GAME DAY / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

NCAA DIVISION I-AA

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

At Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Mont., Noon

The Matadors seem to play their best against the best. So, a victory against the defending Big Sky Conference champion Grizzlies isn’t such a tall order as it might seem. True, Montana has one of its most potent offenses in years under the direction of Drew Miller, a transfer from Brigham Young who passed for 498 yards and five touchdowns last week against Portland State. True, the Grizzlies set a Big Sky record by scoring 81 points against Weber State two weeks ago. But Northridge defeated Montana, 21-7, last season, holding the Grizzlies to their lowest point total in seven years. Montana leads the series, 2-1, but both victories were by eight points or fewer. The Matadors’ running game received a boost when fullback Jaumal Bradley returned this week after missing two games. Bradley should help provide balance and take some pressure off quarterback Marcus Brady, who scrambled through a 41-27 victory last week over Idaho State. Brady passed for 274 yards and a touchdown last season against the Grizzlies. Coach Mick Dennehy of Montana hasn’t forgotten. “Marcus Brady is far and away the best athlete at his position in the league,” Dennehy said. “We need to try to contain Marcus and cover their receivers and make some plays in the secondary.” Aaron Arnold leads the Big Sky with 34 receptions and Drew Amerson is second with 27. Last season, Montana played without standout quarterback Brian Ah Yat, who was sidelined because of a back injury. Miller has replaced him effectively, passing for 1,471 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jeremy Watkins has 24 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns.

NCAA DIVISION III

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

At Cal Lutheran, 1 p.m.

Cal Lutheran returns to action after losing at Whitworth (Wash.) College, 28-3, two weeks ago. The Kingsmen are on a four-game skid dating to last season and have been outscored, 58-17, in the last two games. Cal Lutheran is allowing 379.7 yards per game, second-worst in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Chris Czernek is fifth in the SCIAC with 529 yards passing but has thrown only one touchdown. Whittier’s Nick Tomasello is third in the conference with 564 yards passing and has thrown four touchdowns. Otherwise, these Poets are playing like Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson. The rushing game apparently is a foreign notion at Whittier. The Poets have 89 yards rushing and they rank last in the six-team SCIAC in rushing defense at 243.0 yards per game. They are coming off a 45-32 nonconference loss to Menlo College last week in which they had 209 yards in penalties. Whittier last year defeated Cal Lutheran, 16-13, but the Kingsmen lead the series, 10-3, dating to 1968.

JUNIOR COLLEGES

* VENTURA (3-1, 1-1) vs. GLENDALE (2-2, 1-1)

At Glendale High, 1 p.m.

The teams are reeling after lopsided Western State Conference Northern Division losses last week. In losing to Moorpark, 58-33, Ventura was embarrassed by its county nemesis and gave up valuable ground in the divisional race. The Pirates dropped seven spots to No. 14 in the state rankings and could vanish from the poll, and divisional title contention, if their defense can’t regroup after yielding 553 yards to Moorpark. Glendale, a 38-13 loser to Valley last week, is looking to better protect quarterback Mike Frost. The sophomore was sacked six times and had three passes intercepted by Valley, and his 262 yards passing were a considerable drop from his 397.0-yard average the first three games. Glendale leads the series, 35-21-4, dating to 1933.

* VALLEY (3-1, 2-0) vs. HANCOCK (3-1, 1-1)

At Santa Maria Righetti High, 7 p.m.

Valley is tied with Canyons for last in passing defense in the Western State Conference, each allowing 256.3 yards per game. Go tell that to Glendale. Valley, ranked No. 18, intercepted three passes and had six sacks in a 38-13 victory over the Vaqueros last week. No. 10-ranked Hancock has pass-happy Doug Pazdan, who ranks third in the conference with 1,231 yards passing and is tied for first with 14 touchdown passes. Pazdan passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns in Hancock’s 52-50 victory over Canyons last week. The Monarchs can counter Pazdan with Eric Holtfreter, who has 1,142 yards passing and nine touchdown passes. There’s hardly a difference in the teams’ running games, but Valley is stopping the run better than anyone in the WSC except Bakersfield. The Monarchs give up 64.0 yards rushing per game and held Glendale to 30 yards on the ground.

* OTHER JC GAMES

WSC Northern Division: 1 p.m., Moorpark (2-2, 2-0) vs. Santa Barbara (1-3, 1-1). 7 p.m., Pierce (1-3, 0-2) at Canyons (2-2, 0-2). Foothill Conference: 5 p.m., Antelope Valley (2-2, 1-1) at Chaffey (1-3, 0-2).

* HIGH SCHOOL GAMES

Southern Section, nonleague: 3:15 p.m., St. Bonaventure at Harvard-Westlake, 7 p.m., Brentwood vs. Campbell Hall at Birmingham High, 7:30 p.m., Nordhoff vs. Bishop Diego at Santa Barbara City College, Salesian vs. Bell-Jeff at Burroughs High, Flintridge Prep vs. Village Christian at Kennedy High.

Eight-man, Heritage League, 1:30 p.m., L.A. Lutheran at Windward, 2 p.m., First Lutheran at Faith Baptist, 3 p.m., Viewpoint vs. South Bay Lutheran at Hawthorne High, Pilgrim at Grace Brethren, 3 p.m., Agape League, 11 a.m. Upland Christian at Antelope Valley Christian, Nonleague, 1 p.m., Westmark vs. Santa Clarita Christian at First Lutheran High.