complete notes and stats in pdf

GAME 7
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-4, 1-2) vs. WEBER STATE WILDCATS (3-3, 2-2)
Saturday, October 23, 2010, 2 p.m. PT, Stewart Stadium (17,500), Ogden, UT

TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.970.am • Pregame Show: 1 p.m. PT • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream with radio broadcast at www.b2tv.com. Live stats are available at www.GoViks.com.
 
THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: Weber State leads 18-12 • PSU leads in Portland 8-7 • WSU leads in Ogden 11-4
Big Sky Conference Series: Weber State leads 8-6 • WSU leads 4-3 in Portland • WSU leads 4-3 in Ogden

Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 19, 1996: WSU 35-10 @ Portland
Oct. 18, 1997: WSU 16-7 @ Ogden
Oct. 24, 1998: PSU 34-27 @ Portland
Oct. 23, 1999: PSU 31-14 @ Ogden
Oct. 21, 2000: WSU 41-9 @ Ogden
Oct. 20, 2001: PSU 65-43 @ Portland
Nov. 9, 2002: WSU 20-14 @ Ogden
Nov. 8, 2003: WSU 45-21 @ Portland
Nov. 13, 2004: PSU 34-15 @ Ogden
Nov. 12, 2005: PSU 39-14 @ Portland
Sept. 23, 2006: PSU 20-10 @ Ogden
Oct. 27, 2007: WSU 73-68 @ Portland
Nov. 1, 2008: WSU 31-21 @ Ogden
Sept. 26, 2009: WSU 36-29 @ Portland

STREAKS
• Weber State has won three straight in the series. The Vikings had won the three games prior to that.
• RB Cory McCaffrey has four straight 100-yard rushing games against FCS teams.
• DT Travis Beckley and CB DeShawn Shead have made 28 straight starts. Beckley and TE Rory Richards have played in 39 straight games.

LAST YEAR: The Wildcats scored with 17 seconds left at PGE Park, turning a 29-28 Viking lead into a 36-29 Viking loss. PSU quarterback Drew Hubel threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns, but was trumped by WSU quarterback Cameron Higgins' 410 yards and four touchdowns.

The Vikings had come back from a 28-10 deficit late in the third period, ignited by a 97-yard Aaron Woods KOR for touchdown, and a DeShawn Shead 31-yard INT for touchdown. Woods gave PSU the late lead, catching a 15-yard TD pass from Hubel with 1:15 to play.

STORYLINES
• Weber State has scored 140 points (46.7 pg) and accumulated 1,591 yards (530.3 pg) of offense in the last three wins over the Vikings (2007-09). In the three seasons prior (2004-06), PSU won all three games allowing just 39 points and 765 yards (13.0 ppg, 255.0 ypg).
• The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Playoffs each of the last two seasons.
• Portland State has won three of seven Big Sky games in Ogden heading into this year's contest.
• The 2007 meeting at PGE Park in the highest-scoring Division I regulation football game in college history, 73-68. Amazingly, that was NOT the most points by either team in the series. Weber State earned a 74-6 win in 1965. A Mouse Davis-coached Portland State team won 75-0 in 1980. A 65-43 win by the Vikings in 2001 at PGE Park was the highest-scoring game in PSU history by two teams, combined, until the 2007 contest.

VIKINGS ATTEMPT TO BREAK WILDCATS THREE-GAME MASTERY
The Portland State Vikings will try to rebound from a final-play loss to nationally-ranked Montana in a road trip to Weber State this week. The Vikings take on the Wildcats in a 3:05 p.m. MT/2:05 p.m. PT game in Ogden, UT. The game airs on Freedom 970 AM in Portland and www.970.am.
   
A 25-yard field goal by Montana's Brody McKnight on the last play of the game last Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium cost the Vikings the chance for a huge upset. PSU had scored with 2:34 to play to take a 21-20 lead over the Grizzlies. Montana then drove for the final field goal and a 23-21 win.
   
The loss puts the Vikings at 2-4 on the season,1-2 in the Big Sky Conference. It marks the first back-to-back losses for PSU this season and puts the Vikings in seventh place this week. The good news is a win at Weber State would lift PSU into sixth place and possibly as high as a tie for fourth place with half of the Big Sky schedule remaining.
   
Weber State enters the game at 3-3 on the season, 2-2 in Big Sky play after a come-from-behind 16-13 win at Idaho State last Saturday. The Wildcats have won the last three games in the series with the Vikings.
   
Portland State returns home for a showdown with Eastern Washington (5-2, 4-1), which currently holds a share of first-place in the Big Sky, on Oct. 30. It will be Dam Cup Rivalry series game kicking off at Hillsboro Stadium at 5:05 p.m.

SCOUTING WEBER STATE
Weber State is 3-3 on the season, 2-2 in the Big Sky Conference after a 16-13 road win at Idaho State last Saturday. The Wildcats come off a 7-5 season in which they reached the NCAA playoffs.
   
