Northridge Backs Into Rout : Offense: Substituting for a teammate in trouble with the law, Matador guard Eric Thomas holds up well in line of fire.

There’s an invisible umbrella over the 88th Street Church of God In Christ in South Central Los Angeles.

Eric Thomas believes it is something more ethereal. Call it Providence, divine intervention. He calls it a blessing.

No member of the congregation under the age of 25 has ever been killed, odds he considers astronomically long in light of the problems that plague the area.

“There are so many young African American youths in trouble and we’ve never had a funeral for anybody under 25,” Thomas said. “In South Central L.A., people get shot every day.”

He has the scars to prove it.

Thomas tested the church’s good fortune five years ago when, as a bystander, he was shot in the back during the holdup of a fast-food outlet in the same neighborhood.

As fate would have it, violence played a peripheral role as Thomas started for the first time in a year in Saturday’s 40-14 rout of Sonoma State.

Thomas started at right guard in place of senior Jonathan Beauregard, who has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in San Bernardino.

Beauregard, who was cleared to play by Northridge officials while awaiting a disposition of his case in court, suffered a broken finger during practice this week, opening the door for Thomas. Accused gunman and shooting victim. One picking up for the other.

The irony has not been lost on many who know the story of the pair.

“Everyone keeps bringing it up,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ story borders on the surreal. He was buying a hamburger on July 14, 1989, when robbers started shooting up the place. Thomas was hit by a .25-caliber slug and fell in the parking lot.

One of the gunmen ran over to Thomas, who was bleeding profusely. Thomas was sure the gunman planned to finish him off.

“I’d seen their faces,” Thomas said. “I was praying. I thought I was dead.”

Dead wrong. The gunman apologized, then fled.

“I’d always gone to church because my family wanted me to,” Thomas said. “At that point, God told me He was real.”

Thomas begged gawkers for assistance. Nobody helped. Finally, he made his way back into the restaurant and told the manager he’d been shot.

The manager didn’t believe Thomas, until the lineman turned around and flashed the back of his shirt, now saturated in blood.

It took Thomas three years to get well. He fought off a debilitating bout of jaundice. Two years ago, the bullet finally passed through his digestive tract.

He is one of the most-popular players on the team. Coach Bob Burt thinks so much of Thomas that he has been known to apologize for using profanity in his presence.

“He’s a great guy, a super kid,” Burt said. “To overcome the things he’s had to deal with says lots about his character.

“He’s respected by everybody on the team because he’s not a selfish player. He’s a team player.”

Last season, Thomas made his only start in Northridge’s 24-18 upset of Nevada Las Vegas, one of the biggest victories in school history. It was his swan song, it seemed.

However, two weeks before the 1994 summer practice sessions opened, Thomas learned the NCAA had given him another season of eligibility, largely because of the nature of his physical problems.

“My life’s been incredible,” Thomas said. “Two weeks before we start and I get another chance.”

Thomas will give Beauregard another chance too. “I feel for him,” Thomas said. “I’m praying for him . . . I’m praying for everybody.”