A Look at Today’s Key matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (4-4, 2-2) vs. MONTANA (4-3, 2-2)

At Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont., 11:05 a.m. (PST)

Montana is on a two-game tailspin, the latest setback at Northern Arizona, 27-24. The Grizzlies haven’t dropped three in a row since losing four consecutive games in 1992. They had a 30-game winning streak at home stopped by Eastern Washington two weeks ago. Montana, top-ranked in the preseason by The Sports Network, is No. 15. The game features two of the most prolific Division I-AA quarterbacks, Northridge’s Aaron Flowers and Montana’s Brian Ah Yat. Both missed games because of injuries but appear back in form. Ah Yat has 1,443 yards passing and 11 touchdowns in six games. He ranks fifth in career passing at Montana with 5,115 yards. Flowers last week returned from a hairline fracture in his right leg and passed for 469 yards and three touchdowns in Northridge’s 45-38 victory over Cal State Sacramento in overtime. He holds the school record of 5,548 yards passing. Senior Jerome Henry, sidelined earlier in the season with a hairline fracture in his right leg, has risen to seventh in the nation in receptions per game at 6.8. Two of the top I-AA linebackers also will be on the field, Montana’s Jason Crebo and Northridge’s Marc Goodson. Crebo leads the Grizzlies with 72 tackles and Goodson leads the Matadors with 85. Montana and Northridge combined for 38 points in the fourth quarter last season, with the Grizzlies winning, 43-36, at North Campus Stadium. Montana Coach Mick Dennehy missed the game after undergoing colon surgery.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* WEST L.A. (5-1, 1-0) vs. MOORPARK (2-4, 0-1)

At Moorpark, 7 p.m.

West L.A.’s run-and-shoot offense, guided by former Moorpark High quarterback Bryan Paul, is ranked first in the Western State Conference. The Oilers will test Moorpark’s fourth-ranked defense in a WSC Northern Division game. Paul ranks fifth among conference passers with 1,194 yards and 14 touchdowns but his play-making ability is what drives West L.A. Paul passed for three touchdowns and set up another with a 46-yard reception in a 29-21 victory last week over Valley. Running back Raymont Skaggs had seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown against Valley. Moorpark is trying to reverse a disappointing season. Carl Richardson, who went to Rio Mesa High, has rushed for 494 yards and three touchdowns in 66 carries to lead a stable of backs who have helped the Raiders rank second to Bakersfield in WSC rushing.

* VENTURA (1-5, 1-0) vs. GLENDALE (0-6, 0-1)

At Glendale High, 1 p.m.

Ventura, after a few midseason position changes, won its first game last week by defeating winless Pierce, 29-22. Brandon Scott, who rushed for a school-record 310 yards against Pierce, is the mainstay of the Pirates’ offense. “We’re getting good at the running game,” Ventura Coach Terry Morris said. “And that should help us open up our passing game.” Sophomore Patrick Bartley, who replaced Rolando Garcia after two games, is the starting quarterback. Glendale hasn’t endured such failure in John Cicuto’s nine seasons at coach. Injuries are one reason. Five defensive starters have been sidelined at one point. Inconsistency at quarterback is another. Sophomore John Carnevali and freshman Chris Cervantes have rotated but neither can lay claim to the starting job. Cervantes completed 12 of 20 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns last week against Hancock. But Cicuto said they will continue to platoon. Darrell Durham ranks third in the WSC with 660 yards rushing.

* BAKERSFIELD (6-0, 1-0) vs. PIERCE (0-6, 0-1)

At Pierce, 4 p.m.

Bakersfield is ranked second in the state and boasts the WSC’s No. 1 defense. Pierce has lost 24 consecutive games after a 29-22 setback to Ventura last weekend. Sophomore quarterback Dan McMullen of Pierce is hobbled by a bruised hip suffered two weeks ago against Valley. McMullen re-injured his hip against Ventura and is questionable for today’s WSC Northern Division game. Freshman Jeremy Coleman, who completed nine of 19 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown against Ventura, is McMullen’s backup. Basil Duncantell ranks first in the conference with 45 receptions. J’Dron London, who has 847 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, and Armis Stokes, who has 543 yards and 10 touchdowns, have accounted for more than 60% of the Renegades’ yardage. London, second in the WSC in rushing, gained 197 yards in 27 carries last week in a 34-17 victory over Santa Barbara.

* HARBOR (4-2, 0-1) vs. VALLEY (4-2, 0-1)

At Valley, 7 p.m.

Valley must tighten its pass defense for this WSC Southern Division game against one of the conference’s best passing teams. The Monarchs allowed 333 yards passing against West L.A. Still, they were in position to pull even, driving to the West L.A. 10-yard-line in the final seconds before Tom Racius fumbled while being sacked. Racius, third in the WSC with 1,435 yards passing, has thrown 10 touchdown passes and had 10 passes intercepted. Harbor’s Jack Hawley ranks fourth in the WSC with 1,291 yards passing and leads the conference with 17 touchdown passes. Mark Pappas ranks second with 41 catches for 537 yards and is first with nine touchdown receptions. Ricardo Diaz has rushed for 620 yards and five touchdowns.

* CHAFFEY (3-3, 2-2) vs. ANTELOPE VALLEY (4-2, 3-1)

At Antelope Valley, 7 p.m.

The quarterback shuffle continues for Antelope Valley and so does the winning. The Marauders have won four of five games and are one game behind Foothill Conference-leading San Bernardino. Brad Norris and Michael Gleich take turns calling the signals. Norris, plagued by a shoulder injury earlier this season, went the distance in a 21-14 victory over Citrus last week and will start tonight. Lafayette Bailey has rushed for 563 yards and eight touchdowns in 86 carries. Chaffey’s Alester Givens has rushed for 516 yards and a touchdown. Erik Stidham ranks second in the conference with 1,384 yards passing and has thrown for nine touchdowns. Antelope Valley leads the series, 10-3-1, but Chaffey has won the past three games, including 16-14 last season.

HIGH SCHOOL

* CARPINTERIA (5-2, 1-0) vs. ST. BONAVENTURE (6-1, 2-0)

At Ventura High, 1:30 p.m.

This could be for the Tri-Valley League championship. St. Bonaventure has won six consecutive games and beat its last two opponents, Bishop Diego and Fillmore, by a combined score of 65-3. Carpinteria has won five consecutive games and is on a 5-0-1 streak against the Seraphs. St. Bonaventure might be without Jesse Kirk, who has rushed for 830 yards and eight touchdowns but has a sprained ankle. His replacement, Mike Chase, rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries last week. Carpinteria fullback Ryan Gocong has rushed for over 600 yards since being converted from quarterback in the third game.