Backup Career

For Mitch Ryerson, playing backup quarterback for Cal State Northridge has meant never having to say “hut-one, hut-two.” Not in a game, anyway.

Ryerson is nearing the completion of a three-year career at Northridge in which he had not taken a single snap at quarterback until the fourth quarter of his next-to-last game. He threw two passes late in the Matadors’ 45-27 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo on Saturday, completing both for 35 yards.

He has served as understudy to Marcus Brady, who passed for five touchdowns Saturday before Ryerson got into the game.

But Ryerson is not complaining. And he remains eager.

“It’s kind of a [lousy] job,” said Ryerson, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior who was a starter at Fountain Valley High. “But I understand. I’ve been here three years and all three years I’ve been a backup. I could go the whole season and not take a snap. But then, I could [have been] in a game and [had] to start the next six games.”

Brady earned the starting job as a freshman two years ago and has not been challenged. Until Saturday he had taken every snap this season for Northridge (4-6) after taking all but a handful last season.

Coach Jeff Kearin said Ryerson might get to play again in the season finale at Portland State. Kearin also said he regrets not inserting Ryerson against Air Force in the season opener, a 55-6 Matador loss.

“I feel sick about that,” Kearin said. “I lost track of it. I appreciate the impatience of kids who want to play. The kids work so darn hard.”

Ryerson, who passed for 2,180 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior at Fountain Valley, has played in a few games on special teams. His jersey typically is spotless after four quarters.

Brady is scheduled to return for his senior season. But the next starting quarterback for Northridge figures to be Jermaine Guinyard, a freshman from San Diego Marian Catholic High who is redshirting this season but, unlike Ryerson, has been taking plenty of snaps in practice.

“It’s kind of hard, seeing my parents after every game and I haven’t gotten in,” Ryerson said. “But what is fun is the whole football experience of playing on this team.”