Portland State continues its quest for a winning record and potential post-season berth this Saturday when the Vikings host Sacramento State at JELD-WEN Field. Kickoff for the Big Sky Conference game is 1:05 p.m. as it airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am. The pregame show begins at noon.
    
The Vikings improved to 5-3 on the season with a big 43-26 road win over defending national champion Eastern Washington last Saturday. PSU now stands at 3-2 in Big Sky play. If the Vikings can win out their final three games, they would have a chance at the NCAA post-season.
    
But, first things first, as the Vikings will go after their first winning record since 2006. A win this Saturday over the Hornets would achieve that goal.
    
Meanwhile Sacramento State has had a remarkably up-and-down year, opening with a 29-28 win over Pac-12 Oregon State, following that with two road losses, then coming back to beat top-10 Montana, 42-28. The Hornets are now 2-3 in the Big Sky Conference, 3-5 overall. But for an overtime loss to Eastern Washington on Oct. 22, and a one-point defeat to Northern Arizona last week, the Hornets could be 5-3 like the Vikings.
    
Sacramento State has won the last three meetings with Portland State. Prior to that PSU had won eight straight in the series under former coach Tim Walsh. PSU still leads the series all-time (21-9) and in Big Sky games (11-4). This is the 18th straight year the teams have met and 28th time in 29 years.
    
PSU is 3-1 at home this season and will play two of their final three games at home. After Sacramento State, the Vikings face Northern Colorado on the road on Nov. 12, then have the season finale at home against Weber State on Nov. 19.     
    
The 20-team NCAA playoffs begin on Nov. 26. Team selections take place on Nov. 20. The Big Sky Champion receives an automatic berth. That will be either Montana State or Montana.

MORE RECORDS ON THE HORIZON?
SR QB Connor Kavanaugh set a new Big Sky Conference record for quarterback rushing in a season with 807 yards last Saturday at Eastern Washington. His 154-yard game moved him on top of the heap in the Big Sky and at Portland State. Kavanaugh passed the mark of 686 yards by Lance Kriesien, who quarterbacked the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in 2007.
    
This week, Kavanaugh has a shot at another record. He currently has 1,711 career rushing yards The Big Sky mark for career rushing yards belongs to Ken Hobart of Idaho (1980-83, 1,826 yards).

Another record almost certain to fall this Saturday is Portland State's season rushing mark. PSU has 2,232 rushing yards this season and averages 5.6 yards per carry with 25 rushing touchdowns. The Vikings are only 16 yards short of the school record of 2,248 yards set in 2004 (204.4 ypg). Last year, PSU came up just 12 yards short of the record (2,236/203.3). This season, PSU is averaging 279.0 yards per game on the ground.

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.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK:
• The Sacramento State game will be Military Appreciation Day. All military personnel with military ID will be given free admission.
• The Vik Walk begins on the Park Blocks with the team at 10:30 a.m. The team will walk to JELD-WEN Field and fans are welcome to join.
• 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.'