Portland State returns to JELD-WEN Field  on Saturday looking to heal some wounds and get back on the winning track. The Vikings (3-3) host Division III Willamette (3-3) in a 5:05 p.m. game this Saturday. The game airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am with the pregame show at 4 p.m.
    
The Vikings have lost games each of the last two weeks to the top two teams in the Big Sky Conference in heart-breaking fashion (38-36 to #3 Montana State after failing on a late two-point conversion, and 30-24 at #14 Montana after leading 21-7 in the first half). That's a total of eight points difference against a pair of the best teams in the nation. But, close only counts in horseshoes, not football. So, the Vikings will get a chance to bounce back in non-conference game with the Bearcats this week.
    
Willamette has won its last two games and is 2-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette is located just 45 miles south of Portland State, but it will be the first time the Bearcats and Vikings have met on the football field. For PSU, it will be a second opponent that plays below the Division I level, marking the first time that has occured since 1996. PSU is 9-0 against lower division opponents since joining the Big Sky in 1996.
        
Willamette University, a Division III member of the Northwest Conference, comes into this week's game with a 3-3 record.
    
Willamette is renowned for its innovative “fly” offense which, similar to the Pistol, is a difficult to defend run-based attack. The Bearcats average 229.7 yards rushing per game and just over 352 yards of total offense. Willamette seems to have hit its stride, scoring 98 points in wins over the last two weeks.

The Vikings get back into Big Sky Conference play next week with a game at defending national champion Eastern Washington. Then, Portland State hosts Sacramento State on Nov. 5, plays at Northern Colorado on Nov. 12, then hosts the season finale against Weber State on Nov. 19.     

SOME VERY SPECIAL TEAMS: New Special Teams Coordinator Stacy Collins might be the Viking coaching staff's “Coach of the Year” so far this season. His special teams have been terrific through the first six games. The stellar play continued at Montana. JR WR Nevin Lewis blocked his third punt of the season (and the team's fifth), JR P Thomas Duyndam converted a fake punt with a six-yard scramble, JR K Zach Brown made three more field goals (one from 53 yards) and scored on a two-point conversion.  
• With seven total blocks (five punt, two FG), PSU leads the nation at the FCS level.
• The Vikings had gone five years without a punt block, but now have five this season. JR WR Nevin Lewis has three blocked punts, JR LB Dionte Brooks and FR TE Taylor Martinek have one each... Lewis also made a tackle for loss on a fake punt in the first game.
• The Vikings hadn't blocked a field goal in two years, but now have two in 2011, both by GR DT Myles Wade. Wade's block in the closing moments against Northern Arizona allowed the Vikings to hang on for the win. He also had one against Montana State.
• The Vikings' JR K Zach Brown had a school-record string of 16 straight field goals made, including his first 10 this season. He finally missed one from 53 yards. Brown is 10-11 this year extending his career field goal record to 46.
• The Vikings benefitted from a high snap on a punt attempt in the fourth period at Idaho State. FR WR Ronnie Simmons ran down the ISU punter for a 23-yard loss. The Vikings took over and two plays later SR RB Cory McCaffrey scored the game-winning touchdown.
• PSU's kick return team averages 22.9 per return this season. Lewis (25.1) and SR FS DeShawn Shead (24.1) lead the way in that department.
• The Vikings are 4-6 on two-point conversion attempts this year.

Oregonian story on Viking Special Teams, 10/18

Oregonian writer Ian Ruder's blog on Viking football

THE VIK WALK: Before every home game the Portland State Football team walks as ONE to JELD-WEN Field. Fans can show support and be part of the team by walking in unison with the Vikings from the PSU Park Blocks between Shattuck Hall and The Stott Center to JELD-WEN Field. The Vik Walk for Saturday will gather at 2:30 p.m. between Shattuck Hall and The Stott Center.

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK: The Willamette game is homecoming at Portland State... the Vik Walk begins on the Park Blocks with the team at 2:30 p.m. The team will walk to JELD-WEN Field and fans are welcome to join... the Last Regiment Drum Line will be performing outside the stadium prior to the game... 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. DJ O.G. ONE, also the official DJ of the Portland Trailblazers, will be the DJ at all home games... the 2011 Big Sky Conference champion golf team, and Pacific Coast Softball Conference champion softball team will be honored at halftime.
 
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 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.
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.