ROBERTS RULES

A running back such as Charles Roberts doesn’t come along often. Cal State Northridge is fortunate it happens only once a year.

This year is Saturday, when Cal State Sacramento and its electrifying ballcarrier visit North Campus Stadium for a Big Sky Conference game against the Matadors at 3:05 p.m.

For Northridge (2-3, 1-2 in the Big Sky), clawing to remain in contention for a conference title, all hands will be on deck to stop Mr. Roberts, a 5-foot-6, 175-pound junior.

Forget about Roberts’ stature. What he’s accomplished is big.

Roberts is the Big Sky’s rushing leader with 1,206 yards and has helped Sacramento (4-2, 2-2) go from 1-10 in 1997 to being a title contender in its fourth season in the Big Sky. The Hornets are coming off a 41-14 rout of first-place Portland State and their two losses are by a total of six points.

Roberts, who rushed for 94 yards last week, has been slowed by a toe injury and cracked ribs sustained against Weber State on Oct. 2.

Still, he is nearly on pace to surpass his I-AA season-record 2,260 yards set last year, when he rushed for 100 yards or more in every game and for at least 200 yards six times.

Among them was a 231-yard performance in a 35-21 victory over Northridge. Roberts, displaying remarkable cut-back ability, rushed for three touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and had an 11-yard run for a first-down on a Statue of Liberty play on a fake field-goal attempt.

“Size has always been a motivating factor for me,” Roberts said. “They tell me I’m too small or too slow, but I know in my heart I can play.

“I’m small, so it doesn’t have to be the biggest hole in the world. So, it works out in my favor. All I need is a little nick in the defense.”

Roberts has added incentive against the Matadors. A graduate of Montclair High, where he rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice, he is expecting about 25 friends and family members to attend the game.

Naturally, the image of Roberts running with a football is burned into the Matadors’ memories.

“He’s shifty and he has great vision and he hits the line at full speed,” interim Coach Jeff Kearin of Northridge said.

Several members of the Northridge defense played against Roberts last season. The importance of stopping Roberts doesn’t need to be emphasized.

“We need to fill the gaps and force him to the outside and use the sidelines as our 12th player,” defensive end Shawnbay Jones said. “He’s elusive and their line is very big. He’s good. But we can stop him.”

Jones recalled trying to tackle Roberts, illustrating his point by clutching at an imaginary ballcarrier.

“I was right about to tackle him and he was like a ghost,” Jones said. “He shook me out of my drawers.”

Roberts quickly credits the Hornets’ offensive line as the spearhead of the attack. Make that Hammerheads, as the unit is affectionately known.

Tackles Tim Conley and Doug Hollingsworth, guards Jon Osterhout and Lonie Paxton, center Terence Wagner and tight end Chris Kelly are returning starters. Excluding Kelly, they average close to 300 pounds.

“We have an exceptional offensive line,” Coach John Volek of Sacramento said. “And Charles does very well with his speed. He’s having a great year.”

Roberts jokingly remarks that if he was an NFL back, he would be presenting them all with gold watches or some other gift.

“I can’t buy them anything now because I’m a struggling college student,” Roberts said. “But they know I appreciate them.”

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“I was right about to tackle him and he was like a ghost.”

SHAWNBAY JONES, Northridge defensive end on playing Roberts last year