NCAA DIVISION I-AA

* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (4-3, 3-2) vs. WEBER STATE (5-3, 3-2)

At Stewart Stadium, Ogden, Utah, 12:05 p.m.

Radio: KCSN-FM (88.5)

This game is cut and dried. The winner gets to challenge one more week for a playoff spot and perhaps even the Big Sky Conference title, and the loser can pack it in. Northridge has lost consecutive conference games--to Cal State Sacramento and Montana State--games Coach Ron Ponciano believes the Matadors should have won. They’ll be facing the Big Sky’s top defensive squad (251.3 yards, 15.5 points allowed per game) and a formidable running attack sparked by junior Morgan Welch, a 5-foot-8 Canadian who ranks fifth in Division I-AA at 163.8 yards rushing per game. He was held below 100 yards in the last two games and, not surprisingly, Weber State lost to Boise State and Portland State. The Wildcats are 5-1 when they rush for 200 yards or more, which isn’t good news for Northridge, one of the poorest Big Sky teams at defending the run. The Matadors are allowing 201.9 yards a game on the ground and last week gave up 151 to Eric Kinnaman in a 32-26 loss to Montana State. Kinnaman was Montana State’s first 100-yard rusher this season. Northridge has been careless with the ball, committing nine turnovers in the last two games. Weber State leads the Big Sky with 13 interceptions, including five by safety Scott Shields, who has 22 and needs one more to become the conference’s career leader. The Matadors are playing without senior Melvin Blue, the team’s leading rusher, who was suspended by Ponciano for violating team rules. Blue is expected back next week. Northridge leads the series, 4-3, and has won the last two games.

NCAA DIVISION III

* OCCIDENTAL (1-5, 1-2) vs. CAL LUTHERAN (3-3, 0-2)

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

Coming off a bye week, Cal Lutheran goes into this Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game looking to redeem itself after a 31-28 loss two weeks ago to Claremont-Mudd, which hadn’t won a game in nearly two years. Like Claremont-Mudd, Occidental has struggled recently and has won just two games since 1995. The Tigers have scored a conference-low 68 points this season while allowing a conference-high 165. The Tigers have almost no passing game, averaging 39.7 yards through the air, and for this week at least, look for the Kingsmen to also keep their feet on the ground. Senior running back Fredrik Nanhed, second among Cal Lutheran career rushers with 2,544 yards, needs 116 more to move ahead of Hank Bauer, who rushed for 2,659 yards from 1972-75. Nanhed has 462 yards in 96 carries (4.8 average) this season while sharing the groundwork with Dorian Stitt, who also has 462 yards rushing in 99 carries (4.7 average). While Cal Lutheran’s ground game has been strong, its rushing defense has been even better. The Kingsmen are ranked eighth nationally, allowing 73.3 yards a game on the ground. That defense should be tested by Occidental. Though the Tigers’ passing game is suspect, they are second in the SCIAC in rushing offense with a per-game average of nearly 140 yards.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

* VENTURA (5-1, 1-1) vs. HANCOCK (6-1, 2-1)

At Righetti High, Santa Maria, 7 p.m.

Two teams trying to keep pace with first-place Canyons meet in a Western State Conference Northern Division game. Ventura, after a 5-0 start, was drubbed by Bakersfield, 27-7, two weeks ago. The Pirates should benefit from a bye, which allowed bumps and bruises to heal. The game might come down to basics. Both teams have good running attacks and are strong against the run. Ventura’s Travis Rogers is the state’s leading rusher with 1,079 yards. He was held to 78 by Bakersfield. Hancock rushes by committee--Tyler Otis, Matt Daniels and Chris Lester have combined for more than 1,400 yards. Lester is the brother of Pittsburgh Steeler running back Tim Lester.

*

MOORPARK (5-1, 3-0) vs. WEST L.A. (4-2, 3-0)

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

The winner takes over first in the WSC Southern Division. Moorpark has won five in a row, thanks to Geoffrey Marcus’ 23-yard field goal that lifted the Raiders to a 17-14 overtime victory over Santa Monica. Running back Carl Richardson, second in the WSC with 779 yards, has recovered from a hand injury that kept him sidelined last week. Emory Holmes, a sophomore from Cleveland High, tied a 24-year-old school record with 44 carries while rushing for 252 yards and two touchdowns against Santa Monica. West L.A. quarterback Reggie Haynes has passed for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Oilers’ running attack is not strong, and Moorpark ranks first in the WSC in defense.

*

GLENDALE (2-5, 1-2) vs. CANYONS (6-1, 3-0)

At College of the Canyons, 7 p.m.

Canyons, in sole possession of first place in the WSC Northern Division, has the conference’s best offense, averaging more than 390 yards and 39 points. Quarterback Kevin Carrasco leads the WSC in passing yards (1,587), completion percentage (61.1) and touchdown passes (12). Jason Parks has rushed for 723 yards and leads the WSC with 12 rushing touchdowns. Glendale’s balanced attack revolves around Darrell Durham, who is third among conference rushers with 750 yards despite missing a game for personal reasons. Quarterback Mike Frost has passed for 1,396 yards and 12 touchdowns. Chad Heydorff has 30 receptions for 550 yards and leads the WSC with seven touchdown catches.

*

COMPTON (0-6, 0-3) vs. VALLEY (3-3, 2-1)

At Valley College, 7 p.m.

Valley’s running game is virtually nonexistent, but the Monarchs demonstrated the firepower they have lacked in a 36-33 come-from-behind victory over East L.A. last week. Eric Holtfreter, emerging as a starter, completed 17 of 33 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns and was selected WSC player of the week. Kevin Carlsen and Dominic Early each had six catches. Valley should move the chains in this WSC Southern Division game easily against Compton, which ranks 14th in the WSC in defense. Jacquoby Ward has passed for 518 yards and two touchdowns. Nate Turner has 30 catches for 442 yards and four touchdowns.