The Defenses May Never Get to Rest in This Contest

After making recent progress on defense, the last thing Coach Jeff Kearin of Cal State Northridge wanted to see last week was his team lose, 64-61, in the highest-scoring game in NCAA Division I history.

Then again, the Matadors’ nonconference opponent this week, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, received record-setting performances from a quarterback and receiver in a 43-41 loss to Northern Iowa.

Seth Burford completed 34 of 49 passes for a school-record 566 yards and Kassim Osgood set a Division I-AA record with 376 yards receiving and a school record with 17 receptions.

By the time the sun sets this afternoon at North Campus Stadium, it could be another game for the record books.

“They’ve got an impressive offense,” Kearin said of the Mustangs (3-6), who run multiple formations, often with two running backs. “They have a number of sets, and not a spread offense with a number of receivers, but two-back sets with a tight end.”

Although fourth-year Coach Larry Welsh of Cal Poly would like his team to be balanced, the way Burford has played in recent weeks has forced his hand.

Welsh told a San Luis Obispo reporter that people would want his head examined if he didn’t make good use of Burford and Osgood.

“That’s what we do, that’s our forte,” Welsh said. “To be efficient we have to run the ball, but when you have guys like [Burford and Osgood], they’d send a brain surgeon over here if I started running off-tackle plays.”

Welsh and Kearin agree that their defenses might not be the key to the game.

“It’s going to come down to execution on offense,” Kearin said. “It may be a cliche, but a good defense is a good offense.

“Our defense had consistently been getting better each week. But a lot of [the losses this season] had to do with turnovers and our offense not being productive. We’ve been giving up the ball a lot and not executing offensively.”

Welsh has said the same thing about his team, which has had a rash of injuries on defense, including linebacker Joe Martinez, an All-County player at Ventura High.

“It comes down to execution,” Welsh said. “I think we’ve showed we’re as good as any team in the red zone.”

Kearin is hoping the Matadors (3-6) show improvement again on defense. He said Erik Gardner continues to have an impressive season on the defensive line and that linebacker Cos Abercrombie anchors the unit.

“Our corners are going to have to play well,” Kearin added.

The Matadors enter the game relatively healthy.

Freshman guard Tyrone Tutogi, formerly of Hueneme High, is doubtful with an ankle injury and likely will be replaced by junior transfer Andrew Holt.

Today’s Matchup

CS Northridge (3-6)

vs.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (3-6)

3:05 p.m.

North Campus Stadium