Punchless Northridge Falls, 28-7 : College football: After scoring first in opener, Matadors are shut down by Cal State Fullerton.

Before Saturday’s opener, the aspect of the game that Cal State Northridge Coach Bob Burt did not believe he had to worry about was his team’s offense.

Instead, the defense shone and the offense sputtered in a 28-7 loss to Cal State Fullerton before 8,279 in the debut of Titan Stadium.

“I thought we’d play better offense,” Burt said, “but more credit should go to Fullerton’s defensive fronts. They just beat us.”

So badly, in fact, that Jamal Farmer, the transfer from Hawaii who was expected to revive the CSUN offense, was held to seven yards in 12 carries. Rarely did he attempt to cut upfield.

“There weren’t many holes to run to,” Farmer said, “but I don’t want to say much about that.”

In all, the running game yielded only eight yards in 24 carries.

The passing game fared no better. Quarterback Marty Fisher consistently overthrew his receivers, and he completed only 10 of 25 passes for 79 yards.

“He couldn’t set up and throw,” Burt said. “He was running for his life back there.”

Coley Kyman, a fourth-quarter replacement for Fisher, who left the game because of tendinitis in his left knee, fared better, completing six of 13 for 63 yards. Kyman threw two interceptions.

“I moved the team, but when you move the team it doesn’t mean much if you don’t get it in the end zone,” Kyman said.

Northridge scored only in the first quarter after the second of four Fullerton fumbles.

The Matadors took possession on the Fullerton 37 yard line and moved within striking distance on a 12-yard catch by Troy Strange and a 21-yard pass play by fullback Jim Warren, who caught a short pass from Fisher and broke three tackles, bulling his way to the Fullerton four.

On the next play, tight end Marlon McBride made a one-handed reception in the end zone despite tight coverage by linebacker Dan Godfrey.

Fullerton tied the score, 7-7, after David Romines, a freshman from Simi Valley High, fumbled a punt on the Northridge 17. The ball went through Romines’ hands and was recovered by Jason Stanley, a former Canyon High standout.

Two plays later, former Valley College quarterback Trendell Williams faked a handoff and sprinted nine yards untouched into the end zone, tying the score with 13 minutes 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

A terrible offensive series by the Matadors (four plays, minus-three yards) gave Fullerton field position on the CSUN 37 with 7:39 remaining in the half.

On the third play of the drive, Northridge defensive tackle Victor Myles wrapped up reserve quarterback Quincy Guy five yards behind the line of scrimmage. But Guy wriggled out of Myles’ grasp and ran 33 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 5:52 left in the half.

CSUN got off to a slow start on its first possession of the second half after Fisher’s pass on third and three soared over the head of Strange. The Matadors stopped the Titans on three downs, but on the ensuing punt Romines fumbled again. Stanley recovered again, this time on the CSUN 39.

“I was kind of nervous,” Romines said. “It was hard for me to judge (the ball).”

Fortunately for Northridge, the Titans did not capitalize. After a seven-yard gain on first down and a five-yard Fullerton penalty, Williams threw two incomplete passes and Northridge linebacker Ivy Calvin read a reverse from Williams to Polee Banks, tackling Banks for a 13-yard loss.

The weary Northridge defense was unable to stop Fullerton two possessions later, however. A blown coverage enabled Steve Danzy to make a 37-yard reception, setting up Williams’ one-yard touchdown run for a 21-7 advantage with 1:20 left in the third quarter.