complete notes and stats in pdf

GAME 9
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-6, 1-4) vs. SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (4-4, 3-3)
Saturday, November 6, 2010, 2:05 p.m., Hornet Stadium (21,195), Sacramento, CA

TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.970.am • Pregame Show: 1 p.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: Portland State leads 21-8 • PSU leads at Portland 11-3 • PSU leads at Sacramento 10-5
Big Sky Series: Portland State leads 11-3 • PSU leads in Portland 6-1 • PSU leads in Sacramento 5-2

Big Sky Conference games
Nov. 2, 1996: PSU 38-31 @ Portland
Nov. 1, 1997: PSU 27-13 @ Sacramento
Oct. 10, 1998: PSU 58-31 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 1999: SAC 41-14 @ Sacramento
Sept. 16, 2000: PSU 35-23 @ Sacramento
Nov. 24, 2001: PSU 52-33 @ Portland
Oct. 19, 2002: PSU 34-20 @ Sacramento
Oct. 18, 2003: PSU 20-7 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 2004: PSU 31-0 @ Sacramento
Sept. 17, 2005: PSU 28-12 @ Portland
Nov. 11, 2006: PSU 13-7 @ Sacramento
Sept. 15, 2007: PSU 35-24 @ Portland
Sept. 27, 2008: SAC 41-31 @ Sacramento
Oct. 3, 2009: SAC 31-14 @ Portland

STREAKS
• Portland State has lost four games in a row overall, three straight on the road.
• Sacramento State has won two in a row in the series with the Vikings.
• RB Cory McCaffrey has six straight 100-yard rushing games against FCS teams.
• DT Travis Beckley and CB DeShawn Shead have made 30 straight starts. Beckley and TE Rory Richards have played in 41 straight games.

LAST YEAR: SACRAMENTO STATE 31, PORTLAND STATE 14
Despite a 370-yard passing game by Drew Hubel, the Vikings lost to Sacramento State at home for the first time since 1985, 31-14. Hubel threw two interceptions and the Vikings had three turnovers in all to spark the Hornets to 24 unanswered points through the mid-portion of the game. The Vikings had -2 yards rushing, while the Hornets had a balanced attack totaling 398 yards with no turnovers. Jason Smith completed 17-29 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Viking receiver Lavonte Kirven had a career day with 13 receptions for 188 yards.

STORYLINES
• After losing eight in a row to the Vikings, Sacramento State has now won two in row in the series. It is the first time the Hornets have consecutive wins in the series since 1985-86.
• Last year, the Hornets won at PGE Park for the first time since 1985 when the two teams were members of the old NCAA II Western Football Conference. It was a streak of 10 straight losses.
• Portland State leads the series 10-5 in Sacramento and 5-2 in Big Sky games in Sacramento.
• PSU has still won 13 of the last 16 and 18 of 22 in the series.
• The Vikings have played the Hornets 16 straight years and 26 of the last 27 years overall.

PORTLAND STATE HOPES TO END 4-GAME SKID IN SACRAMENTO
With three weeks left in the 2010 football season, the Portland State Vikings are striving to show improvement over last year on the scoreboard. To that end, they will need to stop a four-game losing streak and aim to do so in Sacramento this week. The Vikings travel to play at Sacramento State this Saturday in a Big Sky Conference game at 2 p.m. The game can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am with the pregame show starting at 1 p.m. It is also available via live video stream at www.b2tv.com. Live stats can also be found at GoViks.com.
   
PSU is 2-6 on the season, 1-4 in the Big Sky Conference. The good news is, the Vikings have already matched last year's win totals for a season and in conference play. The bad news is, the Vikings accomplished that feat after the first four games of the season and have lost four straight since.
   
Sacramento State stands at 4-4 on the season, 3-3 in the Big Sky, and comes off an impressive 40-10 road win over formerly 25th-ranked Northern Arizona. The Hornets are 3-1 at home, with the only loss being a 64-61 overtime defeat to top-10 Montana State. PSU is 1-4 on the road this year.
   
The Vikings come off perhaps their most disappointing performance of the year in a 50-17 loss to Eastern Washington last Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium.
   
PSU plays its final home game on Nov. 13, hosting Northern Colorado at Hillsboro at 1 p.m.. The Vikings' season finale is Nov. 20 at Northern Arizona.

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State is 4-4 this year, 3-3 in the Big Sky, but like the Vikings, have come very close to having a much better record. The three Hornets' conference losses have been by a combined total of 10 points and have been to the top three teams in the Big Sky.
   
• Sac State led #13 Montana on three different occasions in Missoula on Sept. 25, before the Griz scored in the fourth period to earn a 28-25 win.
• #12 Montana State needed overtime to beat Sacramento State, 64-61, on Oct. 2.
• #6 Eastern Washington scored with 33 seconds left in the game to beat the Hornets, 28-24, on Oct. 23.
   
