Matadors Suffer Injury With Insult at Montana

Cal State Northridge lost another Big Sky Conference football game Saturday afternoon.

But the Matadors may have lost a lot more. Like top receiver Aaron Arnold. And, perhaps, a chance for a conference title.

Defending Big Sky champion Montana defeated the Matadors, 48-27, before 18,874 and under a steady drizzle at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, outlasting an inspired Northridge team that threatened upset in the first quarter but ultimately reverted to its poor defensive ways.

Junior quarterback Drew Miller, piloting the Big Sky’s most prolific offense, picked apart the Northridge secondary, completing 25 of 37 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns.

The Grizzlies (4-1, 3-1 in Big Sky play) avenged a 21-7 loss to the Matadors last season at Northridge.

Miller, a transfer from Brigham Young, threw three first-half touchdown passes, as Montana turned a 10-7 deficit in the first quarter into a 24-10 halftime advantage.

Northridge (2-3, 1-2), despite playing on a slick field in front of frenzied fans, appeared unfazed in the early going. Trailing, 7-3, midway through the first quarter, the Matadors quieted the crowd when quarterback Marcus Brady found Arnold wide open deep and threw a strike for a 47-yard touchdown pass that gave Northridge its only lead.

It was an indicator of what might have been.

Arnold, a senior and the Matadors’ career receptions leader, was hardly a factor afterward and finished the game with his arm in a sling.

In the fourth quarter, Arnold suffered a separated right shoulder and did not return. Arnold, who had four receptions for 75 yards, is expected to be sidelined three to four weeks.

“I don’t know what’s worse,” said interim Coach Jeff Kearin of Northridge. “Losing this game or losing him.”

The loss dropped the Matadors two games behind Montana and Portland State, which are tied for first place with five conference games to play.

Northridge plays at home Saturday against Cal State Sacramento, a 41-14 winner over Portland State on Saturday.

“We did some good things on offense, but we kind of lost our concentration against a good team,” Kearin said. “At halftime, I felt good. But they did a few things that caught us off-guard.”

Brady completed 26 of 51 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, but was two of 11 for seven yards in the third quarter, when the Grizzlies extended their lead to 34-13.

Brady led the Matadors on scoring drives on their first two possessions, aided by fullback Jaumal Bradley, who made several impressive moves during a draw play. Bradley, returning after a two-game hiatus because of tonsillitis, rushed for a career-high 116 yards in 19 carries.

In what might have been the pivotal play, Brady was sacked on fourth and 13 at the Montana 47 by end Andy Petek. The play thwarted a good Matador drive that began at the Northridge 21 with Montana holding a 17-10 lead.

Four plays later, Miller connected with Etu Molden for a 24-10 lead and the Matadors were forced to play catch-up.

“I’ll take the blame for that,” Brady said. “Fourth down, I should get rid of the ball instead of losing 15 yards. That definitely was a momentum-changer.”

Montana rolled up 540 yards.

“Our pass defense is in real trouble right now,” Kearin said.