Matadors Make It Long Day, Longer Season for Flowers

Cal State Northridge likely hasn’t seen the last of Aaron Flowers.

For his part, Flowers, a former All-American quarterback for Northridge, wanted to disappear after Northridge defeated Montana State, 24-12, Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.

Flowers, in his first season as a Montana State assistant, was dejected after another loss compounded an already long season. The Bobcats (0-7, 0-4 in Big Sky Conference play) extended their school-record losing streak to 13 games while squandering their best opportunity for a victory this season against the Matadors (2-5, 1-4).

For Flowers, who left Northridge after two seasons as an assistant, it didn’t matter who the loss was against.

“It’s not anything that it was Northridge,” Flowers said. “You don’t want to lose to anybody.

“I didn’t expect us to be too successful this season, but I never expected this. The hardest part is that, before today, we were making progress. I didn’t see that today. That’s what hurts the worst.”

Northridge will leave the Big Sky after this season and compete as an independent. But the Matadors intend to maintain rivalries against some Big Sky teams.

That includes Montana State, which holds a 3-2 series lead against Northridge.

Northridge Coach Jeff Kearin expects Flowers and his new team to be a force.

“It’s good for him here and he likes coaching at this school,” Kearin said. “I’m just sick that we couldn’t keep him.”

*

Northridge pulled out all the stops at running back against Montana State. The game marked the ball-carrying debut of Julien Sells, who had previously been confined to returning kicks.

Sells had a nine-yard gain among four carries in the first half. Bruce Molock led the Matadors with 56 yards in 12 carries and fullback Crayton Milton had two carries, including a 10-yard gain.

But it was Terrelus Wright who emerged with the dirtiest jersey. Wright rushed for 40 yards in 23 carries, a season high for Northridge.

All of Wright’s carries were in the second half, helping Northridge run out the clock.

*

Northridge players weren’t the only ones chilled by the frigid conditions. Montana State has more players on its roster from California than any Big Sky team, except, of course, for Northridge.

They include running back Camron King, a junior from Buena Park.

King replaced injured Ryan Johnson in the first half and rushed for a career-high 94 yards in 21 carries. King has played considerably as a back-up, but under more pleasant conditions.

Other Bobcats from Southern California include quarterback Farhaad Azimi and linebacker Bo Espinoza from Rio Mesa High, and linebacker David Smith from Grant.