Game Day / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

MONTANA STATE (4-2, 2-1) vs. CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (4-2, 3-1)

At North Campus Stadium, 3:05 p.m.

Radio: KCSN-FM (88.5)

Is it true Cal State Northridge players are dipping their hands in crazy glue before this game? The Matadors last week fumbled six times and lost four in a 35-21 setback at woebegone Cal State Sacramento, winner of one previous Big Sky Conference game. It wasn’t just the turnovers that destroyed Northridge, but where they occurred. Four came inside Northridge territory and Sacramento turned two into touchdowns. Awful field position also hampered the Matadors in their other loss, at Boise State on Sept. 5. Northridge opponents have started nine drives in Matador territory and scored five times, including three touchdowns, and missed another chance on a botched 20-yard field-goal attempt. The Matadors can’t serve it up on a platter for the likes of Montana State--or anyone else--and expect to win the Big Sky championship. Northridge, ranked No. 24 by the Sports Network, is tied with Weber State for first place in the conference, with Montana State one-half game behind. The Matadors and Montana State are evenly matched: Northridge is averaging 373.2 yards, the Bobcats 395.7; Northridge gives up 373.8 yards, the Bobcats 374.7. Montana State, ranked No. 24 by USA Today/ESPN, banks on senior Rob Compson to direct the team’s balanced attack. Compson’s 470 yards passing in Montana State’s 34-31 loss to Portland State last week were a school single-game record. The Bobcats, however, normally run the ball more than they throw it. Lathian Tyler (374 yards rushing) and Eric Kinnaman (245 yards) are averaging a combined 103.1 yards. Montana State allowed 467 yards passing to Portland State, which is good news for Northridge’s Marcus Brady (1,594 yards passing, 13 touchdowns), who has the third-highest passing efficiency rating in Division I-AA with 164.33 points. Northridge, which is 0-2 against the Bobcats, has won seven consecutive Big Sky games at home.

JUNIOR COLLEGES

* SANTA BARBARA (0-5, 0-1) vs. CANYONS (5-1, 2-0)

At Canyons, 7 p.m.

Canyons climbed to No. 10 in the state and No. 25 in the nation after upsetting Hancock, 42-41, in the final seconds. The Cougars also claimed sole possession of first in the Western State Conference Northern Division. After posting the biggest victory of the season, Coach Chuck Lyon is warning against a letdown. That seems unlikely, considering Santa Barbara’s anemic offense. The Vaqueros, coming off a bye, lost to Hancock, 56-3, two weeks ago and have scored only 29 points. Santa Barbara ranks last in the WSC in offense. Canyons’ offense is hitting its stride under the poised performance of sophomore quarterback Kevin Carrasco, who was selected state player of the week after throwing for 399 yards and four touchdowns against Hancock. Carrasco leads the WSC with 12 touchdown passes and has completed 59.2 percent of his passes. Five of his completions went to Mark Hamilton for 147 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown bomb with 51 seconds to play. Jason Parks ranks fourth in the WSC in rushing with 564 yards.

* SANTA MONICA (3-2, 2-0) vs. MOORPARK (4-1, 2-0)

At Moorpark, 7 p.m.

Santa Monica and Moorpark, along with West L.A., are locked in a three-way tie for first in the WSC Southern Division. Moorpark has won four in a row and appears to be improving. The Raiders rank first in the WSC in offense and defense. Running back Carl Richardson, second in the conference with 777 rushing yards, is questionable because of a wrist injury suffered in last week’s 42-24 victory over Harbor. But depth at running back is not a problem. Sophomore Emory Holmes rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns--all in the fourth quarter--against Harbor. Freshman Emmanuel Evans from Birmingham High likely will see action. Quarterbacks Jim Ange and Bryan Spencer have platooned successfully. Santa Monica relies heavily on sophomore quarterback Dylen Smith, who ranks fifth in the WSC with 1,024 yards and first in completion percentage at 59.6. Smith was 25 of 31 passing for 332 yards and two touchdowns in a 51-33 victory over East L.A. last week.

