VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : NORTHRIDGE NOTEBOOK : They Are Lining Up to Protect Brady

Bolstering an offensive line that buckled at times last season is a priority this season for Cal State Northridge.

Last season, quarterback Marcus Brady emerged as one of the Big Sky Conference’s top offensive threats, passing for 2,983 yards and 26 touchdowns.

But Brady accomplished a lot on the run and didn’t always escape punishment. He was sacked 49 times, including five times in a season-opening loss at Boise State.

Brady will lead the Matadors in the season-opener Saturday against Western Oregon.

Can the Matadors’ hold the line?

“We’re coming along,” said Bobby Connelly, a former Texas A&M; assistant who joined Northridge this season and will coach the offensive line. “A lot of the guys are new. But they’re learning the offense.”

Three members of the starting five last year will start against Western Oregon. Tackle Keith Kincaid and guard Tim Shoffeit, sophomores who started every game last season, will anchor the right side. Center Julio Alcala returns at center.

The left side is depleted by the absence of guard Taffe Aina, who isn’t expected to gain eligibility until the second game against Kansas.

Guard Joe Bergman, a backup last season, and tackle Johnny Acosta, a transfer from Chaffey College, are projected starters. Javier Ortiz, a sophomore transfer from Fresno State, will back up at center and guard. Nick Longshore, a freshman tackle from Canyon High, played considerably during practice while Acosta recovered from an ear infection.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” Kincaid said. “Last year, we started to come around. Marcus did all right on a lot of plays by himself. But game in and game out, you have to have some sort of a line to protect him.”

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The Matadors will donate at least $1,400 to the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills as part of the repayment of money earned by players who acted in a promotional video aired during the Super Bowl last January.

Seventeen players participated in the video, a violation of NCAA rules. Their eligibility is contingent upon them donating to charity the $100 they earned in the video.

So far, at least 14 players have agreed to donate the money to the Jewish Community Center, where a gunman injured five people in a shooting Aug. 10

Defensive end Shawnbay Jones and quarterback Dave Lins suggested the donation.

“We just felt it would be the best thing to do,” Jones said.

Jeff Kearin, Northridge’s interim coach, said all money is expected to be repaid and all players cleared to play in time for the opener Saturday.

“As bad as things get around here for us, the guys are realizing there are a lot bigger problems in the world,” Kearin said.

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Free-safety Hassan Abdul-Malik, nursing a sore hamstring, has been upgraded to probable for Western Oregon. . . . Linebacker Kaleon Green, who is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, and cornerback Mel Miller, whose eligibility is contingent on summer classes, are doubtful but are expected to play against Kansas.