Northridge Goes Out With Stop

For Marc Goodson, it was the sheer essence of football. For Cal State Northridge, it was one last chance to make a statement with a formidable defensive stand.

The Matadors were heard loud and clear in their season finale.

With Northern Arizona needing four yards on fourth down at the Northridge 10-yard-line with 31 seconds to play, the Matadors stopped Kino Carson one yard short to preserve a 21-13 Big Sky Conference victory for the Matadors in front of 4,329 Saturday night at North Campus Stadium.

“That’s what defense is all about,” said Goodson, a senior linebacker. “I’m hyped.”

That play, one of several outstanding defensive efforts by the Matadors, and a solid and creative offensive game highlighted by a touchdown-producing flea flicker, helped Northridge (6-6, 4-4 in Big Sky play) avoid a losing season.

It gave the seniors the send-off first-year Coach Jim Fenwick wanted.

“We had to be unselfish and play real hard for our seniors,” Fenwick said.

The Matadors did just that, snapping a nine-game losing streak against Northern Arizona (6-5, 4-4) dating to 1971. The Lumberjacks opened the season as the favorites to win the conference title in a coaches’ poll.

Northridge led at halftime, 14-10, but the Lumberjacks pulled to within 14-13 early in the third quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Mike Goldstein. The Matadors didn’t answer until halfway through the fourth quarter, but when they did, it was in spectacular fashion.

On first and 10 at the Northern Arizona 41, quarterback Aaron Flowers handed off to running back Norman Clarke, who handed off to wide receiver Jerome Henry, who threw the ball back to Flowers.

Flowers hit a wide-open Aaron Arnold with a pass just in front of the goalpost to put the Matadors ahead, 21-13.

Flowers, a senior, had 298 yards passing and three touchdowns to finish his Northridge career with 6,766 yards passing and 54 touchdown passes, both among several school records he established in two seasons.

The flea-flicker came on the first play for the Matadors after Pete Silvey recovered a fumble by Northern Arizona quarterback Travis Brown.

“We just put [the flea-flicker] in on Thursday,” Flowers said. “That’s the time you want to run it on a team, after a turnover.”

Northridge was out-gained 397 yards to 300 and gave up 200 yards rushing to Carson, who kept the Matador defensive backs busy.

Northridge free safety Jeremy Golden, a freshman from Westlake High, tied a school game record with 22 tackles.

“I was tired running from sideline to sideline,” Golden said.

Northern Arizona took advantage of Golden’s gaffe to break on top, 7-0, with 7:05 to play in the first quarter.

The Lumberjacks punted on fourth and five from their 36 but Golden fumbled the kick and Lance Moore recovered at the Northridge 30. Carson scored on the next play.

Northridge tied the score, 7-7, minutes later on an 18-yard pass from Flowers to Drew Hill.

Mike Goldstein’s 34-yard field goal with 3:42 left in the half gave Northern Arizona a 10-7 edge but the Matadors gained a 14-10 lead about three minutes later on a 10-yard pass from Flowers to Jerome Henry.

Northridge 21, Northern Arizona 13

Big Sky results

* Montana 27

* Montana State 25

* Weber State 26

* Idaho State 7

Big Sky Roundup, C16