CASTAIC GIRL SHOWCASES HER SKILLS : 10-YEAR-OLD CAPTURES THIRD PLACE IN HALFTIME CONTEST AT NFL GAME.

Byline: Bryan Winchell Special to the Daily News

Jessica Freeman could barely throw a football when she reluctantly agreed to enter the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick contest.

So the 10-year-old was more surprised than anyone when she placed first in the ages 10 and 11 girls' division at the local contest in Castaic and first in the regional contest in Lancaster.

She moved on to the Southern California Finals - and placed third in a contest staged during halftime Monday of the San Diego Chargers-Oakland Raiders National League Football game.

``I was shocked because she doesn't play, and it's not like she practiced like a lot of the other kids,'' said Jessica's father, Lester, who played fullback for Los Angeles High School.

Jessica entered the local contest at the urging of her 10-year-old friend, Darrin Norris.

Jessica's no stranger to sports. She played on the Hart Pony League's 10-and-under softball team, which won a national championship this summer, and also plays basketball at the Castaic YMCA.

But she had rarely played with a football before, just tossing the ball around with her dad a few times.

``When (Darrin) asked me, I didn't want to do it because I didn't know how to throw a spiral,'' Jessica said.

But Darrin persisted, and she gave in.

For Jessica, an avid sports fan who reads Sports Illustrated regularly, performing in front of the 62,350 fans at Jack Murphy Stadium on Monday wasn't a totally new experience for her.

In August, she and her Hart softball teammates were honored with Olympic gold medalist Dot Richardson before fans at Dodger Stadium.

``I wasn't really nervous,'' Jessica said about the fans in San Diego. ``I was excited.''

The kicking and punting parts of the contest were done earlier in the day on the Chargers' practice field. It was the passing that the 40 participant performed in front of the crowd.

The contest is based on yardage and accuracy. A line goes down the middle of the field to determine how accurate a pass is and points are deducted for inaccuracy.

Jessica entered the passing contest in first place, but a wet ball caused her pass to slip out of her hand. The ball still went about 25 yards, but it landed off the mark, and Freeman ended up in third place.

``Jessica's used to winning, so when she came back with the plaque she knew she could have thrown better,'' Lester Freeman said. ``The main thing is that she can come back next year.''

Also, Jessica was disappointed because the winner of the Southern California contest advances to an American Football Conference playoff game and receives a free team jersey.

``I'm going to practice for next year,'' said Jessica, who said she'd take an Indianapolis Colts jersey if she won.

As for her overall success, Freeman, who will attend Valencia High School, takes it like it's another day at the office.

``She was sort of excited, but yet she didn't act real shocked,'' Lester Freeman said. ``She's been playing sports for so long she just expects to be the best and do her best.''

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Photo

Photo: Jessica Freeman, 10, who won third place Monday in a n NFL Punt, Pass and Kick contest, is also a standout in area softball.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News