Game Day

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

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

At Reno H. Sales Stadium, 11:35 a.m. PDT

TV: Fox Sports West 2

Defense, which Montana State has played well and Northridge is starting to do, is the key in this game. Montana State allowed only 34 points in the last three games, including a 14-13 loss at Northern Arizona last week. The Bobcats are fourth in the Big Sky Conference in defense, yielding 336.4 yards per game. They are anchored by 6-foot-5, 270-pound end Neal Smith, who had 1 1/2 sacks against the Lumberjacks to give him 11 1/2 this season. Northridge changed up its coverage in the secondary and defeated Weber State, 30-20. The Matadors went into the game with one of the worst defenses against the run in Division I-AA (210.8 yards allowed per game) and held the Wildcats to 156 yards rushing. But, like Northridge, Montana State’s strong suit is the pass. Junior Rob Compson is second in the Big Sky in passing efficiency with a 135.59 rating. He has 1,173 yards passing and nine touchdowns, throwing primarily to Tony Vallez, who has 28 receptions for 334 yards, and Kenyatte Morgan, who has caught 20 for 322. Sophomore Josh Fiske is in charge of Northridge’s run-and-shoot attack while Aaron Flowers rehabilitates a broken leg. Fiske has 684 yards passing and three touchdowns. Flowers could be ready for homecoming against Cal State Sacramento next Saturday. Three Matadors will continue to be held out while the NCAA reviews their eligibility status: receiver Brian Comer, running back Deriek Charles and defensive end Tyrone Gunn. Comer, who has 40 catches for 476 yards and six touchdowns, will be missed the most. Senior Jerome Henry, sidelined for the first two games because of a stress fracture in his right leg, picked up the slack against Weber State with 156 yards on 13 receptions. Sophomore Aaron Arnold, who has 25 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns, suffered a sprained right ankle at Portland State on Oct. 4 but probably will play.

DIVISION III

* WHITTIER (3-1, 2-0) vs. CAL LUTHERAN (2-3, 1-1)

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

Cal Lutheran goes into a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game with the momentum of last week’s 34-7 victory over La Verne but without quarterback Zack Hernandez, who will be sidelined because of a concussion sustained two weeks ago. In Hernandez’s place, Derek Brown will get his second start of the season. Brown has completed 40 of 82 passes for 621 yards and four touchdowns with four passes intercepted. Dorian Stitt has 288 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 59 carries. Whittier, 3-24 the past three seasons, earned its only victory last season over the Kingsmen. The Poets have been boosted by several transfers, including quarterback Steve Luce from Southern Illinois, running back Donjay Hardaway and receivers Jeremy Snyder and Khalid Fluker. Whittier ranks second in NCAA Division III in passing with an average of 362 yards per game.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* PIERCE (0-4) vs. VALLEY (3-1)

At Valley College, 7 p.m.

A repeat of last season’s 80-20 Valley rout is unlikely. But the Monarchs continue to hold a decisive edge over Pierce. The Brahmas are trying to end a 22-game losing streak and have lost four consecutive games to Valley dating to 1991. The Brahmas have won 16 of 29 meetings dating to 1965. Valley quarterback Tom Racius has recovered from illness that caused him to miss practice and most of last week’s 20-19 victory over Hancock. Racius, ranked fourth in the Western State Conference in passing, is expected to start in the WSC interdivision game. Running back Jamian Barbour earned a starting position by rushing for 84 yards in 20 carries against Hancock. But Antwane Smith and Armone Lochard will continue to see action, Valley Coach Gary Barlow said. Passing has been the Brahmas’ strength. Dan McMullen, ranked second in the WSC, has passed for 1,098 yards while completing better than 60% of his passes. Basil Duncantell has 19 receptions in his past two games.

* VENTURA (0-4) vs. MOORPARK (1-3)

At Moorpark College, 7 p.m.

Moorpark is off to an unpredictably slow start but the Raiders have contended in every game. The Raiders will proceed without safety Leodes Van Buren, who left the team two weeks ago after telling Coach Jim Bittner he intended to seek redshirt status. Freshman Carl Richardson is the leading running back after rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns against Santa Barbara last week. But he fumbled twice and the Vaqueros converted both into touchdowns. Brandon Scott, a freshman from New Jersey, has been the sole highlight for Ventura. Scott rushed for 235 yards and two long touchdowns last week against Harbor. It was Scott’s second 200-yard performance.

* DESERT (0-5, 0-3) vs. ANTELOPE VALLEY (2-2, 1-1)

At Antelope Valley College, 7 p.m.

Antelope Valley benefited from a bye week, especially quarterback Brad Norris, who suffered a separated shoulder two weeks ago. Norris, who ranks sixth in the Foothill Conference in passing, is expected to start the conference game. The Marauders might be without linebacker James Juneau, who has a hip pointer, and guard Jim Coffer, who has a sprained ankle. Lafayette Bailey averages 8.1 yards a carry.