Eastman Takes Toehold on CSUN Kicking Job : College football: Senior named to start against UC Davis after apparently correcting a mechanical flaw.

Senior Dan Eastman appears to have corrected the slice that nearly cost him the kicking job with the Cal State Northridge football team.

Northridge Coach Bob Burt said Tuesday that Eastman will start Saturday at UC Davis after a 13-day break for the Matadors.

Burt reopened the competition between Eastman and junior Joe Jezulin on Sept. 28 after Eastman missed two field goals and an extra point in Northridge’s last game, a 9-7 win over Central Oklahoma on Sept. 28.

“Dan Eastman hits more in practice,” Burt said. “During the bye week, I didn’t see anything that would have changed the situation. Of course, if Dan doesn’t get it back, we’ll give (Jezulin) a shot next time at home. Nothing’s in cement.”

Eastman, formerly of Camarillo High, Moorpark College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, welcomed the competition.

“I think it helps both of us,” he said. “We both get better no matter who (Burt) chooses.”

Eastman had plenty of length on all of his missed kicks against Central Oklahoma, including field-goal attempts of 38 and 48 yards. But they sailed wide right.

“My direction was off so I’ve been concentrating on keeping my head down and looking at the ball,” Eastman said.

“When I look up, it throws my balance off. I feel like I’ve been kicking much better the past two weeks. It is just doing the little things right, like a golf swing.”

While Eastman used the bye week to regain his position and his confidence, three of his teammates used it to recover from injuries that kept them out of the Central Oklahoma game.

Starting left tackle Jack Montes (sprained left knee ligament), backup right guard Kevin Bess (dislocated left kneecap) and starting nose guard Carlos Adley (strained left shoulder) are ready for the Davis game.

But starting fullback Anthony Nicholson, who has been hampered by a sprained left ankle all season, is still hobbling.

“It’ll probably be something I have to put up with all year,” said Nicholson who is averaging a team-high four yards per carry.

“It is something you can’t prevent from happening. It happens the same way every game--someone falls on it and rolls it over.

“I just continue to get treatment every day and hope to come out one day for practice and have it feel great.”

Former Hart High standout Cedric Ingram will probably start in Nicholson’s place, although Nicholson will attempt to play.

Jim Warren also could see some time at fullback. Warren, a transfer from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, will suit up for Northridge for the first time. He underwent arthroscopic surgery last month after injuring his left knee in the fall scrimmage.

With the return of Montes, Bess, Adley and Warren, the Matadors are in their best shape physically since the season opener five weeks ago.