This season, WSU has been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses through the first six weeks. The Wildcats have conference wins over Northern Colorado (50-47 in four overtimes) and ISU. Losses have come at Sacramento State (24-17) and at home to Eastern Washington (35-24). Considering other common opponents, WSU has beaten UC Davis (20-9), just like the Vikings (41-33).
   
Senior quarterback Cameron Higgins leads the Big Sky's top passing offense. Higgins is 138-245 for 1,590 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Wide receivers Mike Phillips (35-553-3) and Joe Collins (33-467-3) have been his main targets. Phillips leads the Big Sky in yards per game.
   
Josh Booker (48-326-2) and Bo Bolen (72-299-1) have shared rushing duties for the Wildcats.
   
Weber State has the best redzone defense in the league, allowing opponents to score only 64% of the time inside the 20-yard line. WSU gives up 379 yards per game.
   
Nick Webb leads the Wildcats with 52 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. Safety Jordan Brown has 48 tackles and three pass breakups. Defensive end Gabe Bowers leads the Wildcats with 3.5 sacks.
   
Kicker Shaun McClain is 10-11 on field goals with all his successful tries between 20 and 39 yards.
   
Weber State's downfall this year has been turnovers. The Wildcats have committed 18 turnovers and recovered only six turnovers to rank last in the nation in margin (-2.0). In fact, WSU overcame five turnovers at Idaho State last Saturday to earn the win.

WANT HIGH SCORES? THIS IS YOUR GAME
Portland State and Weber State have hooked up in some crazy, high-scoring games. Last year's 36-29 final minute win by the Wildcats was tame compared to other games in the series. In 2007, PSU and Weber State hooked up in the highest-scoring regulation game in Division I history (a 73-68 Weber State win). That game, and a 65-43 PSU win in 2001 are the two highest-combined scoring games in PSU history. Here is a look at some other big scores in the series.

Nov. 13, 1965: WSU 74-6 @ Ogden
Nov. 12, 1966: WSU 51-6 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 1971: WSU 54-26 @ Ogden
Nov. 22, 1980: PSU 75-0 @ Portland

Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 20, 2001: PSU 65-43 @ Portland
Oct. 27, 2007: WSU 73-68 @ Portland

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKING MEDIA: 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... 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 95.5 THE GAME: Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 2 p.m. on the John Lund Show on 95.5 FM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES LUNCHEONS: Upcoming Viking Coaches Luncheons are scheduled for  Monday, Oct. 25; and Monday, Nov. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. 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 $12 to $35, with youth prices as low as $6. 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. 

FACT, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
WINS AND LOSSES: The Vikings are now 2-4 on the year, 1-2 in the Big Sky Conference… the Vikings have now lost six in a row to Montana… the Vikings are 1-1 at home, 1-3 on the road... PSU is 51-27 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 25-58 on the road.

ESTABLISH THE RUN, STOP THE RUN: The Vikings continue to do well running the ball as they average 203.0 yards per game on the ground. Against FCS opponents that number skyrockets to nearly 275 yards per game. In Big Sky Conference only games, PSU leads the league in rushing (280.0) and total offense (443.0).. on the defensive side, the Vikings gave up 326 rushing yards to Montana State on Oct. 9, but in the other three FCS games, PSU has allowed a combined 196 yards on 85 carries (65.3 ypg, 2.3 ypc).

CENTURY CLUB: JR RB Cory McCaffrey had his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game against an FCS opponent, going for 109 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown against Montana. With 584 rushing yards in six games this season, McCaffrey is five yards shy of Mu'Ammar Ali's 589 yards in 2006. You have to go back to 2005, when Joe Rubin had 1,702 yards to find a Viking back with more yards than those two... McCaffrey and JR QB Connor Kavanuagh had their second 100/100 rushing game this year against Montana (also Idaho State). Kavanaugh went for a career-high 131 yards on 15 carries. He also had a touchdown.

MORE ABOUT THE RUN: With 1,218 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns through six games, the Vikings have already rushed for more yards than they did during any season of the Jerry Glanville era, and have more rushing TDs than two of those three seasons... McCaffrey ranks third in the Big Sky in rushing (97.3 pg), while Kavanaugh ranks eighth (64.2 pg).

MORE KAV: JR QB Connor Kavanaugh has 815 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in the past three games. He has run for 326 yards and three scores, and passed for 489 yards and three scores.

YOUNG BUT READY: Portland State's offensive line should get a lion's share of the credit for the improved running game. PSU has totaled 840 rushing yards the past three weeks and given up only three sacks. A truly impressive aspect of the line is its relative youth. JR LT Dustin Waldron and JR C Adam Kleffner are the veterans. Also starting are SO RT Kyle Ritt and SO RG Manuel Rojas. FR LG Mitch Gaulke now starts after FR LG Alex Cosenza was knocked out with a knee injury. SO Nick Gale also has a start this year, while SO Dalton Jasso and FR Mitchell Van Dyk have seen action as well.

