complete notes and statistics in pdf

GAME 5
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-2, 1-0)  vs. #10 MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (4-1, 2-0)
Saturday, October 9, 2010, 12:35 p.m. PT, Bobcat Stadium (13,500), Bozeman, MT

TELEVISION: Max Media/Comcast Sports Net (Ch. 37/HD 737) in Portland; Replay on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
RADIO: 970 AM KXFD, www.970.am • Pregame Show: 11:30 a.m. • 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: MSU leads 15-9 • Series tied in Portland 6-6 • MSU leads in Bozeman 9-2 • PSU leads in Billings 1-0
Big Sky Conference Series: MSU leads 8-6 • PSU leads in Portland 4-3 • MSU leads in Bozeman 5-2

Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 26, 1996: MSU 24-6 @ Bozeman
Oct. 25, 1997: PSU 44-0 @ Portland
Oct. 17, 1998: PSU 34-31 @ Bozeman
Oct. 16, 1999: PSU 49-28 @ Portland
Nov. 4, 2000: PSU 31-24 @ Bozeman
Nov. 3, 2001: PSU 33-21 @ Portland
Nov. 16, 2002: MSU 28-26 @ Bozeman
Nov. 15, 2003: MSU 25-14 @ Portland
Oct. 16, 2004: MSU 31-24 @ Bozeman (ot)
Oct. 15, 2005: PSU 44-41 @ Portland
Oct. 7, 2006: MSU 14-0 @ Bozeman
Nov. 10, 2007: MSU 50-36 @ Portland
Nov. 15, 2008: MSU 49-32 @ Bozeman
Nov. 7, 2009: MSU 28-10 @ Portland

STREAKS
• Montana State has won four in a row and seven of the last eight in the series.
• The Bobcats are 3-0 at home this year.
• PSU has won two in a row against FCS opponents.
• DT Travis Beckley and CB DeShawn Shead have made 26 straight starts. Beckley and TE Rory Richards have played in 37 straight games.

STORYLINES
• Portland State will try to turn around the series trend, having dropped four in a row and seven of the last eight to Montana State. The Vikings had won five in a row in the series from 1997 to 2001.
• PSU has won just two times in Bozeman in 11 all-time appearances and seven Big Sky appearances.
• The Vikings' last win in Bozeman came in 2000. They have lost four straight at Bobcat Stadium since then.
• The other trend the Vikings would like to stop is scoring - the Vikings have given up 127 points, 1,368 yards in the last three meetings. PSU has also committed 10 turnovers in those games.
• The Vikings were held to just 82 yards passing and 240 total yards in last year's 28-10 loss at PGE Park... MSU won the last meeting in Bozeman, 50-36, in 2008.

LAST YEAR: MONTANA STATE 28, PORTLAND STATE 10
Neither team had a prodigious offense but Montana State jumped to a big early lead and the Vikings could not recover. MSU took a 28-0 lead in the first half, aided by a blocked punt recovery in the end zone. PSU got a rushing touchdown from Evans Okotcha late in the second quarter but that was all the Vikings could muster on a cold and rainy afternoon.
   
Montana State gained 301 yards, but only 62 after halftime. The Vikings sputtered to 106 first-half yards and finished with just 240. Quarterback Connor Kavanaugh had 20 carries for 67 yards, and also passed for 67 yards in a relief role. Drew Hubel was knocked out in the first half with a dislocated right shoulder.

VIKINGS BATTLE 10TH-RANKED BOBCATS FOR FIRST PLACE
It's very, very early in the Big Sky Conference season, but make no mistake, Portland State (1-0) and Montana State (2-0) will be playing for first place in the league standings this Saturday in Bozeman. The winner will be no worse than tied for first with Northern Arizona (1-0) which plays at Eastern Washington (2-1).
   