Still, if the Hornets can win out and finish 7-4, they may be able to make a case for the expanded 20-team NCAA I FCS playoffs.
   
Sacramento State has become a more run-oriented team in 2010, carrying the ball on 61% of their offensive plays. Running back Bryan Hilliard has exactly the same rushing total as the Vikings' Cory McCaffrey with 862 yards this season. Hilliard has scored 11 touchdowns.
   
Quarterback Jeff Fleming has thrown for 1,590 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 242 yards and two scores.
   
His main receiving targets have been Chase Deadder and Morris Norrise. Deadder has 26 catches for 566 yards and two scores, while Norrise has 26 catches for 399 yards and seven touchdowns.
   
At 33.0 points per game, Sacramento State ranks 14th in nation in scoring.
   
While the Hornets' defense has allowed 241.6 yards passing per game to rank only 104th in the nation, overall Sacramento State has given up 363.0 yards per game which is a respectable third in the conference.
   
Junior defensive end Zach Nash has just 28 tackles this year, but eight of them have been sacks. Nash leads the Big Sky in that department, in tackles for loss (10.5) and in forced fumbles (5).
   
Linebacker Peter Buck has 69 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception to lead the Hornet defense this year. Defensive end David Coleman has a Big Sky-best five fumble recoveries this year.
   
The Hornets lead the Big Sky in turnover margin, forcing 20 turnovers and while commiting 15.

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 2:35 p.m. on the John Lund Show on 95.5 FM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES LUNCHEONS: The next Viking Coaches Luncheon is scheduled for 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.

FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
WINS AND LOSSES: The Vikings are now 2-6 on the year, 1-4 in the Big Sky Conference. With one more win, they would improve on last year's 2-9 record… the Vikings have lost four games in a row, three in a row on the road… the Vikings are 1-2 at home, 1-4 on the road... PSU is 51-28 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 25-59 on the road.

KAVANAUGH GOES DOWN: JR QB Connor Kavanaugh went down with a left hand injury on the first drive for the Vikings against Eastern Washington. Kavanaugh had taken almost every meaningful snap of the season prior to injuring his throwing hand. He will be evaluated by team doctors this week, but is expected to be out. He has had a solid season as a dual threat quarterback, completing 93-154 passes for 1,109 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Kavanaugh has rushed 85 times for 506 yards and four touchdowns.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: With the injury to Connor Kavanaugh, SR QB Tygue Howland stepped into the quarterback role for the Vikings against Eastern Washington. It was his first significant playing time in a game still in question since starting against Montana on Nov. 8, 2008. Howland missed all of 2009 with a knee injury, then earned the backup role in 2010 after being given a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA (due to three season-ending injuries during his Viking career)... Howland accounted well for himself against the Eagles, but had to play from behind all night as eighth-ranked Eastern Washington dominated the Vikings, 50-17. Howland completed 28 of 55 passes for 323 yards and one interception. It was the second-biggest passing day of his career. Ironically, his biggest passing performance came against this week's opponent, Sacramento State, on Sept. 27, 2008. Howland started and played the entire game in a 41-31 loss to the Hornets. He completed 27-53 for 394 yards, three touchdowns and one interception... Howland is likely to get the start again this week at Sacramento State. He has four career starts at PSU.

Howland's Career Statistics
2005: Redshirt
2006: 2 games, 1-4-1, 2 yards, 0 TD, torn ACL in third game vs. California
2007: 1 game, 12-24-0, 126 yards, 0 TD, started first game vs. McNeese State, suffered broken foot in 3rd quarter
2008: 7 games, 3 starts, 74-150-5, 1,111 yards, 5 TD
2009: missed season after suffering torn ACL 
2010: 4 games (at QB), 38-82-4, 434 yards, 0 TD, has played in every game as holder for place kicks
Total: 14 games, 4 starts (at QB), 125-260-10, 1,673 yards, 5 TD

QUARTERBACK NUMBERS DWINDLE: Portland State started the year with eight quarterbacks, but have seen those numbers dwindle. First, SO Nick Green moved from QB to safety because of the depth at the position and lack of depth at defensive back. Then, SR Drew Hubel had right shoulder surgery and is now redshirting the season. With the injury to Connor Kavanaugh's left hand and the likelihood that he won't play, the Vikings are down to five QBs. Freshmen Josh Milhollin and Chad Dashnaw are already slated to redshirt, so the Vikings will probably have only three QBs available: SR Tygue Howland (four career starts), JR Justin Engstrom (one career start), and SO Hank Taylor (has not played).  

