Beaten From the Ground Up

At this rate, Cal State Northridge is likely to be run right out of the Big Sky Conference.

Stopping the run--or failing to--was the Matadors’ story for the second consecutive game, as Eastern Washington, behind six touchdowns by running back Jovan Griffith, defeated Northridge, 48-41, in a Big Sky Conference game before 3,556 Saturday night at Eastern Washington.

The Matadors (1-2, 0-1 in conference play) simply were run over by Eastern Washington, which set school records with 456 yards rushing, with two players rushing for more than 200 yards.

Northridge, which allowed 353 yards rushing in a 71-14 loss at Kansas two weeks ago, has yielded 961 yards on the ground in three games. It was the first time the Matadors allowed six touchdowns by one player.

“I’m really concerned,” interim Coach Jeff Kearin of Northridge said. “I’d like to see that change. I expected them to do a good job running the ball. But we need to make some adjustments.”

Griffith, a sophomore from Lompoc, rushed for 262 yards in a school record 42 carries, scoring a school record five touchdowns in the first half.

Sophomore Jesse Chatman rushed for 211 in 16 carries.

Chatman sealed the victory by smothering the Matadors’ onside kick with 23 seconds to play.

Griffith scored on runs of four, one, 44, 36 and one yards before halftime. Early in the fourth quarter, Griffith fumbled at the two yard-line but Lance Ballew recovered in the end zone for a touchdown that extended Eastern Washington’s lead to 41-28.

The touchdown was set up by a 67-yard run by Chatman. Griffith scored his sixth touchdown on an eight-yard run with 2:23 to play.

“This offense has scored piles of points,” Coach Mike Kramer of Eastern Washington said. “We knew we could put them on the board. We played our rear ends off.”

Northridge, which took a 7-0 lead when Terrence Jones returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, stayed in the game behind Marcus Brady, who completed 36 of 49 passes for a career-high 484 yards and five touchdowns.

Brady threw touchdown passes of 59 and 47 yards to Jones, a transfer from Fresno State.

Northridge was hampered by the loss of fullback Jaumal Bradley, who was stricken this week with tonsillitis.

“I expected to win this game,” Brady said. “I didn’t think we would have to throw that much.”

The Eagles went 74 yards in seven plays to pull even, 7-7, Griffith carrying the final four yards.

Griffith’s one-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter was set up by a fumble by DeJuan Gilmore of Northridge, who was was hit in the backfield by Brad Packer, who recovered at the one.

Northridge tied the score, 14-14, on its next series. Brady found Jones with a swing pass that carried 59 yards for a touchdown.

Two more touchdown runs by Griffith gave Eastern Washington a 28-14 lead.

On the Matadors’ next possession, Drew Amerson fumbled after a reception at the Northridge 43 and Anthony Griffin recovered for Eastern Washington. Five plays later, Griffith scored from 36 yards.

Moments later, Jones got behind the Eagles safeties and hauled in a 47-yard scoring pass from Brady that closed the gap to 28-21.

The Eagles rebounded with a 57-yard scoring drive capped by Griffith’s one-yard touchdown run to take a 35-21 halftime lead.