Northridge Hoping to Make Own Noise

Sirens and heavy metal music blared across the Cal State Northridge practice field this week, a head-banging drill the Matadors endured in preparation for Big Sky Conference game Saturday at Montana.

While quarterback Marcus Brady called signals from a crouch, injured safety Hassan Abdul-Malik stood only a few feet behind, blasting him with screeches from a bullhorn.

The Matadors (2-2, 1-1 in conference play), struggling to remain in contention in the Big Sky Conference, had better prepare for distraction. A capacity crowd of 19,000 typically fills Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, and the people make their feelings known for the home team.

“They were very loud last time,” said senior linebacker Brennen Swanson, who played for the Matadors at Montana in 1997. “The stadium is right on you. The stands are five yards from the sideline.”

Jeff Kearin, Northridge’s interim coach, conceived the high-decibel drill for the purpose of getting coaches and players in sync with their signals.

Deep in the din, Brady and other ballhandlers better be on the same page visually.

“Montana is the only place I know of where the crowd is like that,” Kearin said. “They have great football fans and it gets really loud. It is the best football environment in the conference.”

Indeed, Montana has been the shining star of the Big Sky for some time. The Grizzlies (3-2, 2-1), ranked eighth in the country in three polls, have won two Big Sky titles in Coach Mick Dennehy’s three seasons and were Division I- AA national champions in 1995.

Montana, defending Big Sky champion, this season is fielding one of its most potent offenses in history. The Grizzlies routed Weber State, 81-22, setting a Big Sky record for points in a game.

The point total was the most by Montana since 1924.

Quarterback Drew Miller, a transfer from Brigham Young, has eased into Brian Ah Yat’s shoes and passed for 1,471 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Montana is coming off a 51-48 overtime loss at Portland State.

The Grizzlies are 37-2 at home since 1994.

“We’re lucky, I suppose, because it is such a great college atmosphere up here,” Dennehy said. “We’re probably as fortunate as anyone in college football to play in front of a packed house.”

Northridge has spent the last two weeks working on its defense and improvement showed in a 41-27 victory over Idaho State. Fullback Jaumal Bradley is expected to return after a two-week bout with tonsillitis.

Northridge has some history on its side. The Matadors defeated Montana, 21-7, last season at North Campus Stadium, holding the Grizzlies to their fewest points in seven years.

Montana played without Ah Yat, who was sidelined with a back injury. Northridge scored 14 fourth-quarter points to break a 7-7 tie in an uncharacteristically low-scoring Big Sky game.

“I guarantee you it’s not going to be a low-scoring game this time,” Dennehy said. “Northridge is an outstanding team of physical ability and they like to throw the ball around.

“Marcus Brady is an unbelievable athlete to watch and they use their talent as well as anyone in the league.”

Montana holds a 2-1 series edge, but Northridge has played close in both losses. Montana defeated the Matadors, 21-13, in Missoula in 1997. Montana won in 1996 at North Campus Stadium, 43-36.

“I think sometimes we play to the level of the team we’re playing,” receiver Aaron Arnold said. “And I think that’s what we do with Montana. With Montana, we match up well. And our defense is doing a great job this week.”

Swanson agreed.

“When there’s not a lot on the line, we seem to sink to the level of the team we are playing against,” Swanson said. “Western Oregon, we played terribly in that game. We know Montana is a good team. So it would be huge for us to beat them.”

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (2-2, 1-1)

vs. MONTANA (3-1, 2-1)

When: Noon, Saturday

Where: Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont.

What: Big Sky Conference football game.

Fast Facts: Defending champion Montana has won three Big Sky titles in the last four years ... Montana has defeated Northridge in two of three games ... Northridge defeated Montana, 21-7, last season at North Campus Stadium.