J J O Laughlin

There was a joyous reunion at Mustang Stadium on Saturday night, one that had nothing to do with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's homecoming festivities. Clayton Millis came home, and proved himself a winner. Cal State Northridge, with quarterback J.J. O'Laughlin and defensive captain Victor Myles sidelined by injuries, downed San Luis Obispo, 22-14, in an American West Conference game before a crowd of 5,654.

Here's to the third-stringers, or whatever they are. Third-rate, they aren't. Pressed into emergency service Saturday because of disciplinary action taken against several of their Cal State Northridge teammates, tight end Travis Hall and receiver David Romines started in the defensive secondary. The pair and some of their mix-and-match mates almost pitched a shutout during their moment in the sun. It wasn't a complete return to one-platoon football, but this pair definitely earned their stripes.

Clayton Millis dreamed of being a starting college quarterback when he graduated from Arroyo Grande High. Now, more than four years later, he finally has a chance. "I'm ecstatic," said Millis, who is likely to take the first snap of Cal State Northridge's season Sept. 9 against Menlo College. "It's something that's been kind of a long time coming." Millis (6 feet 5, 216 pounds) spent two seasons on the bench at Oregon--one as a redshirt--and two years backing up J.J. O'Laughlin at Northridge.

It is less than two weeks from The Big Day of Feb. 14--the first day that high school football prospects can sign national letters of intent with NCAA colleges--and the operative word is indecision . There are several noteworthy exceptions.

Too many opposing Js, not quite enough from J.J. For Cal State Northridge, so goes the summary of its 48-38 setback against UC Davis in an American West Conference game Saturday night. The Js, running back Preston Jackson and quarterback Khari Jones, accounted for all but 14 of the Aggies' 519 yards of offense as Davis (6-1, 2-1 in conference play) shredded CSUN. Jackson carried a school-record 37 times for 184 yards and four touchdowns.

Three weeks into a winless season, Cal State Northridge has dumped its run-and-shoot offense in favor of a two-back offense. Coach Bob Burt said Tuesday that the Matadors will employ two running backs, two wide receivers and a tight end, instead of a tailback and four wide receivers. Burt made the switch because there wasn't enough time for J.J. O'Laughlin, the third starting quarterback in as many weeks, to master the run-and-shoot.

Trudging onto the court for the final minute and six seconds, Jason Hunt tried desperately to get his coach's attention. "Hey, coach. Hey, coach," the Camarillo High forward mouthed over the din of a standing room only crowd at Moorpark College. "No timeouts." Hunt, apparently, had had enough. And who could blame him? Tracy Murray and Glendora already had run away with the Southern Section 4-AA Division quarterfinal game Wednesday night and were wrapping up an impressive 76-52 victory.

Perhaps no one at Cal State Northridge wants to beat Sacramento State on Saturday night more than linebacker James Woods. Woods, a senior in a program full of junior college transfers, is the only Matador who has played in each of the last three games against the Hornets. And each has eaten away at Woods a little more. "They were just letdowns," Woods said, shaking his head. "We couldn't finish." Three fourth-quarter leads. Three losses. --Oct. 16, 1993, Sacramento 31, Northridge 30.

Washington 73, Carson 34--Senior guard Detra Lockhart scored 22 points and sophomore center Charisse Sampson had 17 points and 23 rebounds to lead the top-seeded and defending champion Generals (26-3) past the Colts (22-7). Van Nuys 60, Narbonne 43--The second-seeded Wolves (22-3) overpowered the Gauchos behind 26 points and 17 rebounds from senior center Stacie Toon. Guard Tina Means added 18 points. Shasta Paris led Narbonne (18-8) with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Muir, Arcadia, Glendora and Wilson high schools each had four players named to compete in the 11th annual Hall of Fame All-Star Football Game July 20 at Citrus College in Glendora. Muir, which tied Santa Barbara for the Southern Section Division II championship, placed linebackers Paul Joiner and Reggie Hunt and defensive backs Stephan Crutchfield and Sam Williford on the West team.