Northridge Out of Its League Even Before Leaving, 49-7 : College football: Cal Poly ends two-game losing streak by trouncing Big Sky-bound Matadors.

So much for trends.

Cal State Northridge was coming off its best game of the season and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo had just played two of its worst as the two met in an American West Conference football game Saturday at Mustang Stadium.

The final? Cal Poly 49, Northridge 7.

The Mustangs proved losses in the past two weeks were aberrations. They showed the way the conference favorite is supposed to play against the team picked for last even though it is stepping up to the Big Sky Conference in ’96.

“We didn’t make that many mistakes,” Northridge Coach Dave Baldwin said. “They just beat us. They are a better club.”

But, believe it or not, the Matadors still have control of their shot at a piece of the championship in the four-team AWC. If Northridge (2-6, 1-1 in conference play) beats Cal State Sacramento in the season finale in two weeks, the Matadors will finish tied for first. Period.

The only variable is Sacramento’s game next week against Southern Utah. If the Hornets win, a Northridge victory in the last game would create a three-way tie for first. If Sacramento loses, Northridge and Cal Poly (4-5, 2-1) could finish tied at the top.

Of course, a victory Saturday and Northridge would have been in even better shape. And the Matadors played surprisingly well for most of the first half. Even though they fell behind, 7-0, after the first quarter, the Matadors had outgained the Mustangs.

Northridge trailed, 14-0, in the second quarter, but the Matadors put together a long, well-executed drive and were a yard away from a touchdown that would have cut the deficit in half.

But what happened in the next four minutes eliminated any hope of a Northridge upset.

Northridge had a first down at the six, but could not score on its first three plays. On fourth down, the Mustangs deflected Clayton Millis’ pass intended for Carlos Madrigal in the end zone.

“If we would have scored on that drive that might have turned the game around,” Millis said.

The Mustangs then took the ball and drove it 99 yards in five plays, including a 50-yard pass play from Mike Fisher to Kamil Loud.

On Northridge’s next possession, Millis threw high to Chris Love, who deflected the ball into the hands of Cal Poly’s David Brown.

Three plays later, the Mustangs put the ball in the end zone again. A 24-yard pass from Fisher to Phil Hemion gave Cal Poly a 28-0 lead with 25 seconds to play in the half.

Just like that, the Matadors were in a familiar position: hopelessly behind at halftime. Northridge has been outscored, 175-54, in the first half this year.

All told, Cal Poly burned the Matadors for 591 yards. Fisher completed 14 of 21 passes for 286 yards and four touchdowns.

Chad Marsalek of Northridge gained 100 yards in 23 carries, and Millis completed 18 of 34 for 160 yards with two interceptions.