Northridge Sputters in 14-0 Defeat : College football: Matadors muster only 114 yards and five first downs against Central Oklahoma.

On a night when the injuries that have plagued Cal State Northridge’s running backs took their toll, quarterback Marty Fisher could not compensate with a passing attack.

Fisher completed five of 19 passes for 37 yards and threw three interceptions in a 14-0 loss to Central Oklahoma on Saturday night.

It marked the first time the Matadors have been shut out since Nov. 7, 1987, when they lost to UC Davis, 28-0.

One of Fisher’s three interceptions set up the Bronchos’ first touchdown, and a bullish running game led to the other as Central Oklahoma (4-0) rolled up 189 yards rushing at Wantland Stadium.

“I just played the worst game of my life,” Fisher said. “I just wasn’t on. Sometimes you get in the rhythm and sometimes you don’t. I let myself take myself out of the game. (Our) defense played their rear ends off and we had an offense out there that didn’t do anything.”

Northridge (2-2) managed only five first downs and 114 yards in total offense, including 31 rushing.

“We didn’t run the ball and we didn’t block people,” Northridge Coach Bob Burt said.

Tailback Robert Trice, who gained more than 200 yards in each of the last two victories in place of the injured Jamal Farmer, carried only twice for seven yards before the nagging strain in his left hamstring tightened and forced him to leave the game with nine minutes left in the first quarter.

“I told coach to put the other dude in because I couldn’t accelerate,” Trice said.

Jess Garner, who was starting at fullback in place of the injured Jim Warren, took over as the primary ballcarrier in a single-back alignment and was held to three yards in eight carries in the first half, including four carries for losses totaling 11 yards.

In Northridge’s final possession of the first half, Robert Moreno was inserted at tailback and Garner returned to fullback. Moreno gained 14 yards in three carries, but a holding penalty prevented the Matadors from gaining a first down on the drive and Albert Razo punted for the fifth time in the half.

Trice started the second half and carried four times for nine yards, but he lacked the quickness he showed in victories over UC Davis and San Francisco State.

“I tried to come back and do what I could do,” he said.

While Trice struggled, the Bronchos’ Tyrone Jones and Keith Martin began to run through the middle of the Northridge defense. Jones gained 80 of his 133 yards in the second half and Martin picked up 42 of his 65 yards.

In its most impressive drive, Central Oklahoma marched 75 yards--including a 25-yard burst by Jones--en route to a nine-yard touchdown run by Jones that made the score 14-0 with 8 minutes 27 seconds left in the third quarter.

The first Central Oklahoma touchdown was set up by linebacker Mart Leming’s second interception of a Fisher pass.

“We were just reading his shoulders, playing the ball,” Leming said. “(Fisher) didn’t have enough time to set up and look people off.”

Matador notes

Northridge defensive coordinator Mark Banker unveiled a 2-5 defense with Victor Myles and Alex DeHayward on the line and Angel Chavez, Ivy Calvin, Tyrone Dorsey, Tony Simon and Jose Aguilar at linebacker. It was the first start of the season for Simon, a sophomore from Burbank High, and Aguilar, a junior from Pasadena City College, who made a team-high 14 tackles. . . . The defense was on the field for almost 38 minutes. . . . Cornerback Ralph Henderson made a team-high seven solo tackles and blocked a 46-yard field-goal attempt. . . . After missing the previous seven quarters because of a quadriceps strain, Myles made nine tackles and a sack for a seven-yard loss. . . . Safety Eric Treibatch, who underwent spinal surgery July 29, showed he is nearing full strength with 10 tackles. Calvin made 11 tackles and had two sacks totaling 10 yards.