CSUN Passers Battle to the Wire

Coley Kyman and Clayton Millis will take their battle for the Cal State Northridge starting quarterback position into the final scrimmage of fall camp, today at 10:30 a.m. at North Campus Stadium.

Kyman, the returning backup, is listed No. 1 on the depth chart, but Coach Bob Burt and his staff have not determined who will start Sept. 4 against San Diego State. Millis, a sophomore transfer from Oregon, has taken an equal number of snaps with the first-team offense.

“They both have their strengths,” Burt said.

Millis, according to Burt, “has a great feel for the game, a ton of ability and has thrown the ball a lot the last few years. Kyman, the coach said, “is a great athlete, has been around the program longer,” but doesn’t have the game experience of Millis.

“They are very close and I’m grateful for that,” Burt said.

Kyman and Millis are learning the run-and-shoot scheme which the Matadors will use along with the I-formation.

Two potential starters will miss today’s scrimmage because of injuries.

Wide receiver Victor Prince has a slight dislocation in his left shoulder and is sidelined until at least Monday. Matt Ornelaz, who was vying with Jason Camp at kicker, tore the quadricep muscle in his right leg and will be out until after the opener.

Tight end Travis Hall will be in the lineup after missing the first week of camp. Hall, a sophomore from Chaminade High, lost 18 pounds while bedridden with tonsillitis.

In a vote of coaches, Northridge (5-5 last season) was selected to finish tied for third in the five-team American West Conference. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo was picked to finish first, followed by Southern Utah, Northridge and Cal State Sacramento, and UC Davis.

Prince viewed the vote as a lack of respect.

“That surprised a lot of people,” he said, “because we have such a great defense.”

Another surprise, at least in the estimation of wide receiver Jermaine Harris, was preseason All-American linebacker Ivy Calvin returning kickoffs during practice Friday.

“Have you ever seen a linebacker returning kickoffs?” Harris asked. “That kills me.”