Moore’s Remarks Lacking in Impact

When all was said and done Saturday night at Portland’s Civic Stadium, Chazz Moore’s mouth had little to do with the outcome of Portland State’s 34-21 victory over Cal State Northridge.

Moore, a senior cornerback for Northridge, was quoted in an Oregon newspaper predicting the Matadors would win. It provided an interesting sideshow to a key Big Sky Conference game--a Portland native playing his first college game before hometown fans in a must-win situation.

Moore’s remarks made good copy during the week, and he heard his share of barbs from Viking players during the game.

“The whole time I was on that side of the field,” Moore said.

Ultimately, however, Moore made little impact. He made four tackles and played well, but he did not figure in any crucial or controversial plays.

As for Moore’s prediction, Portland State players paid little attention, quarterback Jimmy Blanchard said.

“He’s a Portland guy, so we knew who he was and why he said it,” Blanchard said. “But that didn’t bother us. It shouldn’t take something like that to motivate us. This was our chance to go 5-0 at home and win a Big Sky title. If we need something like [Moore’s comments] to motivate us, we’re in trouble.”

For his part, Moore said he expected more from Portland State in the way of rough stuff.

“I expected them to come after me more,” Moore said. “But that didn’t do anything but fire me up.”

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Injuries abound among Northridge players. Playing on a cold, hard artificial surface in Portland didn’t help.

Quarterback Marcus Brady, hampered by a sprained left ankle for several weeks, was noticeably hobbled. Brady limped off the field after scrambling for a gain in the second quarter and appeared to be hurt.

But he returned and did not give way to a replacement until late in the game.

“There were three or four times we were going to take him out,” interim Coach Jeff Kearin of Northridge said. “But he wanted to go back in.”

Brady isn’t the only battered Matador. But injuries are to be expected, said fullback Jaumal Bradley, who has a sprained foot.

“I’m not healthy, Marcus isn’t healthy,” Bradley said. “None of the guys are completely healthy. But that’s not an excuse.

“This is football. To be healthy in Week 10 is a blessing.”

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Although the Matadors (5-4, 4-3 in conference play) have been eliminated from Big Sky title contention, they will play an intriguing and financially rewarding nonconference game Saturday against Southern Methodist at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Northridge will earn $100,000 in revenue from gate receipts, Athletic Director Dick Dull said. The figure is believed to be the second-largest amount Northridge has earned for a football game.

Northridge earned $200,000 for playing at Kansas this season. A road game at Hawaii in 1997 earned the program $90,000.

The game is the first meeting between Northridge and SMU. It will have sentimental aspects, since it will be the final game for the Mustangs at the Cotton Bowl.