Week two of Portland State's eight-week stretch of Big Sky Conference football includes a trip to the league-leading and 10th-ranked Boobcats. The Vikings and MSU, each coming off Big Sky wins, meet in a 1:35 p.m. MT/12:35 p.m. PT game at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
   
The game, televised on Max Media in Montana, will be picked up in the Portland area on Comcast Sports Net (ch. 37/HD 737). It will also air on 970 AM KXFD and www.970.am. The radio pregame show begins at 11:30 a.m. in Portland.
   
Portland State comes off a convincing 38-3 home-opening win over Idaho State last Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. The Vikings dominated from the start, rolling up 531 yards of offense and holding the Bengals to just 195 yards of offense. The win makes Portland State 2-2 on the season and gets the Vikings off to a 1-0 start in league play.
   
Meanwhile, Montana State is the class of the Big Sky so far with a 4-1 record and a 2-0 mark in league play. The Bobcats outlasted Sacramento State, 64-61, in overtime last Saturday in Sacramento. MSU's only loss was a 23-22 defeat at Washington State in September. The Bobcats have also beaten Eastern Washington in conference action.
   
MSU has won four straight in the series with the Vikings, and PSU has not won in Bozeman since a 31-24 victory in 2000.
   
Portland State's Big Sky schedule gets no easier next week as the Vikings will host 12th-ranked Montana at Hillsboro Stadium on Oct. 16.

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE
The 10th-ranked Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in passing offense (298.2), rushing offense (214.8), total offense (513.0), and scoring (44.6). Montana State is second in the nation in scoring and third in total offense.
   
Redshirt freshman quarterback Denarius McGhee has led the offense with 1,362 passing yards and 10 touchdowns so far. McGhee was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the week after piling up 420 yards of total offense in a 64-61 overtime win at Sacramento State last Saturday.
   
McGhee's main target this year has been Everett Gilbert with 21 receptions for 272 yards. Julius Lloyd has 16 catches for 377 yards and four touchdowns.
   
On the ground, Orenzo Davis, a junior transfer, has run for 473 yards and five touchdowns in five games. His backup, CJ Palmer, has 279 yards and three touchdowns.
   
Kicker Jason Cunningham has made 13 of 14 field goals to lead the Big Sky. His only miss is from 52 yards. Cunningham ranks second in the nation in field goals made. Oddly, he has missed five extra points this year.
   
On defense, the Bobcats allow 369.2 yards and 24.4 points per game. Linebacker Aleksei Grosulak leads MSU with 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Defensive tackle Zach Minter has intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown. He has also recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
   
They also play solid football, having committed the fewest penalties and leading the league in third-down conversion percentage (52%).
   
Head Coach Rob Ash is in his fourth season at Montana State. He has a 24-15 record. Ash has been a collegiate head coach for 30 years, compiling a 200-114-5 record.

PORTLAND STATE VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State is 14-28 all-time against NCAA I nationally-ranked teams (since joining the Big Sky in 1996). That total includes 14-23 against FCS schools and 0-5 against FBS schools. The Vikings are 10-8 at home, 4-20 on the road.
   
The Vikings are 2-1 against Montana State while the Bobcats have been nationally ranked. PSU beat MSU at MSU, 34-31, in 1998. The Vikings lost to 25th-ranked Montana State in overtime, 31-24, in 2004. Then, the Vikings beat ninth-ranked MSU, 44-41, in 2005 at PGE Park on a final play 40-yard field goal by Eric Azorr. PSU was unranked in each of those games.
   
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 95.5 FM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES LUNCHEONS: Viking Coaches Luncheons are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 4; Monday, Oct. 11; Monday, Oct. 25; and Monday, Nov. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. Coach 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. 

MANOA LATU NAMED BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Portland State junior safety Manoa Latu has been named the Big Sky Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week following the Vikings' 38-3 victory over Idaho State last Saturday.
   
Latu had six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. His 43-yard interception return for touchdown in the first period gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead and put them on their way to a rout over the Bengals.
   
