Hubinger Returns to Northridge

NORTHRIDGE —  Brian Hubinger, Northridge’s starting offensive right tackle who recently spent several days in the hospital with a virus, Saturday watched the game against Cal State Sacramento from the stands with his parents.

Hubinger, a redshirt freshman from Arcadia High, said that doctors still haven’t determined the viral problem. He spent time in intensive care and dropped 23 pounds from his playing weight of 244.

“I had to take a nap today to come to the game,” Hubinger said.

*

Although the 5,104 at North Campus Stadium on Saturday was a high for a Northridge home game this season, it wasn’t the largest crowd to watch a Matador homecoming game.

That came in 1990, when a school home record 7,127 watched the Matadors lose to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 6-3. Northridge has played at North Campus Stadium since 1971.

Before Saturday, Cal State Sacramento had faced the Matadors once in a Northridge homecoming game, winning in 1988, 40-20, in front of 5,103.

*

Until Marcus Harvey rushed for 118 yards Saturday, no Matador ballcarrier had reached the century mark in a game since Norman Clarke gained 118 yards and scored three touchdowns to help Northridge defeat the Hornets, 52-17, one year ago today in Sacramento.

The dry spell ended at 10 consecutive games.

*

Clarke, who is nursing a pulled abdominal muscle suffered in the game last week at Montana State, did not play.