In Winning Respect, CSUN Loses Kyman : College football: San Diego State wins, 34-17, as Matador quarterback sustains broken ankle.

With Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” driving the notion home over the public address system, Cal State State Northridge got the respect its coach asked for in a 34-17 defeat to San Diego State at Jack Murphy Stadium on Saturday night.

However, the unexpectedly competitive showing by the Matadors was marred by the loss of starting quarterback Coley Kyman to a fractured ankle.

Kyman, a three-time All-American in volleyball who won a close battle for the starting job against Oregon transfer Clayton Millis, completed 12 of 33 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game with 13:59 to play.

“Losing Coley takes the edge off a good effort by our guys,” Burt said.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior from Reseda High was sandwiched between an Aztec defender and a Northridge offensive lineman and driven to the ground. His right ankle was caught in the tangle and he left on a stretcher. X-rays were taken at Alvarado Hospital and he was put into a cast. He was released Saturday night.

Before 40,872, more than double the largest crowd in Cal State Northridge football history, the Matadors played the Aztecs even for almost three quarters while preventing Heisman Trophy candidate Marshall Faulk from running wild.

“At the beginning they were talking a lot of trash,” CSUN safety James Woods said. “But as they game went on, they weren’t talking.”

Since the game contract was signed Dec. 15 linking Cal State Northridge, a team splitting 17 scholarships, with San Diego State and its 88 scholarships, the Matadors have heard nothing but how they were going to be humiliated by the Aztecs and how Faulk was going to run through them.

Predictions ranged from the outlandish (1,000 yards) to the record-setting (397), the number he needs to regain the NCAA single-game record.

Yet Faulk, who passed up the NFL draft to return for his junior season, was allotted only 14 carries in the first half for 103 yards.

Faulk wound up with 170 yards in 27 carries, including three touchdowns, but his longest gain was only 21 yards. Eight teams in the last two seasons have allowed him to make runs ranging from 46 yards to 68 yards.

“I don’t think we took them too lightly,” he said. “We just didn’t execute. We’ll probably be the best team they play all year. They were giving us their best shot.”

Northridge players agreed with the assessment.

“I think we did a helluva job,” linebacker O.J. Ojomoh said.

All week, defensive coordinator Mark Banker drilled into his players that only solid, waist-wrapping tackles would bring down Faulk.

Such tackling earned the Matadors respect. An example was San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill’s decision to punt on fourth and one from the 46 with 11:33 left in the third quarter.

The Matadors also turned heads by actually leading by scores of 14-7 and 17-14 in the first half.

Northridge’s opening drive was a surprise in itself. Robert Trice showed the ability to turn the corner, gaining 18 yards in two carries. The drive ended in disappointment, however, when Jason Camp’s 33-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left.

The Aztecs scored on their first possession, driving 80 yards in nine plays, including a 10-yard touchdown run by Faulk and gains by Faulk of 10, 18, and 21 yards.

Northridge answered with another unexpected show of offense. On the fourth play of its ensuing drive, Kyman recognized a blitz and dumped off a pass to Trice on the right flat. Aztec linebacker Mark Roberts grabbed Trice by the jersey, but Trice shook him off, made a sharp cut inside and dashed 59 yards to the end zone. Camp missed the extra point attempt and the Matadors trailed, 7-6.

The magical Matador momentum continued when Faulk fumbled four plays later and cornerback Ralph Henderson recovered on the Northridge 45. Although three incompletions, including a dropped pass, prevented the Matadors from cashing in on the turnover, they hit pay dirt on their next possession.

On fourth and 10 from the 35, punter Albert Razo used his arm instead of his leg, firing a pass to safety James Woods, a freshman from San Fernando High. Woods caught the ball at the 50, made a sharp cut around Ray Peterson at the 20 and was brought down at the two by Scott Hammond.

On second down Kyman scored on a two-yard run. After a time out, he passed to Trice for a two-point conversion.

In the second quarter, the Matadors reverted to their conservative offensive ways of years past, attempting runs up the middle that gained only a few yards, and throwing screen passes for gains of one and two yards. On one series during this stretch, wide receiver David Romines did not run past the first down marker before making a reception on a third-and-11 situation and the Matadors were forced to punt.

Northridge scored one last time, however. With 3:17 left in the second quarter, Matt Ornelaz, a freshman from Bakersfield who tore his right quadriceps muscle Aug. 23, replaced Camp and booted a 37-yard field goal, giving the Matadors a 17-14 advantage.

San Diego State regained the lead immediately with a six-play, 66-yard scoring drive.