Game Day

A Look at today’s key matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

* CS NORTHRIDGE (4-3, 1-2) vs. SACRAMENTO STATE (1-5, 0-4)

At Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, 6:05 p.m.

Coach Dave Baldwin said the Matadors have learned their lesson from last week’s loss to Montana State, a team they know they should have beaten. Practices this week have been spirited, with the Matadors not only trying to avoid their first two-game losing streak of the season, but also facing their only true rival in the Big Sky Conference. Northridge has blown fourth-quarter leads in three consecutive losses to Sacramento. This year, the Hornets trail the Matadors in every team category tracked by the Big Sky except kickoff returns, and Sacramento is last in yards (511.0 per game) and points (39.7) allowed. The Hornets have played all four of the conference’s teams that are in the top 25--Montana (No. 2), Northern Arizona (No. 7), Eastern Washington (No. 22) and Idaho State (No. 25). Northridge has only played Northern Arizona. Sacramento’s offensive scheme is similar to Northridge’s in its reliance on passing. Tony Corbin has completed 51% of his passes for 232 yards per game. Corbin spreads the ball around, with five receivers averaging at least two catches per game, none more than five. Damion Shelton is fourth in the conference with 77.2 yards rushing per game. For Northridge, the backfield may be crowded if Chad Marsalek is able to come back strong from a broken right foot. If Marsalek is not 100%, the carries will be shared by Norman Clarke, who has run for 269 yards in two games, and Jeramie Thomas.

NCAA DIVISION III

* CAL LUTHERAN (1-4, 1-1) vs. CLAREMONT-MUDD (2-4, 2-1)

At Zinda Field, Claremont, 1 p.m.

Cal Lutheran earned its first victory of the season last week and Claremont-Mudd is coming off a 43-13 victory over Whittier. The Kingsmen got a lift with the return of Fredrik Nanhed, who rushed for 101 yards in 24 carries and suffered no ill effects from a sore hamstring. Having Nanhed back should ease the pressure on quarterbacks Ryan Huisenga and Zack Hernandez, who will split time. The Kingsmen face a pass-oriented team for the first time this season. Claremont-Mudd’s Brian Banta is second in the SCIAC, averaging 180 passing yards a game. The Stags’ top receiver is Julian Jones, who has 29 catches for 431 yards and three touchdowns. Adding balance is Mario Duarte, who averages 88 yards rushing a game.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* GLENDALE (2-3, 0-0) vs. VENTURA (3-2, 0-0)

At Ventura High, 7 p.m.

Glendale, coming off a bye, has had two weeks to prepare for its Western State Conference Northern Division opener--losing to Moorpark, 24-0, on Oct. 12. Ventura downed Santa Monica, 43-29, last week. Ventura features a single-back offense led by sophomore Elihu Vann, who ranks second in the WSC with 670 yards rushing. Freshman Donell Wickett has 33 receptions for 439 yards. Glendale uses a multiple-set offense and relies heavily on Ramone Archie, who has 557 yards rushing, and Rahsaan Harrison, who has 485 yards. Archie has eight touchdowns, tied for first among WSC ballcarriers. Ventura has limited opposing quarterbacks to a 32.2% passing rating, the best in the conference. Glendale has defeated Ventura 11 consecutive times to take a 32-21-4 lead in a series that dates to 1933.

Other games:

Junior college: Western State Conference--At 1 p.m., Moorpark at Compton. At 4 p.m., Pierce at Bakersfield. At 7 p.m., Valley at Harbor. Foothill Conference--At 7 p.m., Southwestern at Antelope Valley.

High school, Southern Section: At 1 p.m., Pacific League--Hoover vs. Muir at Pasadena City College. At 1:30 p.m., Tri-Valley League--Fillmore vs. St. Bonaventure at Ventura High. At 2 p.m., Alpha League--Kilpatrick vs. Village Christian at Kennedy High. Victory League--Vasquez at La Verne Lutheran. Nonleague--L.A. Baptist at Frazier Mountain. At 3 p.m., Frontier League--Moorpark vs. Santa Clara at Channel Islands High. At 7:30 p.m., Santa Fe League--Bell-Jeff vs. Mary Star at Daniels Field, Cathedral vs. St. Genevieve at Birmingham High. Tri-Valley League--Oak Park vs. Bishop Diego at Santa Barbara City.

8-man: At 1 p.m., Faith Baptist at Santa Maria Valley Christian, First Lutheran vs. L.A. Lutheran at L.A. Baptist, Lancaster Bethel Christian at Antelope Valley Christian. At 3 p.m., South Bay Lutheran vs. t at Calabasas High.