VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : After False Start, Northridge Wins : Notebook: Matador receiver Aaron Arnold’s big day includes setting the school record for career receptions.

It was a simple six-yard reception, but for Aaron Arnold, it was a record breaker.

Arnold became the Cal State Northridge career receptions leader Saturday after catching the short pass in the second quarter against Western Oregon to break Dave Romines’ mark of 138.

Arnold, a senior from Monroe High in his fourth season at Northridge, combined with Marcus Brady for 12 catches for 138 yards, raising his career total to 143. Arnold is 98 yards shy of Romines’ career record of 2,259 yards.

“I wasn’t thinking about any records or anything,” Arnold said. “I was just trying to get us going. Every throw Marcus made to me was a good throw.”

Arnold was nonchalant after making the record catch, although he was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty later in the game. Arnold drew the penalty for excessive celebration after returning the second-half kickoff 59 yards to the Western Oregon 39.

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Alan Taylor bolted 13 yards on a draw play on his first carry Saturday for the Matadors.

Taylor, a 5-foot-7, 175-pound redshirt freshman from Yucaipa High, is the projected backup to DeJuan Gilmore and third on the Matadors’ depth chart at running back.

Taylor rushed for a game-high 94 yards in 10 carries against Western Oregon.

“Sitting out last year, I was really anxious to get in,” Taylor said. “I just did what I could do.”

Taylor’s elusive style later produced a 23-yard gain.

“He makes people miss,” Northridge Coach Jeff Kearin said.

Not just defenders. Taylor was mistakenly credited with a carry by the public-address announcer after a fake handoff in the third quarter.

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Receiver Terrence Jones, a senior transfer from Fresno State, caught three passes for 26 yards. Jones, however, might have found a niche as a kick returner.

Jones returned four punts for 85 yards, including two 35-yard gains.

“It’s the blocking,” Jones said. “If the blocks are there, I’m going to make something happen.”

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Northridge was penalized 15 times for 148 yards, compared to eight penalties for 65 yards by Western Oregon.

Big Sky coaches were informed this season of a crackdown on holding penalties. But most of the calls against the Matadors were for other infractions.

Northridge was penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, the result of celebrations by Arnold and Karalus Doyle after an interception.

“Those are hard to control,” Kearin said. “I said to the referee, ‘Hey, there are emotions in this game.’ There is a fine line. But I don’t want it to get out of control.”

Northridge had one gain nullified by a holding penalty, an 11-yard completion from Brady to Jones. The Matadors also were whistled for a 15-yard facemask and a personal foul on a punt return.

“We’re going to take care of those things,” Kearin said.

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Free safety Hassan Abdul-Malik came out of the game in the first quarter and did not return because of the lingering problems with a sore hamstring. Abdul-Malik, a backup last season, was questionable this week because of the injury.

Rahman Sparks, Abdul-Malik’s replacement, had an interception.