Deficit Woes Handicap CSUN, 49-20

After a nine-hour bus ride, a late Friday afternoon practice in the rain and an evening of film study, the Cal State Northridge football team was wiped out Saturday afternoon in less than six minutes.

By then, the Matadors trailed Southern Utah by 21 points en route to a 49-20 Western Football Conference loss on the host team’s soggy field.

“It hurts so deep,” Northridge cornerback Mike Brown said. “It felt like a nightmare. I kept looking at the scoreboard and thought, ‘Is this really happening?’ There was so much at stake, the conference championship, a chance to go to the playoffs.”

For Northridge (4-4, 1-1 in WFC play) to win the WFC title outright, it must win remaining conference games at home against Portland State and Cal State Sacramento and hope that Southern Utah (5-4, 2-1) does not beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The Matadors’ turnover-prone offense and generous defense left a bad odor, in the opinion of Coach Bob Burt.

“We stunk,” he said. “We gave them everything they wanted.”

Southern Utah scored on its first three possessions.

After the Thunderbirds cashed in on a four-play, 62-yard opening drive capped by a 28-yard run by Zed Robinson, fullback Jim Warren fumbled on Northridge’s first play from scrimmage.

Two plays later, Southern Utah freshman quarterback Rick Robins lofted the ball over the head of free safety Gerald Ponder into the hands of Ryan Moynier. The tight end stumbled, regained his balance, then ambled into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 12 minutes 4 seconds left in the first quarter.

After a 24-yard kickoff return by Brown, who racked up 144 yards on six first-half kickoff and punt returns, Jamal Farmer fumbled on first down. “We talked all week about the wet and the cold and the importance of protecting the ball,” Burt said. “There’s no excuse.”

The Thunderbirds capitalized with a six-play drive that climaxed with Daniel Harris’ eight-yard run for a 21-0 advantage.

Northridge’s surprising breakdowns came one week after the Matadors appeared to gain momentum and confidence with a dramatic 14-13 victory over San Luis Obispo.

“Our problem is we’re a team of momentum,” strong safety Eric Treibatch said. “When things aren’t going our way, it continues to roll against us.”

The Matadors survived their third possession without turning the ball over (although they punted), but quarterback Marty Fisher threw an interception on CSUN’s fourth possession when his pass hit linebacker Jared Hunsaker in the numbers. This time, though, the Thunderbirds could not capitalize.

Northridge followed with a 13-play, 50-yard drive. Tailback Robert Trice scored from the one on fourth down to make it 21-7.

The Matadors closed to 28-14 in the third quarter on a 39-yard scoring pass from Fisher to Duc Ngo.

Southern Utah racked up 475 yards in total offense, 302 passing. The Matadors, who committed five turnovers, were held to 72 yards rushing. Fisher completed 13 of 35 passes for 211 yards.