CSUN NOTEBOOK: CSUN HOPES PORTLAND STATE WOES CONTINUE.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Their seasons have taken drastically different turns.

Cal State Northridge's football team stumbled to a 1-5 start but has since won three of its last four games. Portland State won its first six games and was ranked second in Division I-AA but has lost three of its last four.

CSUN (4-6, 2-5) travels Saturday to Hillsboro Stadium to play Portland State (7-3, 4-3) in its final Big Sky Conference game. The Vikings desperately need a victory for a shot at one of eight at-large Division I-AA playoff berths. Montana (9-1, 7-0) won the Big Sky title last week and locked up the Big Sky's automatic playoff berth.

``I don't know why they've struggled,'' CSUN coach Jeff Kearin said. ``As I said all along, I picked them to win it. I'm kind of surprised that they struggled a little bit. But you know what? The conference is so darn competitive that you knew this may happen.

``All of a sudden a Sac State is in position to be in second place. Weber State comes on strong all of a sudden. Even we started to play better. You just kind of knew it was going to be the team that played with the most consistency over time and that seems to be Montana once again.''

Portland State was throttled 41-9 by Weber State to start its skid. Portland State is coming off a 27-24 loss to Eastern Washington - a team CSUN beat 31-26. The Vikings had several injuries in the game. CSUN played a complete game Saturday and beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 45-27.

``There was a dreaded excitement when we started the season (to play Portland State last) because I thought, `Hopefully, we'll both be undefeated,' '' Kearin said. ``I really thought they'd be the team to beat in the Big Sky. But it is a good time (to play them). We're starting to play better and with more confidence. Our defense is coming off a good effort against a good team.''

CSUN has played well against highly touted running backs and will face another this week in Charles Dunn, who needs 98 yards to tie a school record of 1,619 in a season. Dunn rushed for 100 yards in last week's loss, but the Vikings are 21-8 when Dunn rushes for 100 yards. Dunn is third on the Division I-AA career rushing list with 5,737 yards.

Portland State quarterback Jimmy Blanchard, who suffered rib and jaw injuries last week, has had a brilliant career with 8,255 passing yards.

--Payton watch: Dunn and Blanchard are among 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, the annual award given to the top player in I-AA football. Sacramento State running back Charles Roberts is the only other finalist from the Big Sky.

--Tough going: Portland State has played five nationally ranked teams and lost only one of those games. Portland State also beat Division I-A Hawaii 45-20 on Sept. 9.

--Injury report: CSUN tight end Nate Davenport (ankle) and kick returner/running back Julien Sells (ankle) are doubtful for Saturday's game. Defensive back Isaac Gardner, who separated his shoulder Saturday, is out. Gardner is expected to have another surgery on his right shoulder as soon as possible. Terry Charles, the Vikings' star receiver, might miss Saturday's game with a right knee injury suffered against Eastern Washington.

--Brady's numbers: Quarterback Marcus Brady has had three straight impressive games, including a career-high 493 passing yards against Sacramento State. Brady has thrown for 2,546 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Brady, who threw a record five touchdown passes to five receivers against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, needs 454 yards against Portland State to reach 3,000 passing yards.

--Completion streak: Blanchard has the NCAA record for 342 consecutive passes without an interception in 1991. Brady threw 180 consecutive passes without an interception this season, eight shy of Aaron Flowers' record.

--Two more: Linebacker Lewis Blanton needs two more tackles to reach 100 this season. Blanton, who's averaging nearly 10 tackles per game, also has three sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

--Portland's dominance: Portland State is 9-0 against CSUN in games in Portland. Rather than take that as a negative sign, CSUN running-backs coach Daniel Escalera said, ``We're due.''

--Welsh fired: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo coach Larry Welsh will coach his last game of the season this weekend. The Cal Poly athletic department announced Welsh's firing Monday, citing losses as the reason. The Mustangs are 3-7 this year and 19-24 under Welsh. A search for a new coach has begun.