Senior running back Cory McCaffrey remained the nation's leader in scoring after Saturday's game at Montana. He dropped to second in the nation in rushing after leading the past two weeks. McCaffrey had 25 carries for 103 yards and a score in a 30-24 loss to the Griz. That gives him 122 carries for 731 yards and 13 touchdowns in just five games played. He averages 146.2 yards per game and 15.6 points per game.
    
Unfortunately, McCaffrey went down with an injury midway through the fourth period. McCaffrey's injury was to his lower left leg. He was helped off the field, and eventually placed in a boot and crutches.
    
The 5-9, 185-pound back is on his way to one of the great seasons in Portland State history. In just 16 games as the Vikings' feature back in 2010-11, McCaffrey has 353 carries for 2,018 yards and 23 touchdowns. He ranks 10th all-time in rushing at PSU, eighth in touchdowns, and fifth in 100-yard games (12) in that short time. McCaffrey has reached at least 100 yards rushing in every Big Sky Conference game he played as the feature back except one (11 of 12). The only time he missed the number was the 2010 season finale against Northern Arizona when he left the game in the first period with an injury.
    
In his first two seasons at Portland State (2008-09) under former Head Coach Jerry Glanville, McCaffrey played briefly in 10 games as a slot receiver, making three receptions. He did not carry the ball as a running back.
    
With McCaffrey's injury, it is expected that FR RB Shaquille Richard (59-226-1), SO RB Justin Lilley (17-99-1) and SR RB Willie Griffin (4-(-2)-0) will have to pick up the slack for the Vikings.

MORE VIKINGS ON THE NATIONAL CHARTS
In addition to Cory McCaffrey's placement on the national offensive charts, the Vikings place high elsewhere. PSU is third in the nation in rushing this season (277.3 ypg). PSU is 23rd in total offense (416.2) and 20th in scoring (33.0)... SR QB Connor Kavanaugh ranks 19th in the nation and fourth in the Big Sky in rushing at 102.7 yards per game. Kavanaugh has also broken his own PSU record for quarterback rushing in a season. The senior from Lincoln (OR) High School has 80 carries for 616 yards (7.7 pc) and six scores. Last year, he set a PSU QB record with 506 rushing yards... JR K Zach Brown ranks seventh in field goals made this year (10/1.67 per game). Brown hit a 53-yarder at Montana on Saturday and three in the game. He finally missed one from 53 yards in the fourth period ending a string of 16 straight field goals made dating to last season.

THIS WEEK
Portland State returns home for a non-conference game against Willamette University. Game time this Saturday is 5:05 p.m. at JELD-WEN Field. There is no television, but the game will air on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am.