GAME DAY

A look at today’s key matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (3-2, 0-1) vs. WEBER STATE (3-2, 1-1)

At Weber State, Ogden, Utah, 11:35 a.m. PDT.

Look for a shootout in this Big Sky Conference game. Two excellent offenses and two weak defenses. Weber State, ranked 21st in Division I-AA, boasts what Northridge Coach Dave Baldwin calls the best offense his team has seen this year. That could be bad news, because Northridge is allowing 405 yards a game. Weber State quarterback Roger Cook has completed 64% of his passes for 292 yards per game. The Matadors will stick to the defensive strategy they have used so far: stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run and pressure the quarterback. But Cook is much better than other passers Northridge has faced. Weber State has the second-rated passing offense in Division I-AA--second to Northridge. The Matadors, who again will play without leading rusher Chad Marsalek (fractured right ankle), will try to establish the run with junior Norman Clarke and freshman Jeramie Thomas. Quarterback Aaron Flowers (285.2 yards passing per game) will try to pick apart a Weber State defense (383 yards per game) that is almost as bad as Northridge’s. David Romines needs 10 catches, just under his average, to tie the Northridge record for receptions in a season, 64.

DIVISION III

* CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY (3-0) vs. CAL LUTHERAN (0-3)

At Mt. Clef Stadium, Thousand Oaks, 1 p.m.

The best thing about this nonconference game for Cal Lutheran might be the fact that it means, “We’re almost through with Murderers’ Row,” as Coach Scott Squires puts it. The Kingsmen have lost their first three games by a combined margin of 118-51, and Chapman, which only revived its football program in 1994 after a 62-year absence, is expected to be the toughest opponent yet. The Panthers have not lost since their 1995 opener, and they rank second in Division III with an average of 374 rushing yards. Senior Darnell Morgan (5-9, 171) leads the way with 466 yards. Chapman plays defense equally as well. The Panthers allow fewer than 10 points a game and have intercepted eight passes. Although the Kingsmen lost, 40-22, to Azusa Pacific last week, Cal Lutheran is coming off its best performance of the season. Bill Busch rushed for 129 yards last week.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* MOORPARK (3-1) vs. GLENDALE (2-2)

At Glendale High, 1 p.m.

Glendale’s Ramone Archie (516 yards rushing) and Rahsaan Harrison (420 yards) are getting plenty of notice but Moorpark leads the state in rushing with 1,063 yards behind quarterback Taj Lewis (237 yards) and running backs Bryan Wilkins (234 yards), Ivan McCrae (217 yards) and Dion Gaston (177 yards). Lewis (489 yards passing) is the only quarterback among the top 15 in passing and rushing in the Western State Conference. Archie is fifth in the state in rushing and Harrison is eighth. Both teams have played good defense against the run but Glendale’s pass defense (239.8 yards per game) has been spotty. Lewis completed 12 of 20 for 214 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 56-24 victory over Santa Barbara. Glendale lost last week to Valley, 53-28.

* SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY (3-0, 2-0) vs. ANTELOPE VALLEY (1-2, 1-1)

At Antelope Valley College, 7 p.m.

San Bernardino, ranked fifth in the state, has won its past two games by a combined score of 82-9. The Indians lead the Foothill Conference in defense, allowing 184.0 yards per game, and rank third in offense, averaging 408.3 yards. Indian quarterback Mike Burns has passed for 616 yards and six touchdowns but has also thrown six interceptions. Antelope Valley is playing 50-50. The Marauders last week lost to Grossmont, 50-37, and two weeks ago defeated Rio Hondo, 50-12. Lafayette Bailey leads the conference in rushing (358 yards) and touchdowns (five). The series is tied, 10-10, dating to 1947 but Antelope Valley has not won since 1991. San Bernardino won last year, 28-24.

HIGH SCHOOL

* HART (2-2) vs. LOYOLA (4-0)

At Glendale High, 7:30 p.m.

Loyola is the latest and probably most daunting opponent in Hart’s tough nonleague schedule. The possible result is the Indians, defending Southern Section Division II champions, could enter Foothill League play next week with a losing record. The Cubs have outscored their opponents, 39-8, with a strong rushing attack that features Wesley Willard and Stephen Faulk. Hart, which lost to Loyola last year, 27-23, could easily be 4-0 after close losses to Thousand Oaks and Westlake. Look for the Cubs to pound at a Hart defense affected by several position changes and the loss of defensive ends Mike Krause (who quit the team) and David Childers (injury).

Other games

Junior college: At 1 p.m., Valley at Compton. At 7 p.m., Santa Monica at Pierce, Harbor vs. Ventura at Ventura High.

High school: Nonleague--At 2 p.m., Capistrano Valley Christian vs. Flintridge Prep at Pasadena Poly High. At 7:30 p.m., Carpinteria vs. Santa Clara at Channel Islands High, Fillmore vs. Maranatha at San Marino High, Village Christian vs. Whittier Christian at Whittier College, Salesian vs. Bell-Jeff at Burroughs High, St. Genevieve vs. Bosco Tech at Gabrielino High, Trona vs. Vasquez at Rosamond High.

8-man: At 1 p.m., Maricopa at Antelope Valley Christian. At 3 p.m., South Bay Lutheran vs L.A. Lutheran at First Lutheran.