A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

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

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

Northridge, in its homecoming game, is trying to keep alive its hopes for playoff consideration. Sacramento lost 12 in a row before beating Idaho State three weeks ago but the Hornets have reverted to form, losing the last two. Northern Arizona beat Sacramento, 48-25, last week. The Hornets rank last in the Big Sky in defense, allowing 495.2 yards per game, but third-year Coach John Volek says he plans to turn the Hornets into the Florida State of California. “We’ve done pretty good coming through Murderers’ Row,” Volek said of losses to Montana (52-10), Eastern Washington (30-17) and Northern Arizona. Spin doctors obviously have nothing on Volek. Medical doctors have told him junior A.J. Bernhardt, who has passed for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns, might miss this game because of a shoulder injury. Sophomore Paul Carillo, a transfer from Mississippi, is expected to start. The Hornets, though rushing for only 74.2 yards per game, no doubt will try to test Northridge’s porous run defense, which has allowed 205.4 yards per game. Aaron Flowers, sidelined for three games by a hairline fracture of his right leg, will start at quarterback for the Matadors.

DIVISION III

* OCCIDENTAL (1-4, 1-1) vs. CAL LUTHERAN (3-3, 2-1)

At Patterson Field, Eagle Rock, 7 p.m.

Cal Lutheran will be going for its first three-game winning streak since 1995. The Kingsmen should be bolstered by the return of quarterback Zack Hernandez, who didn’t play last week due to lingering effects from a concussion. He is the team’s second-leading rusher, averaging nearly 55 yards per game, with four touchdowns. Hernandez has passed for 529 yards and four touchdowns. Cal Lutheran’s defense has been opportunistic and effective, with safety Mattias Wikstrom making 57 tackles, cornerback Anthony Sullivan intercepting six passes and linebacker Jake Halas making 43 tackles. The Kingsmen will be challenged by the Tigers’ run-oriented option attack, which leads the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 195.4 yards rushing. Adrian Oesterreich leads a balanced rushing attack at 62 yards per game for the Tigers, who rank last in the conference in passing.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* WEST L.A. (4-1) vs. VALLEY (4-1)

At Valley College, 7 p.m.

Valley displayed some overdue offensive fireworks last week against Pierce, with Tom Racius passing for a career-high 425 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Jamian Barbour, who has split time with Armone Lochard and Antwane Smith, has a bruised shoulder and might not play. L.A.’s run-and-shoot attack resembles Valley’s. Versatile quarterback Bryan Paul, a transfer from Valley, has passed for 872 yards and rushed for a team-leading 280 yards. Paul ran 65 yards for a touchdown last week in a 21-20 victory over Hancock.

* MOORPARK (2-3) vs. SOUTHWEST (3-2)

At L.A. Southwest College, 1 p.m.

Moorpark receiver Aaron Lewis had 242 all-purpose yards in a 38-17 victory over Ventura last week and was selected WSC player of the week. Defensive back Bubba Jackson also was selected after making seven tackles and intercepting a pass. Freshman Jason Gordon, the latest in a line of running backs employed this season by Coach Jim Bittner, rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Carl Richardson leads the Raiders with 436 yards rushing. Southwest’s offense ranks last among the WSC’s 12 teams, but on defense the Cougars rank second to Bakersfield.

* HANCOCK (3-2) vs. GLENDALE (0-5)

At Glendale High, 1 p.m.

Glendale benefited from having last week off. Assorted injuries to key players have healed, giving the Vaqueros their starting lineup for the first time since the opener. Linebackers Marlon Calloway and Jin Hur are expected to return from ankle injuries for the WSC Northern Division opener. Quarterback John Carnevali, plagued by a shoulder injury, also is healthy. Darrell Durham, who has rushed for 559 yards and six touchdowns, is the Vaqueros’ biggest threat. Hancock, coming off a last-minute, 21-20 loss to West L.A., has explosive Delray Pointer, who has rushed for 448 yards and eight touchdowns. Pointer leads the WSC with 54 points and an average of 26.2 yards on kickoff returns.

* PIERCE (0-5) vs. VENTURA (0-5)

At Ventura High, 1 p.m.

Pierce will be trying to end a 23-game losing streak and win for the first time in more than two years. Ventura hasn’t won since routing Pierce, 41-12, in the final game last season, the Pirates’ only WSC Northern Division victory. “When we look in the mirror, we see Ventura and Ventura sees us,” Pierce Coach Bill Norton said. Pierce’s fortunes received a boost when Dan McMullen, the WSC’s leading passer, recovered swiftly from a hip pointer suffered last week at Valley. Basil Duncantell leads the WSC with 41 receptions and Vaughn Corley has 36 to rank second. Ventura’s Patrick Bartley has passed for 464 yards and two touchdowns in four games. Brandon Scott ranks third in the WSC with 540 yards rushing despite being hampered by a sore shoulder.

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

At Citrus College, 7 p.m.

Teams that began playing each other in 1947 are tied for fourth in the Foothill Conference. Antelope Valley, coming off a 28-3 victory over Desert, trails the series, 12-10-1. The game could develop into a duel between two of the conference’s best backs. Lafayette Bailey of Antelope Valley ranks third in the conference with 503 yards rushing and averages 167 yards per game. Donavan Calhoun of Citrus ranks sixth with an average of 227 yards. Quarterbacks Brad Norris and Mike Gleich continue to platoon for Antelope Valley. Norris returned from a shoulder separation last week and didn’t complete any of his four passes. Gleich came on and completed five of nine for 88 yards.

HIGH SCHOOL

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

At Littlerock High, 1:30 p.m.

Antelope Valley seems to be vulnerable and has yielded 266 yards per game while gaining only 184, but the Antelopes have defeated City power Sylmar and lost only to Nevada champion Western and Southern Section power Dominguez. The Antelopes have never lost on the field to Littlerock, and have outscored the Lobos, 178-38, dating to 1993. (Antelope Valley forfeited its 1993 victory over the Lobos). Littlerock may have its best team since last advancing to the postseason in 1992. Michael Woods and David Newton combine to average more than 200 yards rushing per game.