VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : After False Start, Northridge Wins : Matadors: Western Oregon jumps to 13-3 lead but Brady turns momentum in the second half.

Marcus Brady threw two second-half touchdown passes and Cal State Northridge rallied to defeat Western Oregon, 38-19, in a nonconference college football opener before 3,142 on Saturday at North Campus Stadium.

Jaumal Bradley and DeJuan Gilmore had second-half touchdown runs for Northridge, which overcame a 13-10 halftime deficit to win its opener for the first time since 1996.

It also made a success of Jeff Kearin’s debut as interim coach.

“I don’t think we stepped up until late in the game,” Kearin said. “We made some really bad mistakes, penalty-wise, and we’re nowhere near where we have to be if we’re going to win [the Big Sky Conference].

“But a lot of it was just playing the first game.”

Brady, Big Sky newcomer of the year as a freshman last season, shook off a sluggish start and rallied the Matadors with two crucial completions during a 95-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that gave the Matadors their first lead, 17-13.

Brady’s eight-yard scoring pass to Ethan Beck capped an 11-play drive that seemed to turn momentum in the Matadors’ favor. Brady sustained the march with completions from the end zone and on fourth and three at the Western Oregon 31.

Brady completed 28 of 45 passes for 321 yards and one interception. He was sacked three times. Brady was sacked five times last season in the opener at Boise State.

“I was thinking a lot out there,” Brady said. “I think after the flow of the game got going, I kind of relaxed and had fun. “

On the third play of the drive, Brady scrambled in the end zone and connected with Aaron Arnold for a 26-yard gain that gave Northridge a first down at its 31.

Seven plays later, Brady connected with Drew Amerson over the middle for 28 yards and a first down at the Western Oregon three.

Amerson and Brady became friends while playing together at San Diego Morse High.

“He’s my roommate and best friend,” Brady said. “He was my next-door neighbor. They blitzed and I knew I could trust him in man-to-man.”

Brady and Amerson connected again for 32 yards and a touchdown with 12 minutes to play to give Northridge a 31-19 lead. Amerson had four receptions for 74 yards.

Kearin pointed to the fourth-down gamble as a much-needed jump-start.

“There was a little bit of that in my mind,” Kearin said. “I thought our defense would be able to hold them.”

Northridge trailed, 13-3, in the second quarter after Erik Davis of Western Oregon connected with Derrick Miles for a 51-yard touchdown.

Bradley’s four-yard run with 1:38 to play in the half cut the margin to 13-10.

Miscues and penalties short-circuited Northridge in the first half. The Matadors’ opening drive ended in a touchback when Arnold fumbled at the one-yard line after a catch and the Wolves recovered.

Arnold said that he was tackled before he fumbled.

“I was reaching out for the goal line and all I know is I went down,” Arnold said.

Early in the second quarter, Brady’s long pass intended for Terrence Jones was intercepted by Corey Sutton at the Wolves’ nine.

Northridge was penalized eight times for 72 yards, including two personal fouls in the first half.

“When we came back from halftime, we definitely had something to think about,” Bradley said. “I don’t know who we left it up to, but we came out and had a whole new look.”

Bradley finished with 90 yards in 19 carries and scored on a one-yard run with six minutes to play.

Alan Taylor, a redshirt freshman from Yucaipa, rushed for 94 yards in 10 carries.

Gilmore, a transfer from Washington State, extended the Matadors’ lead to 24-13 late in the third quarter with a five-yard run. He left the game in the second half because of cramps.