Latu was first-year Head Coach Nigel Burton's first signee after arriving at Portland State last December. The 6-1, 205-pounder is a native of Kapahulu, HI and attended Mount San Antonio College (CA). His performance paced a Viking defense that held Idaho State without a touchdown. It was the first time in 40 games that the PSU defense has kept an opponent out of the endzone. ISU was held under 200 yards of offense as well, the first time the PSU defense has accomplished that feat in 26 games.
   
Through four games this year, Latu has 31 tackles to share team leadership with linebacker Ryan Rau. His four pass breakups and two interceptions also share team leadership for the Vikings.
   
Quarterback Denarius McGhee of Montana State was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week (385 yards passing, four touchdowns, 420 yards total offense) following an overtime win against Sacramento State.
   
Matt Estrada of Northern Arizona was the Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 66 yards for a touchdown and forcing a fumble on punt coverage in a win over Southern Utah.
   
Latu shared Defensive Player of the Week honors with Montana DT Bryan Waldhauser, who had seven tackles, a sack and forced two fumbles in a win over Northern Colorado.

FACT, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
WINS AND LOSSES: The Vikings are now 2-2 on the year, 1-0 in the Big Sky Conference… the win over Idaho State was the sixth in a row at home against the Bengals. The home team has was 11 straight in the PSU/ISU series… for what its worth, PSU is 2-0 against FCS teams, 0-2 against FBS teams (both from the Pac-10)... the Vikings are 1-0 at home, 1-2 on the road... PSU is 51-26 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level... Portland State is now 9-6 in Big Sky Conference home opening games.

IT'S ABOUT TIME: Portland State established more than a few positives in its 38-3 rout of Idaho State:
• The Vikings held a team without a touchdown for the first time since a 34-0 win over Eastern Washington on Oct. 21, 2006 - a span off 40 games.
• The Vikings held an opponent under 200 yards of offense for the first time since Northern Colorado managed just 163 yards in the final game of the 2007 season - a span of 26 games.
• The Vikings went for 531 yards of total offense, the most since getting 547 against Idaho State two years ago.
• The Vikings ended a five-game home losing streak and a five-game Big Sky Conference losing streak - both established last year and both matching school records.

ESTABLISH THE RUN, STOP THE RUN: That phrase was first-year Head Coach Nigel Burton's mantra when he was hired at Portland State last December. He reiterated that notion last week as the Vikings were preparing for Big Sky Conference play against Idaho State. Consider it mission accomplished. The Vikings ran for 315 yards on 52 carries in a 38-3 rout of the Bengals. They also held ISU to just three rushing yards on 20 carries, thanks in part to four quarterback sacks. Consider though, the Bengals only had 36 positive yards on 16 pure rushing attempts.

100x2: Speaking of the running game, Portland State accomplished a feat it had not achieved since the Tim Walsh era; two 100-yard rushers in the same game. JR RB Cory McCaffrey had a career-high 166 yards on 24 carries. JR QB Connor Kavanaugh totaled a career-high 125 yards on 15 carries. Each player had a touchdown… the last time PSU had two 100-yard backs in the same game was in a Nov.13, 2004 win at Weber State (Ryan Fuqua 21-168-1; Joe Rubin 25-119-1).

AND SO…: 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.

YOUNG BUT READY: Portland State's offensive line should get a lion's share of the credit for the offensive explosion against Idaho State. Besides the 315 rushing yards, QB Connor Kavanaugh was never sacked as he threw for a career-high 216 yards. 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 made his first start in place of FR LG Alex Cosenza who had played well this year, but is out with a knee injury. SO Nick Gale also has a start this year, while SO Dalton Jasso and FR Mitchell Van Dyk have now seen action as well.

DON'T FORGET THE DEFENSE: In two games against NCAA I FCS opponents, the defense has allowed an average of 263 yards, 18.0 points, forced six turnovers and made six sacks...  the defense allowed only 73 rushing yards on 51 carries in those two games.

