FLOWERS JITTERY BUT PUMPED.Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer Aaron Flowers knows now is not the time to be bothered by butterflies. The Cal State Northridge senior quarterback will be returning to action against Sacramento State (1-5, 1-3 Big Sky) at North Campus Stadium tonight after missing the last three games with a right leg fracture. Flowers, a preseason All-American candidate, hopes the roar of a homecoming Homecoming Odyssey concerning Odysseus’s difficulties in getting home after war. [Gk. Myth.: Odyssey] You Can’t Go Home Again revisiting his home town, a writer is disillusioned by what he sees. [Am. Lit. crowd and excitement of playing again will help him forget his injury and jump start the Matadors (3-4, 1-2). ``I have cautious optimism because I know that when I get out there the adrenaline adrenaline (ədrĕn`əlĭn, –lēn): see epinephrine. is going to pump me up and I'm not going to think about my leg,'' said Flowers, who threw for 1,539 yards and 14 touchdowns in just four games. ``Right now it is still sore, so it has been kind of hard for me to practice. But in the game, I think all of that will go away. ``I don't feel any pressure. I put enough pressure on myself on what I want to do and how I should play. That basically takes care of everyone else's expectations because mine in my head is probably greater.'' Flowers, who might sport a bulky bulk·y adj. bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est 1. Having considerable bulk; massive. 2. Of large size for its weight: a bulky knit. 3. Clumsy to manage; unwieldy. , but lightweight protective brace on his leg, is still limping but has improved strength-wise. To help him against the Hornets, who average just 1.5 sacks per game, the Matadors will use the shotgun formation The shotgun formation is a formation used by the offensive team in American and Canadian football. This formation is used by many teams in obvious passing situations, although other teams do use this as their base formation. liberally. Sophomore Josh Fiske, who was 1-2 as a starter, is expected to get some playing time. Fiske is seventh in the Big Sky Conference in passing efficiency (126.14 rating), but he threw five interceptions in a loss at Montana State last week. ``Nothing against Josh, he did a great job, but Flowers is ready this week,'' said CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge wide receiver Drew Hill, who had career bests of 13 catches for 153 yards against Montana State. They are both very similar quarterbacks, but Josh may not have the experience. Flowers may have thrown the ball away a couple times and tried not to force something (against Montana State) when we weren't getting open, while Josh was trying to make something happen.'' The Matadors averaged 41 points per game with Flowers and just 21 without him. CSUN meets a Sacramento State defense that is last in the Big Sky in four defensive departments: total defense (495 yards per game), against the pass (144 ypg), against the run (213.5 ypg) and points allowed (35 per game). ``They're a powder keg powder keg n. 1. A small cask for holding gunpowder or other explosives. 2. A potentially explosive situation or thing. powder keg Noun 1. ,'' said Sacramento State coach John Volek about CSUN's offense. ``If you light their fuse, they can go off.'' The Hornets also may have a starting quarterback returning. A.J. Bernhardt is 14th in Division I-AA in total offense (259.6 yards per game) and 49th in passing efficiency (120.08). However, a right shoulder strain kept him out of last week's loss to Northern Arizona Northern Arizona is dominated by the Colorado Plateau, the southern border of which in Arizona is called the Mogollon Rim. In the West lies the Grand Canyon, which was cut by the flow of the Colorado River while the land slowly rose around it. . The Hornets are expected to start Paul Carillo, a transfer from the University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1848, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford and three branch campuses located in Booneville, Tupelo, and Southaven. , who threw for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Lumberjacks. The Hornets also have Scott Towne, who had 167 yards passing and a TD last week. Wide receivers Carlos Smith and Sheridan Mitchell are among the Big Sky's leaders in receptions per game and receiving yards. ``A.J. Bernhardt was on course to break (ex-Hornet) Tony Corbin's (passing) records. . . . (Corbin) was a seventh-round draft choice last year (with the San Diego Chargers
Sacramento State averages a Big Sky-worst 74.2 yards rushing per game and hasn't surpassed 86 yards rushing as a team this season. But CSUN has had problems stopping even weak running attacks and allows an average of 205.4 yards per game, second worst in the conference. ``Why does a team want to come in and all of the sudden rush the ball 55 times against us?'' Northridge coach Jim Fenwick said. ``I think most people just want to try to keep our offense off the field, want to control the clock and pound the ball in.'' CSUN (3-4, 1-2) vs. Sacramento State (1-5, 1-3) Kickoff: 6:05 p.m. at North Campus Stadium Radio: KCSN-FM (88.5) Series: It is tied 12-12. Last season, CSUN won 52-17. Injury update: For CSUN, OL Brian Hubinger (virus), WR Eric Carpenter (broken foot), DT Eric Falconer Falconer prison where former professor Farragut, who had killed his brother, witnesses the torments and chaos of the penal system. [Am. Lit.: Cheever Falconer in Weiss, 151] See : Imprisonment (strained foot) are out, RB Norman Clarke (abdominal strain) is doubtful. For Sacramento State, QB A.J. Bernhardt (right shoulder sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. ) is probable. Keep an eye on: Flowers is expected to return in the homecoming game after missing the last three games with a right leg fracture. In four games, Flowers has thrown for 1,539 yards and 14 touchdowns. Josh Fiske, who was 1-2 as a starter while Flowers was out, is expected to play. . . . QB Paul Carillo, a transfer from Ole Miss, is expected to start for the Hornets and share time with Scott Towne. . . . CSUN will be looking to take advantage of a Sacramento defense that is last in total defense. . . . CSUN TB Jahi Arnold will replace Clarke. Sac State update: The Hornets have played five nationally ranked teams in six weeks and the Big Sky's top three teams in Montana, Eastern Washington
CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO CSUN quarterback Aaron Flowers will play against Sacramento State tonight, his first game since fracturing his leg earlier this season. Michael Owen
BOX: CSUN (3-4, 1-2) vs. Sacramento St. (1-5, 1-3) (see text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion