Northridge Picks Off Victory

On a night filled with momentum-swinging plays, Kenny Knoop came up with the one that surely will fill the front of his personal scrapbook.

Knoop, a junior strong safety, intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve Cal State Northridge’s 45-38 overtime victory over Cal State Sacramento in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday night in front of a homecoming crowd of 5,104 at North Campus Stadium.

The Matadors snapped a 38-38 tie on Marcus Harvey’s one-yard run on Northridge’s first possession in the extra period.

But the Hornets appeared on their way to tying the score on their first series when A.J. Bernhardt threw a pass for grabs on a second and eight from the Northridge 13 and Knoop snatched the ball for his second interception of the game and third of the season.

“I saw [the quarterback] waving his receiver over and I just kind of sat and waited for it to come down,” Knoop said.

It wasn’t exactly the kind of game Northridge Coach Jim Fenwick had in mind.

“I think it’s the first overtime game in Northridge history,” Fenwick said. “I hope it’s the last.”

After saying for days that quarterbacks Aaron Flowers and Josh Fiske would share playing time Saturday, Fenwick changed his mind while watching the Matadors struggle to put away Sacramento.

Flowers, Northridge’s career passing leader, returned to action after missing three games because of a hairline fracture in his right leg and steered the Matadors with his usual flair and efficiency.

He completed 43 of a school-record 69 passes for 469 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Matadors (4-4, 2-2 in Big Sky Conference play) new hope in the conference race for a possible spot in the Division I-AA playoffs.

“I think we are more of a complete team with [Flowers],” Fenwick said. “[Josh] said ‘Whatever we got to do to win, Coach.’ He’s doing a good job of understanding his role.”

Northridge’s victory, coupled with upset losses for Montana and Montana State, throws wind behind the Matadors’ sail. Sacramento (1-6, 1-4), loser of three in a row and 15 of 16, is pretty much out of contention.

The Matadors travel to Montana on Saturday for a game that likely will define their season.

Northridge, which allowed a 31-21 lead early in the fourth quarter to evaporate into a 35-31 deficit with 1:59 to play, rallied for a 38-35 lead with 1:03 to go when Flowers hit Jerome Henry with a 30-yard touchdown pass that culminated a five-play, 70-yard, 50-second drive.

Flowers looked for Henry all game, hooking up with the senior wide receiver 15 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

Sacramento worked the ball to the Northridge 17 but had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Scott Brown to tie, 38-38. The drive, which started at the Sacramento 17, was fueled by a 48-yard pass play from Bernhardt to Tyrone Taylor on the first play.

“I don’t think our kids took [the Hornets] real seriously,” Fenwick said. “We just gave away too many big plays and big points.”

Flowers was remarkably sharp in the early going, completing eight of his first nine passes.

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Northridge 45 CS Sacramento 38

Big Sky Results

* Northern Arizona 27

* Montana 24

* Portland State 44

* Montana State 0

* Eastern Washington 51

* Idaho State 7

Big Sky Roundup, C12