Fortunately for the Knights, Murray has been there to give Northridge some early-season victories.

In Friday evening’s opener, the Spartans tried to turn the tables and play the role of spoiler on Northridge’s home field. They nearly pulled it off.

But with the score tied at 20 and eight ticks left on the game clock, Northridge’s Andrew Ortiz pushed over the goal line from 3 yards out, giving the Knights a nerve-wracking, 26-20 victory.

“They have a lot of returners and are a well-coached team,” Northridge senior receiver Jaxon Fresques said. “They came out with a fight … We’ve got some things to work on from our season-opener. It was a great game; really competitive.”

After outscoring Murray 93-0 in the previous two contests, Northridge came out flat but effective enough to build an early lead.

After its second drive was stymied by a tipped interception deep in Spartan territory, the Knights rebounded on their next possession.

Quarterback Tre Nye rolled out right and connected with Fresques on a crossing pattern in the end zone to make it 7-0.

The Knights continued to have opportunities to break the game open but made key mistakes that kept it close.

A 90-yard Israel Arocha interception return for a touchdown was negated by a personal foul that occurred well away from the primary action. Then, Nye tossed another interception inside the Murray 25.

Finally, with 2:08 to play in the half, Northridge extended the lead on another Nye to Fresques pass play. Fresques took a short toss across the middle, broke outside and went through a few would-be tackles before reaching the end zone.

The Knights took a 13-0 lead into halftime with the game feeling securely in control.

The second half was a different story.

Since going 8-4 in 2019, the Spartan program has encountered its share of struggles, accumulating a 5-35 mark. Dalton Dunn assumed the head coaching duties hoping to get things going in the other direction and his squad nearly got the process started in his debut.

Murray’s offense, which had been non-existent in the first half with 79 total yards, came out of the break reinvigorated. The Spartans took the opening kickoff 69 yards in seven plays, ending with a 2-yard Sam Pehron touchdown. The points broke a 10-quarter scoreless streak against Northridge.

The Knights threw their third interception on the ensuing possession, which Murray converted into a 42-yard Dillon Curtis field goal to make it 13-10.

Ortiz then doubled up the score late in the third quarter with an 11-yard burst around the left side, scoring standing up.

“That’s what happens with our team,” Fresques said. “We had great blocks, great throws and great catches. That’s what we do with a skilled team like Northridge.”

A Curtis 47-yard three-pointer with six minutes to play brought the Spartans to within a touchdown and mounted the pressure on the Knights.

The dramatic finish would have to wait, however, as an unfortunate injury to a Murray player caused play to stop for the better part of 30 minutes while he was tended to and carted off by ambulance.

After both squads met in a prayer circle at midfield, play continued with Northridge punting.

Facing third-and-10 from its own 23, Murray quarterback Alexander Bojorquez inexplicably found Easton Horman downfield over the top of the Northridge secondary. The 77-yard catch-and-run knotted the score 20-20 with 3:37 to play.

The next drive, however, may be one that the Knights build off for the rest of the season.

Starting at their own 20, Northridge marched steadily down the field as the clock ticked away. Chase Harris, Braxton Featherstone and Fresques each had key first-down receptions on the drive, setting the stage for the game-winning run by Ortiz.

“With the many hours that we spent on practice, we still have things to clean up,” Fresques said about his team. “Every week we’re going to be back Saturday morning looking at things to clean up our mistakes.”

Ortiz finished with 99 yards and his two scores on 22 carries. Nye threw 22 of 33 for 260 yards and two TDs. Fresques caught six passes for 68 yards and Harris had four receptions for 83 yards.

Preston Haney and Cooper Tubbs each had 12 tackles for Northridge, and Sefita Koloi added two sacks.