After some down seasons, the Portland State Vikings have returned to relevancy in the Big Sky Conference. This Saturday, the Vikings will have a chance to show how relevant, with an early-season showdown of Big Sky unbeatens. The Vikings (3-1/2-0) host the third-ranked Montana State Bobcats (4-1/2-0) in PSU's most important game in years. Kickoff is set for 1:07 p.m. at JELD-WEN Field. The winner will have sole possession of first place in the Big Sky Conference.
    
Saturday's game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet (ch. 37/HD 737) as CSN will pick up the Max Media of Montana feed. It will also air on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am. The pregame show begins at noon. (Other metro-area TV affiliates aside from Comcast are: Beavercreek Cooperative Telephone SD 38/HD 638; Canby Telcom SD 33/HD 733; Oregon Cable Group SD 53/HD 753; Frontier Communications SD 77/HD 577; Wave Broadband SD 37or 45(depending upon location)/HD 737.)

It will be an interesting matchup as the Vikings possess the top scoring offense (34.5), total offense (464.2 yards per game) and run offense (312.8) in the Big Sky Conference, as well as the top run defense (104.8) and second-best total defense (341.2). Meanwhile, Montana State has the top scoring defense (18.0), total defense (292.2), second best run defense (115.6) and second best run offense (204.2).

No matter how you slice, it is likely to be a ball-control game.

Portland State comes off a 42-35 win at Idaho State last Saturday. Quarterback Connor Kavanaugh, was named the national player of the week with a 212-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance to  go with 102 yards passing. Running back Cory McCaffrey rushed for 218 yards and two touchdowns and now leads the nation in rushing (169.7 per game) and scoring (18.0 ppg) this season.

Montana State, last year's Big Sky Conference champion, boasts the 2010 co-Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback DeNarius McGhee. The sophomore accounted for four touchdowns last year in a 43-31 win over the Vikings in Bozeman.

This season, McGhee has led the Bobcats to a number-three national ranking. The Bobcats have won six straight games against conference opponents, including the last two over nationally-ranked teams (Eastern Washington and Sacramento State).

Montana State comes to PSU with a five-game winning streak over the Vikings. The last PSU win in the series came on Oct. 15, 2005 when the Vikings' Eric Azorr kicked a 40-yard field goal on the game's final play to beat ninth-ranked Montana State, 44-41, at then-PGE Park.

This week's game begins a very tough stretch for the Vikings as their next four Big Sky games are Montana State, at Montana, at Eastern Washington and Sacramento State.    

Oregonian writer Ian Ruder's pre-game blog.

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 TELEVISION: This week's game will be available on Comcast SportsNet as CSN will pick up the Max Media of Montana game feed. The game airs at 1 p.m. Comcast SportsNet is available in the Portland area on Comcast cable systems, channel 37/HD 737. Other metro-area affiliates aside from Comcast are: Beavercreek Cooperative Telephone SD 38/HD 638; Canby Telcom SD 33/HD 733; Oregon Cable Group SD 53/HD 753; Frontier Communications SD 77/HD 577; Wave Broadband SD 37or 45(depending upon location)/HD 737.
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.
NIGEL BURTON WEEKLY ON 750 AM THE GAME: Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 1:30 p.m. on the Dave Smith Show on 750 AM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES' LUNCHEONS: Viking Coaches Luncheons are scheduled for Monday at noon of every home football week. 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 per person and includes lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage.
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.
THE VIKING 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, October 8th will gather at 10:30 a.m. between Shattuck Hall and The Stott Center.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK: The Montana State game on Oct. 8th we are doing a “Green Out'  Fans are encourage to wear green and the first 1000 fans will receive a Green T-shirt... it will also be “Freshman Frenzy” day with a special pre-game tailgate for Portland State freshman... 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. There will also be a special Student Tailgate party sponsored by 7-11. DJ O.G. ONE, also the official DJ of the Portland Trailblazers, will be the DJ at all home games.