VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : NORTHRIDGE NOTEBOOK : Arnold Has Receiving Records on Fingertips

Aaron Arnold cannot count on one hand the number of receptions he needs to become the career receiving leader for Cal State Northridge.

It takes two.

Arnold needs seven receptions to tie David Romines’ record of 138 catches. He needs 236 receiving yards to equal Romines’ mark of 2,259.

Arnold holds the Matadors’ record with 21 touchdown receptions, including 12 last season, a team record he shares with Romines, who played from 1992-96.

But who’s counting? Certainly not Arnold. Besides, one of his fingers is sore.

Arnold, who will begin his fourth season at Northridge against Western Oregon on Saturday at North Campus Stadium, is practicing with a dislocated middle finger on his left hand. But the injury won’t likely slow Arnold, who caught at least one touchdown pass in nine games last season.

“I’m feeling OK,” Arnold said. “It’s nothing that’s going to bother me.”

Arnold has sprung from the gates the last two season-openers, both against Boise State. In both games, Arnold had six receptions.

Arnold could be the Matadors’ career receiving leader by sundown Saturday.

“Tell you the truth, I’m not focused on any of that,” Arnold said. “Even if we’re picked to win the Big Sky [Conference], that means nothing. What matters is when we line up on that field. I’m just focused on Western Oregon.”

As well as the chemistry between himself and quarterback Marcus Brady.

Arnold said they operate almost by way of a sixth sense.

“We have kind of a connection,” Arnold said. “He could just give me a little look or I could give him a look and we know what was going on on that play. I think this year, that’s just escalated so we don’t have to even think about it.”

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Kaleon Green has been sidelined by cancer and a broken leg four of the last seven seasons since graduating from Crenshaw High.

Now, Green, a senior linebacker who started for Northridge in 1997, is hoping to clear another hurdle and earn another chance.

Green participated in the Matadors’ final intrasquad scrimmage Saturday but watched practice in street clothes Tuesday. Green is awaiting judgment from the NCAA on being granted a sixth year of eligibility because of special circumstances.

If Green’s petition is granted, he likely will play against Western Oregon. If it is not, his college career, which included two seasons at West L.A. College, is finished.

“It looks like I’m going to win,” Green said. “I should hear by Thursday.”

Green, 6-2, 235, was an all-league linebacker at Crenshaw but missed the 1992 and ’93 seasons after a sarcoma was diagnosed on his back. Green was sidelined again in 1995 because the cancer showed signs of recurring.

“I’m fine now,” Green said.