TURNOVER TROUBLE: Portland State was undone against Montana by four second-half turnovers, and that has become an unfortunate trend to the season. The Vikings have commited 14 turnovers in four losses, and just two turnovers in two wins. PSU has forced just six turnovers in four losses, but six turnovers in two wins. That makes a -8 TO ratio in losses and +4 TO ratio in wins... PSU has a -4 ratio for the season to rank eighth in the Big Sky Conference, ahead of only Weber State.

THE BEST DEFENSE: Despite the 23-21 loss, Portland State held 11th-ranked Montana to 295 yards of offense - more than 100 below the Griz' season average. Due to four Viking fumbles, the defense was frequently left to defend a short field. In fact, Montana's average start on second-half possessions was their own 48-yard line... Instead of a potential 28 points allowed off those turnovers, the Vikings gave up just 13 and made an interception, allowing a total of just 105 yards on the four possessions (26.3 avg per possession)... the longest drive the Vikings allowed in the game was 54 yards. Unfortunately, that came at the end, when Montana kicked the game-winning field goal. PSU forced seven punts by halftime and 11 in all by Montana. The Viking defense forced eight three-and-outs during the game... JR LB Ryan Rau tied his career-high with 12 tackles in the game... SR LB DJ Macarthy had a career-high nine tackles, including two sacks.

A MANOA AMONG MEN: JR FS Manoa Latu has 45 tackles this year to rank second on the team. His fourth-quarter interception at the Montana 3-yard line put the Vikings on what appeared to be a game-winning drive. It was his third interception of the year, a team high. He also has five pass breakups. Latu leads the Big Sky Conference in passes defended (8)... Latu was named Big Sky Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week after the win over Idaho State (10/2), totaling six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown.

SOMMER IN FALL: JR DE Carl Sommer has 25 tackles this season to lead Viking defensive linemen. He also has team highs of eight tackles for loss and four sacks.

THE GOOD HANDS MAN: SR TE Julius Thomas showed his great skills with a basketball over four seasons for the Vikings. Now, he is showing he has football skills as well. Thomas' good hands have been good for a team-high 18 receptions for 282 yards and a touchdown. He had career highs of seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown at Montana State (10/9). Thomas also caught a two-point conversion pass.

RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB: SO WR Nevin Lewis was handed the keys to the Viking kick return game on Oct. 9 and did well for himself, returning three kicks for 78 yards - a 26.0 average. But his performance against Montana was even better. Lewis returned a second-period kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown - the first KOR for TD in 13 games. His kick return to open the second half went 32 yards setting up another Viking score. With five returns in two games, Lewis is averaging 40.2 yards per return.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
DOWNTOWN ZACH BROWN: The Vikings' SO K has proven to have leg that can score from downtown. He made 3-3 field goals in the season-opening loss to Arizona State (9/4), hitting from 42, 53 and 47 yards. For his effort, Brown was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time in his career... after making 4-5 field goals in a win at UC Davis (9/11), three extra points and a two-point conversioon, Brown earned Player of the Week honors again - his fourth such honor in 13 career games.

WELCOME TO THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE: Portland State gave future Big Sky member (2012) UC Davis a rude welcome, beating the Aggies, 41-33 (9/11), in Davis. JR QB Connor Kavanaugh had 234 yards of total offense and four different players scored touchdowns. SO K Zach Brown made four field goals, three extra points and a two-point conversion for 17 points. JR RB Cory McCaffrey punctuated his first 100-yard game (116) with a 40-yard touchdown run in the third period. The Viking was the first in the career of new Head Coach Nigel Burton.

DYNAMIC DUO: JR QB Connor Kavanaugh and JR RB Cory McCaffrey were a dynamic rushing duo in the Vikings' 38-3 win over Idaho State (10/2). McCaffrey had a career-high 166 yards on 24 carries. Kavanaugh totaled a career-high 125 yards on 15 carries. Each player had a touchdown. Kavanaugh had 341 yards of total offense and accounted for three touchdowns. McCaffrey (with three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown) had 201 total yards and two touchdowns.

NOT IN OUR HOUSE: The Viking defense kept Idaho State out of the “house” in a 38-3 win (10/2). It marked the first time PSU had now allowed a touchdown in 40 games, dating back to the Tim Walsh era. ISU had just 195 yards of offense and two turnovers... JR FS Manoa Latu made six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, broke up two passes and returned an interception for touchdown in the game. He was named Big Sky Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.

100 x 4: JR RB Cory McCaffrey has played against four NCAA I FCS teams this year and rushed for more than 100 yards against each team. McCaffrey has 116 against UC Davis, 166 against Idaho State, 154 against Montana State and 109 against Montana. He has 545 yards in those four games (136.3 avg).