Smith Cut Off on the Pass

Neal Smith, Montana State’s right defensive end, had 11 1/2 sacks before Saturday, but he found David San Vicente of Cal State Northridge a tough opponent to get around.

The junior tackle from Birmingham High neutralized Smith, who came close to sacking Josh Fiske only once.

And San Vicente hasn’t fully recovered from a back injury suffered while working with weights during the summer.

“Our tackles were really gimpy but they played like warriors,” said Aron Gideon, Northridge’s offensive line coach. “We had some obvious passing situations and San Vicente was able to block [Smith]. David is pretty physical.”

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Starting right tackle Brian Hubinger, a redshirt freshman, might be released from Northridge Hospital today after spending a week there undergoing tests for a gastrointestinal ailment.

Gideon said Hubinger was moved out of the intensive care unit.

“They are trying to figure out what he’s got,” Gideon said. “He had a big breakfast and he’s getting his appetite back.”

Julio Alcala replaced Hubinger against Montana State.

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Paul Bubb, Northridge’s athletic director, moved from commentating to play by play on the KCSN-FM (88.5) broadcast from Montana State.

Bubb teamed with former Matador and NFL player Ron Foster, who handled the analysis.

The Matadors used Bret Lewis and Gary Cruz to call the action on previous broadcasts. Lewis was recently hired by KCBS-TV and is unavailable for the Northridge games.

Bubb said he hopes to hire someone to do play by play for the team’s final five games.

“I enjoy doing it, but the problem is at home games,” Bubb said. “There’s other responsibilities I have to take care of.”

Foster has done the commentary on Northridge’s two home games this season.

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Matador running back Norman Clarke was not in uniform for the second half after suffering a sprained abdominal muscle. He finished with a season-low 13 yards in six carries.

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No Montana State player had rushed for 100 yards or more this season, the biggest drought for the Bobcats since 1994, when they went seven games without anyone hitting the century mark.

That all changed Saturday against Northridge.

Tailbacks Travis Wright and Eric Kinnaman each rushed for 100 yards, Wright in 25 carries and Kinnaman in 22.

Wright had 130 yards rushing in his previous five games and Kinnaman had 37.