The Portland State football season gets serious in a hurry as the Portland State Vikings open their Big Sky Conference schedule against Northern Arizona on Saturday. The Vikings and 'Jacks meet in a 5:07 p.m. game at JELD-WEN Field that can be seen on Comcast SportsNet in Portland and around Oregon, as well heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am.

The Vikings face the same opponent that handed them a disheartening loss at the end of last year's Big Sky schedule at NAU. PSU took a 62-14 loss at the hands of the Lumberjacks in the 2010 season finale played in Flagstaff. It was a tough game to have to carry into the off-season and should provide ample motivation for the Vikings this Saturday.
   
This week's game is the second of six at home for Portland State. The Vikings, at 1-0, are the only Big Sky Conference team without a loss after two weeks, although the lone win came against NAIA Southern Oregon. The matchup with the Lumberjacks (1-1) should be a much stronger indicator of how PSU has progressed from 2010.
   
NAU is 7-2 all-time in Portland, 5-2 in Big Sky games. The Lumberjacks are 14-4 overall against the Vikings. The contest will be one of four Big Sky Conference games this weekend as league schools meet for the first time.
   
Portland State's first road contest is Sept. 24 at Rose Bowl Champion TCU.

A MEETING AT THE LINE
PSU and NAU will provide a very interesting matchup at the line of scrimmage on Saturday. The Vikings were the Big Sky's top rushing team last year (203.3 yards per game) and have the top returning rusher in SR RB Cory McCaffrey (1,287 yards in 2010). Meanwhile, NAU was the top rushing defense in the Big Sky in 2010, allowing 93.5 yards per game. McCaffrey went out in the first period of last year's game with the Lumberjacks with quadriceps injury, so he and 'Jacks defense saw little of each other in Flagstaff. In fact, Northern Arizona was the only Big Sky opponent that McCaffrey did not gain at least 100 yards against in 2010.

PSU rushed for 335 yards in its season-opening win, while NAU has allowed just 54.0 yards in rushing through two games - including a meeting with Arizona.

On the other side, PSU's defense struggled with the run last year, allowing 232 rushing yards per game. In fact, NAU rumbled for 394 yards on the ground against the Vikings. A combined 371 yards came from Zach Bauman and Giovannie Dixon - both of whom return and will be in action this week.

For more on the run game matchup, click here • complete game notes here

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am. The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.
VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State and Comcast SportsNet have teamed up to present a minimum of four Viking football games during the 2011 season. The Vikings can be seen on CSN on Sept. 3 vs. Southern Oregon, Sept. 17 vs. Northern Arizona, Oct. 8 vs. Montana State, and Oct. 15 at Montana. There is a possibility that additional Viking games will be televised on CSN and will be determined later in the season... veteran broadcasters Bob Akamian and Rashad Floyd will be on the call for the first two games. Games against Montana State (Max Media) and Montana (KPAX) will be shared feeds produced by the opponents' television partners... Comcast SportsNet is available in the Portland area on Comcast cable systems, channel 37/HD 737. Other metro-area affiliates aside from Comcast are: Beavercreek Cooperative Telephone SD 38/HD 638; Canby Telcom SD 33/HD 733; Oregon Cable Group SD 53/HD 753; Frontier Communications SD 77/HD 577; Wave Broadband SD 37or 45(depending upon location)/HD 737.
VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.b2tv.com... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com.
NIGEL BURTON WEEKLY ON 750 AM THE GAME: Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 1:30 p.m. on the Dave Smith Show on 750 AM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES LUNCHEONS: Viking Coaches' Luncheons are scheduled for Monday at noon of every home football week. Coach Nigel Burton, Viking players, and coaches representing other sports will be on hand to speak and take questions. Luncheons take place at The Old Spaghetti Factory at 0715 S.W. Bancroft in Portland. The cost is $10.00 per person and includes lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage.
TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $15 to $50, with youth prices as low as $8. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com or at all TicketMaster outlets.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR SEPT. 17: The Coors Light Viking Tailgate will open three hours before every game and will be located outside the Kingston Saloon.  The tailgate area will feature beer, live television, inflatables for the kids, Voodoo Donuts, and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. There will also be a special Student Tailgate party sponsored by 7-11. DJ O.G. ONE, also the official DJ of the Portland Trailblazers, will be the DJ at all home games.