ESTABLISH THE RUN: The Vikings continue to do well running the ball as they average 208.6 yards per game on the ground. Against FCS opponents that number skyrockets to 258.0 yards per game... despite a Big Sky low of 129 rushing yards against Eastern Washington, the Vikings average a league-leading 258.2 yards in Big Sky Conference games, and a league-leading 476.2 yards of total offense.

MORE ABOUT THE RUN: With 1,669 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns through eight games, the Vikings have rushed for more yards than the last two seasons combined (22 games, 1,470 yards)... JR RB McCaffrey ranks second in the Big Sky in rushing (107.8 pg), while JR QB Connor Kavanaugh ranks ninth (63.2 pg).

STRANGE BUT TRUE: The season-high 322 rushing yards on 48 carries by the Vikings against Weber State (Oct. 23) is exactly the total rushing yards the Vikings had during the entire 2008 season (on 186 carries).

HITTING HUTTER: SR WR Nick Hutter has had the two best games of his career in his last two outings. Hutter caught a career-high 10 passes for 121 yards against Eastern Washington. That came after making five receptions for a career-high 143 yards and a touchdown at Weber State... Hutter leads the Vikings this season with 26 catches for 358 yards and two scores.

A NEED TO STOP THE RUN: After a strong performance against Montana, holding the Griz to 295 yards and well below its season average for total offense, the Viking defense has struggled the last two weeks, giving up 1,071 yards and 94 points. After forcing eight three-and-outs against Montana on Oct. 16, the Vikings managed just two against Weber State and none against Eastern Washington... the problem has been mainly with the run defense as five of eight opponents have run for 222 yards or more (with two of those being Pac-10 teams) this season. It has definitely been feast or famine with the run D as the other three opponents (Montana, UC Davis, Idaho State) had combined for just 196 rushing yards... PSU is currently last in the Big Sky in rushing defense, total defense (455.6) and scoring defense (40.0)... stopping the run becomes vital again this week as Sacramento State features a top back in Bryan Hilliard (187-862-11).

CENTURY CLUB: JR RB Cory McCaffrey had his sixth straight 100-yard rushing game against an FCS opponent, but just barely. With the absence of QB Connor Kavanaugh in the run game, McCaffrey found running the ball a lot tougher against Eastern Washington. Still, he managed 100 yards on 28 carries and scored on a 33-yard run in the second period... McCaffrey's six 100-yard rushing games ties for 10th-best in school history for a season... with 862 rushing yards in eight games this season (107.8 pg), McCaffrey has the most by a Viking since Joe Rubin had 1,702 yards in 2005... even more impressive, McCaffrey has 135 carries for 822 yards and eight touchdowns against the six FCS opponents (137.0)... in Big Sky only statistics, McCaffrey leads the league with a 141.2 yard per game average.

100-YARD RUSHING GAMES, SEASON
10    Joe Rubin    2005
9   Charles Dunn    2000
8    Charles Dunn    1998
8    Steve Papin    1995
8    Curtis Delgardo    1990
7    Ryan Fuqua    2001
7    Charles Dunn    1999
7    Darick Holmes    1994
7    Rais Aho    1992
6    Cory McCaffrey (and five others)    2010

MORE KAV: JR QB Connor Kavanaugh had been averaging over 300 yards of total offense per game in his previous four outings before going down with a left hand injury in the first series against Eastern Washington. Kav came off a game of 392 yards at Weber State. He completed 14 of 20 passes for a career-high 278 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 12 times for 114 yards and a touchdown... Kavanaugh has also thrown 90 passes without an interception, with his last pick coming late in the Sept. 18 game at Oregon.

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 1,669 rushing yards this year - already the most since the 2005 season for a Viking team. 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.

PLAYING WITH A LEAD: For the first time in the Big Sky Conference season, Portland State did not hold a lead in a game against Eastern Washington. In fact, the Vikings had taken a lead in every other game this year - except the loss to Oregon. PSU led Arizona State 3-0 early, led UC Davis for the entire final three periods, led Idaho State the entire game, led Montana State the entire first half until a late second-period field goal, led Montana for much of the third period and briefly in the fourth, and led Weber State virtually the entire game until midway through the fourth period.

TURNOVER TROUBLE: Portland State has been undone by turnovers at times this season, particularly with  four against Montana in a 23-21 loss on Oct. 16. Trailing 7-0 in its first possession against Eastern Washington last Saturday, the Vikings fumbled, but the Eagles missed a field goal on the ensuing possession. PSU turned it over twice but got it back twice against Eastern Washington. JR FS Donte Almond and JR LS Braedyn Eagle each recovered fumbles on special teams plays... the Vikings have committed 16 turnovers in six losses, and just two turnovers in two wins. PSU has forced just nine turnovers in six losses, but six turnovers in two wins. That makes a -7 TO ratio in losses and +4 TO ratio in wins... PSU has a -3 ratio for the season to rank eighth in the Big Sky Conference. Meanwhile, Sacramento State leads the league with a +5 turnover margin.

