A Look at Today’s Key matchups

NCAA DIVISION I

* NORTHERN ARIZONA (6-4, 4-3) vs. CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (5-6, 3-4)

At North Campus Stadium, 6:05 p.m.

Months ago, long before the season began to unravel for both teams, this game presented some exciting possibilities. Northern Arizona was top-ranked in a preseason poll by a national publication and was picked by coaches to win the Big Sky Conference title. Northridge was expected to challenge the Lumberjacks, and fellow contenders Eastern Washington and Montana, in only its second season in the conference. Now, it’s down to moral victories, although Northridge Coach Jim Fenwick says he’s sick of those. Northridge wants to balance the books and Northern Arizona wants to keep a streak alive. “If we win . . . it’ll be five [consecutive] years that NAU has seven victories or more, so it’s an important game for us,” said Steve Axman, Northern Arizona’s coach. The Lumberjacks fumbled away their title hopes in a 41-24 upset loss at Idaho State on Nov. 1 and a 31-14 setback at home to Eastern Washington on Nov. 8 that clinched at least a tie of the Big Sky championship for the Eagles. Northridge last week helped Eastern Washington secure the title, losing to the Eagles, 39-32. Northern Arizona junior Travis Brown leads the Big Sky with 3,209 yards passing, his second 3,000-yard season in a row. He has 20 touchdowns but has had 19 passes intercepted. Aaron Flowers of Northridge, who missed three games because of a broken leg, has 2,928 yards passing and a Big Sky-high 21 touchdowns. Don’t be surprised if the Lumberjacks give Kino Carson, who has 899 yards rushing, plenty of carries to test Northridge’s soft defense against the run (178.4 yards allowed per game). Axman said as much in a conference call with reporters this week. “Our passing has been a problem lately,” he said. Beating Northern Arizona has been a problem for the Matadors for nearly 30 years. Northridge is 1-9 against Northern Arizona dating to 1968, the year of the Matadors’ lone victory in the series.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* VALLEY (6-3, 2-2) vs. MOORPARK (5-4, 3-1)

At Moorpark, 7 p.m.

Both teams hope to earn a bowl bid in the final week of Western State Conference Southern Division play. Valley, trying for a fifth consecutive bowl-game appearance, has lost two in a row but appeared strong last week in a 48-14 victory over Santa Monica. The Monarchs’ offense is ranked first in the WSC. Tom Racius leads the conference with 2,439 yards passing. Randall Lane is tied for the WSC lead with 63 catches and is 20 receptions shy of the conference’s single-season record. Leaford Hackett, who ranks third with 60 receptions, has combined with Lane for 14 touchdowns. Jamian Barbour rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns against Santa Monica. Moorpark is locked in a three-way tie for first place with West L.A. and Southwest. Freshman Carl Richardson rushed for 220 yards and a school-record six touchdowns last week in a 63-32 victory over Harbor. Linebacker Judd Granzow is Moorpark’s dominant defensive player. He had five tackles, one sack and blocked an extra point against Santa Monica.

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* VICTOR VALLEY (2-7, 0-7) vs. ANTELOPE VALLEY (6-3, 5-2)

At Antelope Valley, 7 p.m.

Antelope Valley squandered its chance for a Foothill Conference title by losing last week to San Bernardino, 21-20. Still, the Marauders are poised to host the inaugural McDonald’s Bowl on Dec. 6. Antelope Valley defeated Victor Valley, 48-0, last season. The Rams have not defeated Antelope Valley in 11 meetings and have not won a conference game since 1994. Moreover, they have scored only 91 points this season. Victor Valley ranks last in the conference in scoring and team defense. That bodes well for Antelope Valley’s Lafayette Bailey, who ranks second in conference rushing with 794 yards. Bailey’s performance has taken pressure off freshman quarterback Brad Norris, who ranks eighth in the conference in passing and has completed only 48% of his passes. Freshman Tut Johnson has 239 yards rushing for Victor Valley. H.R. Lugo has passed for 531 yards and two touchdowns.

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Other games: Western State Conference Northern Division--At 1 p.m., Glendale (2-7, 2-2) at Santa Barbara (5-4, 2-2). At 4 p.m., Ventura (1-8, 1-3) at Bakersfield (8-1, 3-1). At 7 p.m., Hancock (7-2, 4-0) at Pierce (0-9, 0-4).