Kearin Is Not at Loss for Words in Kansas

Jeff Kearin needed to be heard.

In the fourth quarter of Cal State Northridge’s 71-14 loss at Kansas on Saturday, the red-faced Matador coach spent five minutes waging an intense argument with an official.

Trailing by 57 points, Northridge had just turned the ball over on downs at its 16-yard line when backup quarterback Josh Fiske’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

More than 33,000 spectators at Memorial Stadium roared at what appeared to be a desperate attempt by Northridge. To the surprise of few, the Jayhawks had dominated the Division I-AA Matadors. Now, the opponent’s young interim coach appeared to be losing his cool.

But Kearin says his head never left the game.

“I thought it was third down,” he said.

The Northridge bench protested that the scoreboard indicated third down. The down marker on the field displayed a 4.

“I told him, ‘As big an ass as I look right now, I look like an even bigger ass for going for it on fourth down,’ ” Kearin said. “The officials would not talk to me. The guy in the white hat was chatting away with [Kansas Coach] Terry Allen. But they wouldn’t come up to me.”

*

The Matadors were overwhelmed on both sides of the ball against a team bigger and deeper than any they are likely to face this season. But there are positives Northridge can take from its trip to Kansas.

Linebackers Jack Heaslet, Cos Abercrombie and Brennen Swanson played aggressively and should make the Matadors one of the better defensive teams in the Big Sky Conference. Kansas’ David Winbush rushed for 135 yards, but the Northridge defense had its moments. And the lopsided outcome gave many reserves needed experience.

After two games, the Matadors’ running game appears to be a strength. Jaumal Bradley rushed for a career-high 111 yards against Kansas and was influential in both of Northridge’s touchdown drives.

Quarterback Marcus Brady displayed his increasing maturity with a respectable showing against a good defense.

“I saw us go right down the field on them on two drives,” Kearin said. “I saw us tackle a running back the likes of which we won’t see this season. We have a good football team relative to our level.”

*

Northridge has a bye this week before opening Big Sky play at Eastern Washington on Sept. 25.

That will give bumps and bruises a chance to heal. Brady is nursing a sore ankle.

Safety Steve Forte, who led Northridge with seven unassisted tackles, twisted a knee on the artificial surface at Kansas.

“It’s a good time to [have a bye],” Kearin said.