Harper said.

Typical of Pezonella’s contributions was the effort he turned in during Cal Lutheran’s 12-0 win over Occidental.

Pezonella left the game in the first quarter because of a knee injury, but he returned to help the Kingsmen put together a pair of scoring drives that climaxed in a three-yard run by quarterback David Harris and a two-yard run by tailback Cassidy O’Sullivan.

POLL SITTER

Regis (Colo.) College received its highest ranking in this week’s NCAA Division II women’s volleyball poll and Anna Suarez, a transfer from Northridge and Pierce, is one reason why.

Suarez, a 5-8 hitter, averages 3.5 kills a game for third-ranked Regis (27-7), which will play at UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Bakersfield next week.

RATINGS GAME

The Master’s College has been picked to finish second among the 12 NAIA District 3 men’s basketball teams in a vote by the conference coaches.

Master’s, coached by Mel Hankinson, finished 22-11, 11-4 in district play last season, good for second place.

Biola, the district regular-season champion in 1990-91, is the choice to win it again.

STREAK BUSTER

Antelope Valley’s 28-14 victory over Desert in a Foothill Conference football game Saturday was notable for three reasons.

First, it snapped Antelope Valley’s six-game winless streak (0-5-1) against the Roadrunners. Second, it kept the Marauders (7-1, 5-1) in a first-place tie with San Bernardino Valley (6-2, 5-1) in the conference standings.

Finally, it marked only the second game this season in which Antelope Valley did not make at least one interception.

Staff writers Theresa Munoz, John Ortega and Wendy Witherspoon contributed to this notebook.