complete notes and stats in pdf

GAME 10
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (6-3/4-2) vs. NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (0-10/0-7)
Saturday, November 12, 2011 • 11:05 a.m. PT • Nottingham Field (8,500), Greeley, CO

TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Pregame Show: 10 a.m. PT • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live stats are available at www.GoViks.com • Live video stream with radio broadcast at www.b2tv.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 6-2 • PSU leads 4-1 in Portland • PSU leads 2-1 in Greeley
Big Sky Conference Series: Portland State leads 4-1 • PSU leads 2-1 in Portland • PSU leads 2-0 in Greeley

Big Sky Conference games
2006: PSU 45-3 @ Portland
2007: PSU 31-21 @ Greeley
2008: PSU 24-21 @ Portland
2009: PSU 23-18 @ Greeley
2010: UNC 35-30 @ Portland

STREAKS
• The Bears have lost 10 games in a row and eight games in a row at home.
• Portland State has won three straight games for the first time since 2006.
• PSU SS DeShawn Shead has started 42 games in a row

LAST YEAR: NORTHERN COLORADO 35, PORTLAND STATE 30
Northern Colorado overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Vikings, 35-30, at Hillsboro Stadium. PSU led 27-9 late in the first half, but UNC converted a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the half for a touchdown. The Bears then took a 21-3 second-half advantage to victory. The Vikings commited three turnovers and gave up 497 yards of offense to UNC. Andre Harris rushed for 167 yards while Dylan Orms threw for 248 yards. Cory McCaffrey rushed for 201 yards in the first half for PSU, but just 25 yards in the second half. PSU had 373 yards in the first half, but just 107 in the second half.

STORYLINES
• Northern Colorado's 35-30 win over Portland State in the 2010 finale was the last time the Bears won a game.
• Portland State holds the all-time series lead 6-2, but Northern Colorado broke through last year with the first win in the series in a Big Sky Conference game.
• UNC's 35 points scored last year were the most ever by the Bears against the Vikings.
• Northern Colorado's previous win in the series came in 1979 when the Bears beat a Mouse Davis-coached team, 21-20. QB Neil Lomax was 44-77 for 499 yards in that game.
• Northern Colorado has won a total of 15 games since moving to the Division I level seven years ago. The Bears are 5-42 in conference play in six years as a member of the Big Sky.
• New Bears' Head Coach Earnest Collins is a Northern Colorado alum.

VIKINGS TRY TO MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW AT NORTHERN COLORADO
Portland State continues its quest for a potential post-season berth this Saturday when it travels to Northern Colorado for a Big Sky Conference game.  The Vikings and Bears meet at Nottingham Field in Greeley in a game that kicks off at 11:05 a.m. PT. It airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The pregame show begins at 10 a.m.
    
The Vikings won their third straight game last Saturday with a 29-20 victory over Sacramento State. It marked the first three-game winning streak for PSU since the last game of 2005 and first two games of 2006. More importantly, the win gave Portland State a 6-3 record and a guaranteed winning season for the first time since 2006. The Vikings are also 4-2 and in third place in the Big Sky Conference.
    
If Portland State can win this week, it would mean the first four-game winning streak since the last four games of the 2004 season.
    
Beyond that, if Portland State can win each of the next two weeks (including home vs. Weber State on Nov. 19), that would mean an 8-3 record and match PSU's best regular season record in 16 seasons at the Division I level (also 1999 and 2000). The Vikings would also be a legitimate candidate for an at-large berth to the NCAA post-season.
    
Currently, PSU is 29th among teams receiving votes in the The Sports Network Poll and 30th in the FCS Coaches Poll.
    
Northern Colorado hosts its final game of what has been a rough 0-10 season. The last time the Bears won a game was their final contest of 2010 - a 35-30 victory over the Vikings at Hillsboro Stadium.
    
The 20-team NCAA playoffs begin on Nov. 26. Team selections take place on Nov. 20. The Big Sky Champion receives an automatic berth.

SCOUTING THE BEARS
Northern Colorado heads into its final game of the season without a win under first-year Head Coach Earnest Collins. The Bears are 0-10, 0-7 in the Big Sky Conference.
    
UNC has only been held under 14 points in one game, scoring in the 20s seven times. However, they have allowed 35.9 points per game. The Bears average just 55 rushing yards per game and 287.5 yards of total offense. They rank 117th of 120 teams in the nation in rushing.
    
The highlight of this season has to be wide receiver Patrick Walker who has 75 receptions for 1,045 yards and 10 touchdowns. Walker ranks seventh in the nation in catches and yards. He had a Big Sky record 315 yards in a game earlier this year.
    
