Matadors File Defensive Motion

Far from the typical Matador defense this time.

Cal State Northridge, frustrated and embarrassed by a half season of dismal defensive play, suddenly got stingy against Cal State Sacramento in a 36-14 Big Sky Conference victory before a homecoming crowd of 5,183 on Saturday afternoon at North Campus Stadium.

The Matadors (3-3, 2-2 in conference play), ranked last in the Big Sky in defense, shocked the Big Sky’s No. 2-ranked offense by converting two first-quarter interceptions into 10 points, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown by Mel Miller.

They also kept Charles Roberts, the Big Sky’s rushing leader, out of the end zone and, for the most part, out of the picture.

Roberts, a 5-foot-7 junior who rushed for a Division I-AA record 2,260 yards last season, had a game-high 167 yards in 25 carries. But the Matadors allowed him few significant gains and gang-tackled him quickly when it mattered most.

Last season, Roberts rushed for 231 yards against Northridge. This year, stopping Roberts was a matter of getting defensive and getting even.

“I’m really proud of the way our defense played,” interim Coach Jeff Kearin of Northridge said. “They responded to a huge challenge to stop a great running back.”

Northridge players were defensive afterward, too.

“For the guys on the defense, with what they see in the paper all week, that made it kind of rough on them,” fullback Jaumal Bradley said. “All week it seems like the whole world was questioning their heart. But they stepped up and had a good game. The defensive backs, everybody played a good game today.”

Safety Steve Forte’s interception set up a 30-yard field goal by Derek Brown that gave Northridge a 3-0 lead. Two minutes later, Miller intercepted Ricky Ray’s pass and ran untouched for his first career touchdown.

The interceptions were the first for both players at Northridge. And they shook Sacramento (4-3, 2-3), which routed first-place Portland State, 41-14, last week.

“When [Ray] threw those first two picks, I knew it got inside his head a little bit,” defensive end Shawnbay Jones of Northridge said. “We started to pressure him.”

Ray, who completed 18 of 36 passes for 276 yards, was sacked three times. He threw two touchdown passes, the second with 3:00 to play and Northridge leading, 36-6.

Quarterback Marcus Brady of Northridge enjoyed one of the best games of his two-year career, despite the absence of top receiver Aaron Arnold, sidelined because of a separated shoulder.

Brady completed 28 of 39 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Brady drove the Matadors 98 yards in 14 plays in the final six minutes of the first quarter, completing four of five passes on the drive. DeJuan Gilmore carried four yards for the touchdown.

Terrence Jones, who dropped a Brady bomb on the Matadors’ first play from scrimmage, led Northridge with nine receptions, including a 74-yard scoring play for a 23-6 halftime lead.

Freshman Joe Gilliam had eight receptions, including a six-yard touchdown pass from Brady to extend the Matadors’ lead to 29-6. Ryan Beckwith had a season-high five catches and Drew Amerson had four for Northridge.

“They all knew that Aaron Arnold wasn’t there and they all got the feeling that they had to come out and play today,” Brady said.

Bradley rushed for a career-high 132 yards and a touchdown in 30 carries, his second consecutive 100-yard performance since returning last week from illness.