* GLENDALE (2-4, 1-1) vs. HANCOCK (5-1, 1-1)

At Righetti High, 7 p.m.

Glendale’s running attack, among the best in the state, is depleted. Darrell Durham, who rushed for 1,600 yards last season, did not play last week because of personal reasons and is not expected to play in tonight’s WSC Northern Division game. Saul Harris filled in for Durham in a 22-13 victory over Pierce with 93 yards in 18 carries. Linebacker Chris Oliver and defensive lineman Derek Lyons led the defensive charge. Oliver, a freshman from Crescenta Valley, blocked a field goal and a punt and set up a touchdown with a sack. Lyons had three tackles and forced four hurried throws. Linebacker Nelson Juarez had four tackles and a sack. Quarterback Mike Frost ranks third in the WSC with 1,226 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. Sophomore Chris Cervantes also will play. Hancock, fifth in the state before losing to Canyons, dropped out of the state rankings and from third to sixth in Southern California. Quarterback Jeff McCoy, who passed for 301 yards against Canyons, ranks sixth in the WSC with 971.

* PIERCE (1-5, 0-2) vs. BAKERSFIELD (3-2, 1-0)

At Bakersfield, 7 p.m.

Two teams with differing styles meet in a WSC Northern Division game. Pierce has passed for more yards (1,520) than any team in the WSC, except for Canyons. Bakersfield has passed for a conference-low 422 yards and relies on several ballcarriers and a large offensive line. Brahma quarterback Calvin Zinck leads the WSC with 1,469 passing yards and has thrown for 10 touchdowns. Vaughn Corley’s 46 receptions are the most of any WSC receiver. Basil Duncantell has caught 32 passes for 367 yards. Raymar Adams is Pierce’s leading rusher with 301 yards and also has 22 receptions. Zinck will face an aggressive and balanced defense that last week was pivotal in handing Ventura, which as a bye this week, its first loss. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Dover has completed only 37.6 percent of his passes for 394 yards. The Renegades’ running attack is spearheaded by Jermaine Ervin, who has rushed for 597 yards and six touchdowns, and Dave Bennett, who has 362 yards and three touchdowns.

* EAST L.A. (1-4, 0-2) vs. VALLEY (2-3, 1-1)

At Valley, 7 p.m.

Valley might be better than its record entering the WSC Southern Division game. The Monarchs, who play the first of three consecutive home games, have lost twice on last-minute deception plays, including a double-pass play that resulted in West L.A. beating them, 20-13. The Monarchs lost to Bakersfield on a hook-and-ladder play that went 80 yards for a score. Eric Holtfreter, who completed 20 of 39 passes for 224 yards, is playing an increased role, sharing duty with freshman Travis Winn. Jamian Barbour, Jason Portee and Vinny Walker, who had a one-yard touchdown run against West L.A., lead the running attack. Fernando Arias, who kicked two field goals against West L.A., is the Monarchs’ leading scorer with 32 points. East L.A. entered the WSC this season after disbanding in 1985. The Huskies, whose only victory was against Pierce, rank last in defense in the WSC.

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

At Antelope Valley, 7 p.m.

Antelope Valley, traditionally strong down the stretch, begins Foothill Conference Northern Division play after escaping with a 17-14 victory over Southwestern on a 32-yard field goal by David Aranzubia with 11 seconds to play. A bigger surprise was Travis Alkire, who moved from tight end to running back and earned conference player-of-the-week honors by rushing for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Marauder quarterback Monte Gutowski is sixth among conference passers with 734 yards. Chaffey’s pass combination of quarterback Matt Georgia and Domonique Holloway is dangerous. Georgia, second in the conference with 1,337 passing yards, completed 19 of 29 for 283 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 42-10 rout of Desert. Holloway, tied for second in the conference with 21 catches, had seven receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. Both were selected conference player of the week. Antelope Valley snapped a three-game losing streak last season by beating Chaffey, 48-14.