Quarterback Seth Lobato has been effective, completing 177-314 for 2,155 yards, nine interceptions and 16 touchdowns. The Bears have given up 33 sacks this year.
    
Despite a solid passing game, the Bears convert only 28% of their third-down attempts - last in the conference - while allowing opponents to convert 43% of third downs.
    
Defensively, the Bears give up 445.3 yards per game. Linebacker Clarence Bumpas has a team-high 133 tackles and ranks fourth in the nation. Defensive back Marcel Gibbons has 85 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. 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.
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 $10.00 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.

KAVANAUGH ON VERGE OF ANOTHER QB RUSHING RECORD
SR QB Connor Kavanaugh has set a new Big Sky Conference record for quarterback rushing in a season with 896 yards. Now, he is on the verge of another record for career rushing by a Big Sky quarterback. Kavanaugh has 1,800 career yards after his 89-yard game against Sacramento State on Saturday. That leaves him just 26 yards behind Ken Hobart of Idaho (1,826, 1980-83).

Top Rushing Quarterbacks In Big Sky Conference History, Season
    1.     Connor Kavanaugh, Portland State    2011    896
    2.     Lance Kriesien, Northern Arizona    2007    686
    3.     Travis Lulay, Montana State    2005    611
    4.     Ken Hobart, Idaho    1981    593
    5.     Dave Stireman, Weber State    1985    512
    6.    Connor Kavanaugh, Portland State    2010    506

Top Rushing Quarterbacks In Big Sky Conference History, Career
    1.     Ken Hobart, Idaho    1980-83    1,826
    2.     Connor Kavanaugh, Portland State    2008-11    1,800

SHEAD NAMED BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Portland State safety DeShawn Shead has been named the Big Sky Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in a 29-20 Viking win over Sacramento State.
    
Shead made a game-high eight tackles, one sack, a pass breakup and intercepted a Sacramento State pass in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Shead also had a big day on special teams with three kickoff returns for 123 yards, including a career- and PSU season-best 79-yard return.
    
Shead, a preseason All-Big Sky choice, has been one of the Vikings' top players for four seasons. He now has 198 career tackles, 10 interceptions, 28 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles. He has started all 42 games of his career at cornerback or safety.
    
The Big Sky's other award winners were Northern Arizona's Zach Bauman (offense, 250 all-purpose yards, 3 TDs), Montana State's Brad Daly (co-defense, 7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) and Montana's Bordy McKnight (special teams, school-record six field goals).

ANOTHER RUSHING RECORD FALLS
Portland State now has 2,382 rushing yards this season with two games to go. That total sets a new Portland State record for season rushing. The old mark was 2,248 yards in 2004 (204.4 pg). Last season, PSU rushed for  2,232 yards (203.3 pg).
    
Earlier this year, the Vikings set a school record for rushing in a single game with 436 yards in a 42-35 win at Idaho State.

ON THE NATIONAL CHARTS
Portland State ranks fifth in the nation in rushing offense with an average of 264.7 yards per game. PSU is 14th in the nation in total offense (433.6) and 20th in scoring offense (34.0).
    
The Vikings also rank 16th in kickoff returns (23.4), 13th in tackles for loss (8.0), and 14th in fewest sacks allowed (1.0 pg).
    
Individually, JR K Zach Brown now ranks second in field goals made (17-20, 1.89 pg), just one back of the national leader. Brown made 3-5 against Sacramento State and is also one shy of his own school record (18, twice). He is 24th in scoring (8.33 ppg).
    
Connor Kavanaugh ranks 23rd in the nation in rushing with 99.6 yards per game. Kavanaugh is third in the Big Sky in rushing.    
    
With a 79-yard kickoff return against Sacramento State, SR SS DeShawn Shead moved up to 19th in the nation with a 26.5 average.
    
Despite averaging 146.2 rushing yards and 15.6 points per game, Cory McCaffrey no longer qualifies for national leadership because he has not played in enough games (5).

FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
WINS AND LOSSES: Portland State is 2-2 on the road heading to Northern Colorado. It marks the first time PSU has won two Big Sky road games since 2007... with six wins, PSU has more than the last two years combined (4-18), and the most since going 7-4 in 2006 under Tim Walsh... the Vikings are 4-1 at home... PSU is 55-30 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 27-62 on the road... PSU is 54-67 all-time in Big Sky Conference games in its' 16th season as a member. The Vikings are 34-27 at home, 20-40 on the road in BSC games.

