Coach Peppers Victory With Dose of Reality

Ron Ponciano, Cal State Northridge’s first-year coach, took the team’s 21-7 Big Sky Conference victory Saturday over Montana with a grain of salt.

“It was obviously a phenomenal win for us,” Ponciano said. “I think our defense played a whale of a game--despite all the penalties.”

The Matadors outgained Montana, 300 yards to 267, keeping the Grizzlies 172.8 yards below their average.

Granted, Montana played without injured quarterback Brian Ah Yat, who ranks second in Division I-AA in offense at 295.6 yards a game, but it was still a commendable effort.

The mistakes, well that’s another story. Northridge had 11 penalties for 100 yards, to go with 11 for 94 yards last week against Southern Utah and 10 for 81 yards against Eastern Washington two weeks ago.

“I still cannot accept all that foolishness,” Ponciano said.

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The scoreless first half didn’t worry Ponciano.

“We knew it was a matter of time before we started connecting the dots [on offense],” Ponciano said. “[Marcus] Brady is quite a warrior.”

Brady, Northridge’s redshirt freshman with remarkable scrambling ability, passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think the difference tonight was that Marcus Brady converted some big plays in difficult situations,” Montana Coach Mick Dennehy said.

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Montana cornerback Di-Onte Smith, a junior from Grant High, spent time the last two days with his wife, Diana, family members and friends.

Smith, who lives with Diana in Sherman Oaks when not in school, said he expects some teasing from Northridge players when he returns home for the summer.

“I know quite a few of their players,” Smith said. “It’s a little tough to lose [to Northridge]. I know they are going to kid me about it.”

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The 5,237 attendance was the largest at North Campus Stadium since the Matadors lost to Montana State, 24-17, on Oct. 19, 1996.

It was only the third crowd of more than 5,000 to watch a game at Northridge since the Matadors defeated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 14-13, on Oct. 24, 1992.

Capacity at North Campus Stadium is 7,500.

About 200 Montana partisans were on hand, including about 75 who made the trip from Missoula.