CSUN NOTEBOOK: HICKS' FIRST GAME WILL LOOK FAMILIAR.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

It may happen only once or twice, but the possibility still exists.

Cal State Northridge running back Matt Hicks could take a handoff Saturday and find his brother, Air Force defensive lineman Jonathan Hicks, waiting for him.

``It could be one-on-one,'' Matt said. ``I'm not going to hit him. I'm going to avoid his contact. He won't catch me.''

The Matadors play the Falcons in Saturday's season opener at Falcon Stadium. Initially, the Hicks brothers were going to be on the same sideline.

Matt signed with Air Force after a stellar senior season at North Hollywood High last year but left after two weeks of basic training. Since Hicks wasn't at Air Force long, he contends there are no hard feelings.

``It's nothing big,'' Matt said. ``It's nothing like, 'Oh, I want to kill them.' You're just an athlete playing a team. You want to go out and win. But if I do something good, my brother is going to be hearing about it.''

Matt said he's been hearing about how Air Force is going to win all week. Jonathan should be right. Air Force, a Division I-A team, is a big favorite to beat CSUN, although there is no line on the game.

Still, the individual competitiveness between the two is apparent.

``It's always been competitive between me and my brother,'' Matt said. ``Everything is a competition - from playing video games to playing basketball to dress to who has the cuter girl. And can you note that I have the cuter girl?''

Matt, however, likely won't win Saturday's playing-time competition. Jonathan is a backup nose guard and is expected to see plenty of time. Matt just began practicing with the Matadors on Tuesday. He had to wait until he was admitted to CSUN and all paperwork was complete.

Though Matt will have only three practices and one walk-through under his belt, he'll play.

``He's learning the offense and learning the protection,'' CSUN coach Jeff Kearin said. ``That's the hardest part. Physically, he looks like he has the abilities we saw in high school. He'll be ready to see some action in the game.''

--Another scare: Punter Ethan Beck suffered a compound dislocation of the pinkie on his left hand. Beck, who also plays receiver, injured the finger while catching a pass. Beck got six stitches and had his hand wrapped. He'll take snaps today but he's expected to be OK for Saturday. Also: Running back Alan Taylor, who fractured his fibula Saturday, will consult with a doctor today to determine the best means of rehabilitation.