GUARANTEED GOOD: Portland State is guaranteed of a winning season for the first time since 2006. At 6-3, the Vikings now have eight winning records in 16 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference. PSU can match its best Division I regular season record (8-3 in 1999 and 2000) with wins in its final two games.

BEST ROAD RECORD ON THE LINE: Portland State is trying to match its best NCAA I regular season record by winning its last two games. If the Vikings can pick up their third road Big Sky road victory of the season at Northern Colorado it would also reach a significant mark. The last time PSU won as many as three Big Sky road games was 2006 (3-1), when the Vikings were 4-3 on the road overall.  The only other time PSU has been 3-1 in Big Sky road games was the 2000 season.

GOOD STARTS: Portland State has outscored opponents 94-25 in the first quarter this season. While 47 of those points have come in non-conference games against Southern Oregon and Willamette, PSU still has a 47-25 advantage on its other seven opponents, pitching six first-quarter shutouts and leading seven of nine games after the first quarter... PSU's first quarter advantages have been: 31-0 vs. Southern Oregon; 14-0 vs. Northern Arizona; 3-0 vs. TCU; 10-7 vs. Montana State; 6-0 vs. Montana; 16-0 vs. Willamette; and 9-0 vs. Sacramento State.

WHAT'S THE SCORE?: Portland State has scored 29 or more points in seven of nine games this year, and 40 or more three times. It is the first time PSU has scored at least 40 points three times since 2005... the only times the Vikings failed to reach 29 was in a 55-13 loss at TCU and a 30-24 loss at Montana.

NEW LOOK RUNNING GAME: The Vikings appear to be surviving the injury to star running back Cory McCaffrey, totaling 718 rushing yards in three games since he went down... SR RB Willie Griffin has improved in three successive games, rushing for 61, 84 and 92 yards. FR RB Shaquille Richard had 85 and 58 yards in two games before being ineffective (3-(-3)) against Sacramento State. SR QB Connor Kavanaugh has been as good as ever with 37, 154, and 89 over the last three games... in all, the average has been 239.3 yards per game over the last three.

FINISHING: Portland State's mantra this year has been “finish” as in finish every game strong to secure the win. The Eastern Washington win showed the team has taken it to heart. After getting just three points on two trips inside the Eastern Washington five-yard line and falling behind 14-3, the Vikings came back with strong play on offense, special teams and defense. PSU totaled 499 yards of offense, blocked another punt, recovered a pooch kickoff, and shut down Eastern Washington's running game for a 43-26 road win... Last year, PSU had four games that it lost in the late-going in which a stronger finish might have made the difference. This year, PSU has the word FINISH on the front of every helmet. In PSU's first two Big Sky Conference games, the Vikings made plays late to “finish” and pick up wins against Northern Arizona and Idaho State. The following two Big Sky games, both losses, the Vikings played the top two teams in the conference, nationally-ranked Montana State and Montana, down to the wire. In those two, the outcomes were losses in painfully close fashion, by a combined eight points.

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 throughout the season. Here are some season highlights:
• With eight total blocks (six punt, two FG), PSU ranks second in the nation at the FCS level.
• The Vikings had gone five years without a punt block, but now have six this season. JR WR Nevin Lewis has three blocked punts, JR LB Dionte Brooks has two and FR TE Taylor Martinek has one.
• PSU has snuffed out two fake punt attempts by opponents this year. Meanwhile, the Vikings have converted two fake punts.
• 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. Brown is 17-20 this year extending his career field goal record to 53. His only misses are from 46 yards or longer. He leads the Big Sky in field goals and ranks second in the nation.
• 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 23.5 per return this season. Lewis (24.7) and SR FS DeShawn Shead (26.5) lead the way in that department.
• Lewis and Wade have each earned Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors this season.

LED BY SHEAD: SR SS DeShawn Shead has started 42 straight games and is the only Viking to start and play in every game over the last four seasons. His performance against Sacramento State was one of his best as he was named Big Sky Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week. Shead had eight tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and an interception in the fourth quarter to seal the win... Shead now has 198 tackles, 10 interceptions, 28 pass breakups in his career, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles... this season he ranks second on the team in tackles with 51, and first in pass breakups with seven.  

RELYIN' ON RYAN: SR LB Ryan Rau made a career-high 17 tackles, including two tackles for loss, at Montana. His 17 stops tied for the eighth most in PSU history for a game... Rau continues to lead the Viking defense. He has been the team-leader in tackles in five games and has a team-high 73 this year. He also has 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery... Rau now has 250 tackles in his career... Rau was also the team-leader in tackles each of the last two years (72 in 2009, 83 in 2010).

