Vito Clemente

Just when Cal State Northridge believed it had the Big Sky Conference by the throat, a perennial patsy sent the Matadors crashing to earth. Northridge, apparently basking too much in its newfound success, lost to Cal State Sacramento, 35-21, in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday night before 5,947 at Hornet Stadium.

The linebacker was really a safety. Another linebacker was really a defensive end. The nose guard was really a linebacker. The offensive tackle was really a tight end. Confused? Imagine the challenge of Cal State Northridge Coach Ron Ponciano, who has been moving around players like chess pieces as he tries to overcome injuries and depth problems.

On the bright side for Notre Dame High, it won't take any exhaustive film study to figure out this one. The Knights' 21-10 nonleague loss to Crespi (2-2) on Friday at Notre Dame was because of turnovers. Notre Dame turned the ball over three times, and all were disastrous. Trying to come back in the second half, Notre Dame fumbled twice on drives that penetrated the Crespi 20.

With the start of football practice four days away, Jim Fenwick is temporarily turning into a scout master. Fenwick, Cal State Northridge's first-year coach, is heading an orientation camp today through Saturday for about 35 new Matadors. The sessions are meant to help acquaint the players with the campus and the program in time for the opening of two-a-day workouts Monday. They could even use those "Hello, my name is . . . " stickers on their shirts--Fenwick included.

In a battle of two of the area's best running backs, it was no surprise that a big run iced Friday night's game between Chaminade and Crespi highs. Shaun Williams scored on a 58-yard run on a fourth-and-one play with 2 minutes 24 seconds to play, sealing Crespi's 27-15 nonleague victory at Pierce College. Williams finished with 219 yards in 29 carries, outdueling Chaminade's Franklin Saunders, who gained 186 yards in 29 carries. After the seesaw game, the two backs hugged at midfield.

Last week's decision by Cal State Northridge's top two athletic officials to resign was the right one--necessary to give the school's battered sports programs a fresh start. Athletic Director Paul Bubb and Associate Athletic Director Judith Brame resigned Tuesday after admitting that they failed to report to CSUN administrators allegations of drug use against women's basketball Coach Michael Abraham, who stands accused of intent to distribute cocaine.

Cal State Northridge's defense took a nap but linebacker Brennen Swanson made two sparkling plays on Saturday to save the Matadors from a rude awakening. Northridge's 38-35 Big Sky Conference victory over Eastern Washington in front of 3,920 at North Campus Stadium was sheer survival, the offense barely keeping ahead of what the defense was giving up. Which was plenty, as in 502 yards, including 404 passing by Griffin Garske.

All week, Cal State Northridge players heard repeatedly from coaches about Southern Utah's feared multiple-option attack, an offense the Matadors never see in the pass-oriented Big Sky Conference. After routing the Thunderbirds, 44-17, on Saturday in a nonconference game in front of 3,317 at North Campus Stadium, Northridge might want to face similar teams more often in the future.

Heading into the Southern Section Division I semifinal against Crespi, Eisenhower Coach Tom Hoak admitted the Eagles were looking past the Celts. "Maybe we were thinking too much about playing for the championship," Hoak said. "There wasn't too much said about Crespi." It showed. The Celts led at halftime and nearly pulled off a huge upset before succumbing, 7-3, Saturday night before 6,000 at Eisenhower. Eisenhower (13-0) will meet Mater Dei in the championship Friday night.

Cal State Northridge took one sizable step closer to winning the Big Sky Conference football title with a 32-28 victory over Portland State in front of 3,813 on Saturday at North Campus Stadium. The Matadors (6-3, 5-2 in conference play) moved into first place by a half-game over Montana State (6-3, 4-2) and Montana (6-3, 4-2) with one conference game remaining, at last-place Idaho State on Nov. 21.