Fien Scrambling to Win Backup Job at UCLA

UCLA freshman quarterback Ryan Fien sat on the sidelines in street clothes during the Bruins’ opener against Cal State Fullerton last Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

There was no reason for Fien to be in uniform because he did not figure in UCLA’s plans this season.

But when starting quarterback Wayne Cook sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Titans, Fien went from being a candidate for the third-string job to being a strong contender for the backup job for UCLA’s game at Brigham Young on Saturday.

Fien, who played for Royal High last year, said he will be going to Provo this weekend--this time in uniform.

“They’re taking (starter) Rob (Walker), me and (freshman Scott) Fitterer,” he said.

Senior John Barnes, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, was in uniform for the Fullerton game.

Who will be Walker’s backup?

“That’s what this week is for,” Fien said. “They have to decide on a second-string quarterback and that’s my goal to try and get that position. I’ve been hitting the books, studying films, doing as much as I think I need to do to try and earn that second job.”

Fien noticed the change in his status immediately this week in practice.

“I’m getting many more (repetitions) now, so that’s nice,” he said. “I get a better look now. I’m getting more involved in game situations and in our game plan.

“(The coaches) haven’t said anything to me. I’ve just got to work my hardest. Rob’s the starter and if he does a good job, they’ll stay with him. If not, I’m just there to be ready if they need me.”

Fien, a redshirt candidate this year before Cook’s injury, could still use this year as a redshirt season if he does not play.

BIG-PLAY DEFENSE

With 11 new starters, the Cal State Northridge defense slowly is gaining an identity. In a 16-14 win over UC Davis last Saturday, it showed signs of becoming a big-play outfit.

Midway through the fourth quarter, junior linebackers Ivy Calvin and Tim Leonard teamed on a sack for a seven-yard loss that forced Davis to punt and led to Joe Jezulin’s game-winning field goal.

The defense made it stand up with two bone-jarring hits that prevented receptions: one by Calvin on tight end Aaron Bennetts and another by safety Gerald Ponder on flanker Arnold Hardy.

“I turned, saw him and the ball coming, and saw my chance,” Calvin said. “We were all real keyed up. We felt like we had to get it done. We were all looking for a big play.”

Davis regained possession with 1 minute 24 seconds remaining but had to start its final drive on its three-yard line after a coffin-corner punt by Albert Razo.

The Aggies could not move past their 25 and on a fourth-down bomb with 15 seconds to play, cornerback Vincent Johnson wrestled a pass away from split end Andrew Murden for an interception at the Northridge 35.

FRIENDS, FOES, FIELD GOALS

John Cicuto got the upper hand in his battle with former classmate Mike Merandi.

Cicuto and Merandi, who graduated from Notre Dame High in 1962 and 1960, respectively, paced opposite sidelines when Merandi’s Citrus College football team played host to Cicuto’s Glendale squad on Saturday.

Both coaches said they expected an even matchup.

They didn’t get one. Glendale won, 31-0, despite blowing a couple of first-half scoring opportunities.

“I was really surprised,” Cicuto said. “I never even thought about a shutout.”

When the coaches met after the game, the conversation was short and not sweet. Cicuto said Merandi “was upset and disappointed because of the score of the game.”

The Citrus coach also might have been miffed because on the final play, Glendale’s Brad Faunce attempted a 63-yard field goal.

“My concern was that we tried a field goal late,” Cicuto said. “I told Mike we weren’t trying to run it up. I just wanted our kid to get a chance at a record.”

Had Faunce made the kick, it would have broken the state junior college record of 60 yards held by Valley’s Jim Harper (1988) and El Camino’s Henry Castellanos (‘82).

But he missed it by a considerable margin. Earlier in the game, he had made a school-record 57-yard field goal.

The national junior college record is held by Al Vitiello, who kicked one from 61 yards for Nassau, N.Y., in 1970.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

Pierce might move Louis Spellman from tailback to fullback to make room for Erik Thomas, a gifted freshman from Quartz Hill High who joined the team only last week.

In his debut against East L.A.--after only four practices--Thomas carried eight times for 26 yards and also had a long run erased by a penalty.

Pierce has a bye this week, giving Thomas more time to learn the team’s offensive system. He gained 1,211 yards in earning All-Southern Section honors last season.

With more practice, Thomas is expected to become the Brahmas’ primary rushing threat. Spellman, a freshman, would back up sophomore Anthony Florence at fullback.

Staff writers Kennedy Cosgrove, Mike Hiserman, Theresa Munoz and John Ortega contributed to this notebook.