NOSE FOR THE BALL: JR LB Joel Sisler continues to be a Viking with a nose for the ball. He made the biggest defensive play of the game in the win over Eastern Washington when he picked off a pass in the third quarter and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. That gave PSU a 36-20 lead and firm grasp of the game. He was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance... Sisler has a team-leading three interceptions this season to rank second in the conference. His two fumble recoveries ranks first in the conference. Sisler has 28 tackles, six tackles for loss and four other pass breakups... Sisler has five career interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

SLUSS REPORT: JR LB Ian Sluss got a late start to the season, missing the first game and not getting into the starting lineup until game three, but he has made his mark. Sluss has 45 tackles this season to rank third on the team. He leads the Vikings and the Big Sky with 11.5 tackles for loss, and has 3.5 sacks.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Portland State was last in the Big Sky Conference in 2010 in rushing defense, allowing 232.9 yards per game on the ground. Included were 391 rushing yards by Northern Arizona in the 2010 season finale. On Sept 17 this year, PSU held NAU - playing the same two feature backs as last season - to just 79 rushing yards. That set the tone for a much-improved defense in 2011... this year, PSU is allowing a respectable 130.3 yards on the ground (and 217.9 through the air). The 348.2 yards allowed per game so far is down 116 yards from 464.1 last year.

ZACH BROWN AND HIS LEG OF RENOWN: JR K Zach Brown established a new consecutive field goal made record earlier this year with 16. He finally missed a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter of game six at Montana... Brown is 17-20 kicking this season and has a PSU career record total of 53 field goals - one of six records he holds. Brown has made 22-24 extra points for 75 total points this year... with 228 career points he now ranks sixth on the PSU career scoring list... at 53-71 on career field goals, Brown's .746 mark is a PSU record as well... Brown made 3-3 field goals at Eastern Washington (38, 38, 41), 3-3 extra points and a successful pooch kickoff that the Vikings recovered. He was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. It marked the fifth time he has won the honor.

HE CAN DO IT ALL: JR WR Nevin Lewis is making his name as a do-it-all Viking. He has been brilliant on special teams, blocking three punts, snuffing out a fake punt with a tackle for loss and making three tackles in all. He also has 24 kick returns for an average of 24.7 per return...  as a receiver, Lewis has 16 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown this season. He has one rush for seven yards and, at Eastern Washington, completed a 14-yard touchdown pass on a reverse play.

PLAYING LIKE SAMSON: The long flowing locks on JR WR Justin Monahan are reminiscent of the mighty Samson (although most on the team call him “Twilight” for his resemblance to a certain vampire in a famous movie/book series). Monahan played like Samson at TCU, totaling career-highs of nine receptions for 109 yards. His fourth-and-two catch at the TCU one-yard line in the fourth period kept a drive alive and led to a FR RB Shaquille Richard touchdown run... he had a big game with eight receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns at Eastern Washington. His first TD catch was on a tipped pass intended for Kalua Noa in the endzone. After Noa touched it, three Eagles players also touched it. Monahan was the fifth player to touch the ball when he secured the grab on a 14-yard touchdown... Monahan totaled a career-high 154 yards on six catches against Sacramento State... for the season, Monahan has a team-leading 38 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns.

FLAGS, RAGS AND OTHER FLYING YELLOW OBJECTS: Portland State has had problems with penalties over the last six weeks. The Vikings have been penalized 83 times for 751 yards in the five games (13.8-125.2). PSU had to overcome itself as much as anything to pick up a 42-35 win at Idaho State. The Vikings commited 21 penalties for 209 yards in the game. The 21 flags was a new Big Sky Conference record and two shy of the NCAA I FCS record... in the 38-36 loss to Montana State, 15 penalties for 151 yards played a major role... PSU had 13 penalties for 88 yards at Montana... the Vikings had 12 penalties for 109 yards in the win over Willamette and 12 penalties for 110 yards in the win over Eastern Washington... the numbers dwindled to 10 penatlies for 89 yards against Sacramento State... in the first three games of the season, PSU had just 25 penalties for 219 yards.

NEW ATTITUDE AT HOME: Portland State is bringing a new attitude to JELD-WEN Field. After going 35-9 at home over Tim Walsh's final eight seasons, 1999-2006 (including two 5-0 marks), the Vikings were just 7-13 at home the last four years (which includes 1-3 at Hillsboro Stadium in 2010). The Vikings are now 4-1 in their home... Head Coach Nigel Burton now has a 5-4 home record.