AND PRODUCTIVE AGAINST THE FCS: In two game against NCAA I FCS opponents, the offense has produced 966 yards of offense and 79 points (39.5 ppg, 483.0 ypg)... the 41 and 38 point games are the high-scoring games since scoring 47 points against Eastern Washington in 2008... JR RB Cory McCaffrey has 39 carries for 282 yards and three touchdowns... JR QB Connor Kavanaugh has rushed 26 times for 181 yards and a touchdown. Kavanaugh has passed for 394 yards and three touchdowns, completing 30 of 43 passes.

A MANOA AMONG MEN: JR FS Manoa Latu became the second Viking to intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown this year. His was a 43-yarder in the first period against Idaho State. Latu added six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups adn was named Big Sky Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week... Latu and SO LB Joel Sisler each have two interceptions this year. Latu and JR CB DeShawn Shead each lead the Vikings with four pass breakups. And for good measure, Latu and JR LB Ryan Rau are tied for the Viking lead with 31 tackles this year.

SOMMER IN FALL: JR DE Carl Sommer had two sacks and two quarterback hurries against Idaho State. He now has six tackles for loss and three sacks to lead the Vikings in each category. His tackles for loss total leads the Big Sky Conference.

BACK WHERE HE BELONGS: JR RB Cory McCaffrey has 322 rushing yards and two 100-yard games this season to lead the Vikings... McCaffrey has made the move from wide receiver where he played briefly in 10 games over two years to starting running back this year... the move to running back was not unusual when you look at McCaffrey's background. In three seasons at Sisters (OR) High School, he rushed for 8,460 yards.  As a senior in 2007, he rambled for a state record 2,925 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns. In high school, McCaffrey rushed for triple digits in every game but one over three seasons. McCaffrey was a two-time state Player of the Year at the 4A level. But, when he came to PSU in 2008, former coach Jerry Glanville moved him to slot receiver. When Nigel Burton was hired last December, one of his first moves with the existing team was to return McCaffrey to the backfield.

MAKING A FRESH START: Against Idaho State, FR OL Mitch Gaulke started at left guard in place of injured Alex Cosenza. That gives the Vikings 14 first-time starters this season... there were nine in game one at Arizona State: JR RB Cory McCaffrey, FR OL Alex Cosenza, SO WR Justin Monahan, SR WR Nick Hutter, JR DE Carl Sommer, JR DE Jack Forbes, JR DT Alika Vaiese, JR FS Manoa Latu and JR CB David Ross... FR DT Julious Moore started at UC Davis... SR TE Julius Thomas and SO WR Kalua Noa and SO OL Nick Gale had their first starts against the Ducks.

FROSH UP FRONT: A pair of true freshmen have become prominent figures on the defense line. DT Julious Moore has started the last three games, making five tackles, including 1.5 sacks against Idaho State. DE Bryant Long saw significant action against Oregon, making three tackles. Moore, at 6-0, 290, has the size and strength to be a run stopper inside and has surprising quicks. Long, at 6-3, 245, is a threatening pass rusher coming off the end. Look for those two to continue to develop.

FROM THE HARDWOOD TO THE GRIDIRON: SR TE Julius Thomas is familiar to Viking football fans for a different reason - he starred on the Viking basketball team for four seasons. Thomas, at 6-5 and a beefed-up 240-pounds, set basketball school records for career games played (121), career wins (78), and career field goal percentage (.663). He also participated on two Big Sky Champion teams and in two NCAA Tournaments (2008 and 2009). Thomas averaged 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and and shot a school-record .671 from the field as a senior... since athletes competing at the NCAA level have five years to complete their eligibility, Thomas (who has graduated) elected to go out for spring football. He so impressed the coaching staff that he figures to play an important role in 2010. A native of Stockton, CA, Thomas only football experience is as a freshman at Tokay High School (2002)... Thomas had a season-high four catches for 48 yards against Oregon. He also had a touchdown reception called back because of defensive offsides penalty... in four games, Thomas leads the team in receptions (9) and receiving yards (132).

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.