A MANOA AMONG MEN: JR FS Manoa Latu led the Vikings with five tackles and a pass breakup against Eastern Washington... Latu has 61 tackles this year to rank second on the team. Latu ranks third in the Big Sky Conference in passes defended (9)... 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 34 tackles this season to lead Viking defensive linemen. He also has team highs of nine 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 23 receptions and a team-high 387 yards and two touchdowns. 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... against Weber State he had another 100-yard game with four catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.

WHAT BROWN CAN DO FOR YOU: SO K Zach Brown moved into a tie for third all-time in field goals made last week with a 50-yarder against Eastern Washington. Brown also missed from 34 and 54 yards, hooking both attempts left... Brown is 12-20 on field goals this season which is the seventh-best total in school history. He set the record last year with 18 field goals made. Of Brown's eight misses, four have come from over 52 yards... he was Big Sky Conference Player of the Week (9/4) after making three field goals against Arizona State (43, 53, 47), and earned the honor again after the win over UC Davis (9/11) with 4-5 field goals, 3 XPs and a two-point conversion for 17 points... Brown has won BSC honors four times in his two-season career... Brown's 53-yarder against ASU tied for the second-longest in Portland State history. With four 50+ yard field goals in his career, he has the most 50-yard field goals by a Viking... with 30 field goals in his career, Brown ranks third in PSU history just two behind by Mike Erickson (32)... heading into the season, Brown was named to the Big Sky Conference preseason All-Conference team and named second team preseason All-America by The Sports Network. Brown comes off a freshman year (2009) in which he earned second team All-Big Sky honors... from Keizer's McNary High School, Brown made a school-record 18 of 25 field goals in 2009, ranking sixth in the nation with 1.64 field goals made per game. He is a perfect 41-41 on extra points in his career.

LONGEST FIELD GOALS (50+ yards)
1.    55    Pat Moore, 1975 at Eastern Washington
2.    53    Zach Brown, 2010 at Arizona State
    53    Mike Erickson, 1986 at California Lutheran
4.     52    Zach Brown, 2009 vs. Southern Oregon
    52    Mike Erickson, 1987 vs. Cal State Northridge
    52    John Kincheloe, 1979 at Weber State
7.    50    John Kincheloe, 1980 vs. Weber State
    50    Zach Brown, 2009 at Northern Colorado
    50    Zach Brown, 2010 vs. Eastern Washington

CAREER FIELD GOALS MADE
    32    Mike Erickson    1985-88
    31    J.J. Brumfield    1988-91
    30    Zach Brown    2009-10
    30    Eric Azorr    2003-06
    30    Dan Frantz    1997-00
    27    Mike Cajal-Willis    2001-02
    23    Danny Urrego    2007-08

SEASON FIELD GOALS MADE
    18/25    Zach Brown    2009
    15/23    Danny Urrego    2008
    14/19    Dan Frantz    1999
    14/21    Eric Azorr    2006
    14/22    Mike Cajal-Willis    2002
    13/17    Mike Cajal-Willis    2001
    12/20    Zach Brown    2010

BIG SKY CONFERENCE EXPANDS: On Sept. 7, the Big Sky Conference announced it would expand to 11 teams in either 2012 or 2013 with the addition of UC Davis and Cal Poly. The two schools, current members of the Great West Football Conference, will enter the Big Sky as football-only members. UC Davis and Cal Poly are members of the Big West Conference. PSU plays UC Davis in a non-conference game this season for the fourth year in a row. The Vikings lead the all-time series, 6-4. Although the Vikings and the Mustangs have not played since 1999, they have met 18 times throughout history, with the Vikings holding a 10-8 advantage. Former PSU Head Coach Tim Walsh is now the head coach at Cal Poly.

BIG SKY CONFERENCE EXPANDS, PART TWO: On Nov. 1, the Big Sky Conference announced it would expand to 13 teams in either 2012 or 2013 with the addition of Southern Utah and North Dakota. A 14th team, South Dakota, is expected to be added as well. That would mean the Big Sky will have swallowed up the entire current five-team Great West Football Conference. The Big Sky will split into two divisions, yet to be determined. PSU is 1-1 all-time against North Dakota, with those games coming in 1980 and 1981. The Vikings have never played South Dakota. PSU is 8-1 all-time against Southern Utah, playing the Thunderbirds every year from 1986-1994 as both were Division II program at that time... the Big Sky will compete with 12 teams in sports other than football (Cal Poly and UC Davis are members of the Big West).