GAME DAY / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

* NORTHERN ARIZONA (7-3, 5-2) vs. NORTHRIDGE (5-5, 4-3)

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

A season that had its moments uneventfully comes to a close for Northridge, whose only remaining goal is to finish above .500. And, perhaps, play spoiler. Northern Arizona must win to remain in contention for an at-large berth in the Division I-AA playoffs. The Lumberjacks are on a roll, having routed Portland State, 40-24, last week to spoil the Vikings’ chances of winning their first Big Sky title. Northern Arizona ensured its fifth seven-victory season in the last seven years. A victory over the Matadors would give the Lumberjacks only their second eight-win season in 21 years. History is on their side. The Lumberjacks have defeated Northridge in nine of 12 games, including two of three at North Campus Stadium. Ronney Jenkins, an All-Ventura County running back for Hueneme High in 1995 and a transfer from Brigham Young, leads the Lumberjacks with 982 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Travis Brown passed for 293 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 51 yards and another score against Portland State. Francis St. Paul needs 178 yards receiving to reach 1,000 for the season. Playing out the season might mean a few changes for Northridge, routed by Southern Methodist, 58-16, last week. Senior receiver Aaron Arnold, among a handful of Matadors playing their final game, will leave Northridge with every significant career and season school receiving record. Arnold has 193 career receptions. Sophomore Marcus Brady this season set school records with 440 passes and 275 completions. Brady needs 414 yards passing to equal Aaron Flowers’ season school record of 3,540 set in 1996.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* SANTA BARBARA (3-6, 2-4) vs. VENTURA (8-1, 5-1)

At Ventura High, 7 p.m.

Ventura inches closer to playing in the state championship game on Dec. 11 in Fresno. Because of a power-rating system implemented this season by the Commission on Athletics, the Pirates are battling Hancock for first place in the Western State Conference Northern Division and for the top rating in Southern California. A victory tonight and another in a bowl game on Dec. 4, most likely against Hancock, would make the Pirates No. 1 in the south and match them against the top team from the north. Ventura is top-ranked in the south but trails No. 2 Hancock, 26.8 points to 26.6, in the power ratings. Ventura extended its winning streak to five games with a 45-24 victory over Canyons last week. Santa Barbara shouldn’t present a serious challenge for Ventura’s defense, ranked No. 2 in the WSC at 289.3 yards allowed per game.

* HANCOCK (8-1, 5-1) vs. MOORPARK (6-3, 5-1)

At Moorpark College, 7 p.m.

Moorpark would score in the power ratings by upsetting Hancock, but not nearly enough to contend for a berth in the state championship game. The Raiders are aiming for a share of the WSC Northern Division title and their 12th consecutive bowl game. The Raiders lost their first two home games this season but are 11-3 there the last three seasons. Hancock lost at Ventura on Sept. 25.

* OTHER GAMES

WSC Northern Division: 1 p.m., Glendale (3-6, 1-5) at Pierce (1-8, 0-6); 7 p.m., Valley (5-4, 3-3) at Canyons (6-3, 3-3); Foothill Conference: 1 p.m., San Bernardino Valley (2-7, 2-5) at Antelope Valley (4-5, 3-4).