GAME DAY / A look at today’s key matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

* EASTERN WASHINGTON (6-4, 3-3) vs. CS NORTHRIDGE (6-4, 3-3)

At North Campus Stadium, 5:05 p.m.

The season finale matches the Big Sky Conference’s two most surprising teams. Northridge was 2-8 last season, in the America West Conference, and Eastern Washington was 3-8. Both had chances in the fourth quarter to beat Montana and Northern Arizona, before eventually losing. The winner of this game will finish third in the conference if Weber State loses to Montana today. The Eagles have an outside shot at a playoff berth because they are ranked 24th in Division I-AA. Northridge, ranked 35th, has virtually no chance, even with a victory. The Eagles run the ball 60% of the time. Joe Sewell averages 107.6 yards rushing per game, Rex Prescott averages 71.7. Northridge Coach Dave Baldwin compared the Eagles to Montana State, which upset Northridge last month. Eastern Washington’s top defensive players are 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker Derek Strey, who has 118 tackles and four interceptions, and 6-1, 217-pound linebacker Justin Guillory, who has 78 tackles. Strey had 18 tackles last week against Northern Arizona, edging Northridge’s Marc Goodson (also 18 tackles) for Big Sky defensive player of the week. Northridge, which averages 446.7 yards per game, fifth in the nation, will likely be without its most valuable player--receiver David Romines, who has a strained hamstring. Freshman Aaron Arnold is his replacement. Chad Marsalek, ineffective since returning from a foot injury, will start because he is a senior, but most of the carries will go to Norman Clarke and Jeramie Thomas.

DIVISION III

* MENLO COLLEGE (5-3) vs. CAL LUTHERAN (3-5)

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

The Kingsmen try to avoid their third consecutive loss against much-improved Menlo, which was 0-9 last year. The Oaks were 5-1 before losing the past two weeks. Menlo is coached by former Dallas Cowboy tight end Doug Cosbie, who has former San Francisco 49ers Tom Rathman and Keena Turner as well as Bill Walsh’s son, Craig Walsh, as assistants. Not surprisingly, the Oaks employ the West-Coast offense. Junior Shilo Smith has completed 67 of 119 passes for 1,060 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior Cornelius Ruff has 63 catches for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith has been bothered by back spasms all season. Jon DeVille, who has completed 60 of 116 passes for 623 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions, is his backup. Menlo also has 6-8, 255-pound junior tight end Michael Fields, who has 18 catches for 217 yards. Cal Lutheran’s Ryan Huisenga has completed 112 of 215 passes for 1,178 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Fredrik Nanhed has rushed for 534 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Hehe, with 39 catches for 512 yards and four touchdowns, has been Huisenga’s primary target, but 13 players have caught passes. Cal Lutheran leads the series, 2-0.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* SANTA MONICA (4-4, 3-1) vs. MOORPARK (7-2, 4-1)

At Moorpark, 7 p.m.

Moorpark must win to have a realistic chance to play in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season. The Raiders are coming off a 44-23 loss to Valley in what might have been the title game in the Western State Conference Southern Division. Santa Monica could be co-champion with Valley, which has a bye today, if it defeats Moorpark and the Monarchs next week. The Raiders can share first place with Valley if they beat Santa Monica and the Corsairs upset Valley. Moorpark is down to third-string quarterback George Jones. Taj Lewis is recuperating from a kidney infection and Steve Saum, the No. 2 man, suffered a concussion last week. Jones completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns against Valley. Ivan McCrae leads Moorpark with 523 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. The Corsairs feature Lonnie Landry, the WSC’s sixth-leading rusher with 749 yards, and J’von Willis, who ranks 10th with 503 yards rushing. Marc Ruiz has passed for 1656 yards and 15 touchdowns but has 11 interceptions.

* SANTA BARBARA (6-2, 2-1) vs. GLENDALE (4-4, 2-1)

At Glendale High, 1 p.m.

The teams, tied one game behind Bakersfield in the WSC Northern Division with two games left, have combined for 70 or more points in each of their past four meetings. Santa Barbara’s run-and-shoot offense, top-ranked in the WSC at 450.6 yards per game, last Saturday trounced Ventura, 63-9. Glendale beat winless Pierce in overtime, 36-30. Santa Barbara’s J.T. Stone leads the WSC with 2,399 yards passing and 22 touchdowns. Arthur Williams has 33 receptions for 643 yards, Eric Mahanke has 33 for 315, and Ryan Capretta has 29 for 529. Glendale is 12th in the 13-team WSC against the pass, allowing 233.3 yards per game. Glendale’s Rahsaan Harrison is 134 yards rushing short of 1,000.

HIGH SCHOOL

* NOTRE DAME (8-1, 4-0) vs. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (6-3, 3-1)

At Harvard-Westlake, 1:30 p.m.

The last time Notre Dame played at Harvard-Westlake, the Knights were upset, 14-10, in 1994. Both teams are assured of playoff berths. Notre Dame can claim a fourth consecutive league title. If Harvard-Westlake wins, the Wolverines will claim a higher playoff position than Notre Dame. Notre Dame’s junior tailback, Justin Fargas, has rushed for 1,785 yards and 18 touchdowns. Jorge Piedra, who has passed for 994 yards and 13 touchdowns, makes few mistakes in a run-oriented offense. Harvard-Westlake’s Sam Hornblower, who has rushed for 977 yards and 13 touchdowns, is hampered by a sore shoulder.

Other games:

Junior college: At 7 p.m., Bakersfield vs. Ventura at Ventura High, Pierce vs. Hancock at Righetti High, Antelope Valley at Victor Valley.

High school, Southern Section: At 1:30 p.m., Santa Fe League--Bell-Jeff vs. Murphy at Hollywood High, La Salle vs. St. Genevieve at Birmingham High. Alpha League--Maranatha vs. Village Christian at Kennedy High. Frontier League--Calabasas vs. Santa Clara at Channel Islands High. Victory League--Bloomington Christian vs. Vasquez at Rosamond High.

8-Man playoffs: At 1 p.m., Large Division--West Shores at Faith Baptist. Small Division--Antelope Valley Christian at Calvary Chapel Redlands.