Marsalek Is Sidelined With Sprained Ankle

In what has become a weekly ritual, Coach Dave Baldwin spoke Tuesday about another key Cal State Northridge football player going down with an injury.

This time it’s senior Chad Marsalek, Northridge’s leading rusher. Marsalek sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s 32-14 loss at Northern Arizona. He will be out for this week’s home game against Portland State, and possibly longer.

“It’s one of those things where every time he pushes off it’s going to hurt,” Baldwin said. “We are hoping it’s only a week.”

Marsalek, who has 349 yards in 65 carries, doesn’t think he’ll miss even one game.

“He told me [Monday] he’s going to play,” Baldwin said. “But I don’t see it happening.”

Marsalek will be replaced by junior Norman Clarke or freshman Jeramie Thomas, a speedy receiver who played running back in high school.

“Chad’s been a mainstay for us, blocking and running the ball,” Baldwin said. “We are going to have to do some work with Norman and Jeramie.”

Four games into the season, Northridge has already had its share of injury and health problems.

Defensive lineman Pete Silvey (stress fracture in right foot) and linebacker Loren Bedwell (torn anterior cruciate ligament) are out for the season; linebacker Teddy Mack (seizures) is out at least another two weeks and possibly the season.

Defensive back Steve Forte (fractured fibula) will miss at least three more weeks.

Tackle James Romero underwent an MRI on Monday and it showed only a strained medial collateral ligament and he may be cleared to play this week. Defensive back Donnel Day, who has missed the past two games with a shoulder bruise, could be back this week.

Defensive lineman Mike Greslie is doubtful for the game because of a shoulder injury.

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It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Archie Amerson would become the season’s first 1,000-yard rusher this season at the Division I-A or I-AA levels. All the Northern Arizona senior needed Saturday was 134 yards--a little over half his average--with only Northridge’s defense in the way.

A funny thing happened on the way to a milestone.

Northridge held Amerson to 92 yards.

“We stopped a great back,” Baldwin said.

Amerson, leading rusher in Division I-AA, gained at least 159 yards in each of the Lumberjacks’ first four games, averaging 216 a game.

The Matadors halted his string of five consecutive 100-yard games, which dated to last season.

Amerson was held to 68 yards in 28 carries--none longer than seven yards--before a 24-yard run on his final carry, after the game’s outcome had been decided.

The Matadors’ strong performance moved them to first in the Big Sky Conference in rushing defense, allowing 86.8 yards per game.

Part of the reason Northridge lost is its shoddy pass defense. The Matadors, last in the conference in that category, are giving up 344.3 yards a game.

Lumberjack quarterback Travis Brown, on his way to 324 yards passing, completed seven passes of 24 yards or more, five of them on third or fourth downs.

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After Saturday’s game, Baldwin refused to comment on the officiating, but his silence spoke for itself. He was not happy.

While it is debatable how many of Northridge’s 11 penalties--seven of which gave Northern Arizona first downs--were deserved, there is little question the officials blew a call that would have given Northridge the ball at the Lumberjacks’ 24 early in the third quarter.

Television replays clearly showed that a Northridge punt hit Northern Arizona’s Scott Hull on the back of the leg before the Matadors recovered deep in Lumberjack territory.

The officials said the ball didn’t touch Hull, and awarded possession to Northern Arizona, which drove 76 yards for a touchdown and a 19-0 lead.

“We didn’t get a break,” Baldwin said. “And we need breaks to beat this team.”

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Receiver David Romines leads Division I-AA in receptions (11.5) and receiving yardage (165.3) per game. Romines is on pace to break Northridge records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. He also might break the Big Sky Conference record for catches in a season (96 by Idaho State’s Ed Bell in 1969). . . . Northridge’s passing offense ranks third in I-AA, averaging 294.5 yards. . . . Linebacker Marc Goodson leads the Matadors with 53 tackles, 13.3 per game. Safety Doug Varner is second with 40. . . . Defensive lineman Keith Selico, playing in his first game with the Matadors, recovered a fumble on Saturday. Selico replaced Silvey. . . . The Matadors lead the Big Sky with 15 sacks. . . . Apparently the sports information directors who vote in the I-AA poll were not impressed with the Matadors’ strong effort against Northern Arizona. Northridge fell from 48th to 50th. Northern Arizona moved from 13th to 12th.