• Hear Cory McCaffrey on Monday night at 8 p.m. and KPAM 860 AM with Ron Callan.
• Hear Coach Nigel Burton on Tuesday at 5 p.m. on 750 The Game with John Canzano.

complete notes and statistics in pdf

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-0) vs. #20 TCU HORNED FROGS (2-1)
Game 3 • Saturday, September 24, 2011 • 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT
Amon G. Carter Stadium (32,000 while under construction), Fort Worth, TX

TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.970.am • Pregame Show: 10 a.m. PT • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live stats are available at www.GoViks.com

THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: 1st meeting

STREAKS
• TCU has won a school and Mountain West record 21 straight games at home.
• PSU has lost seven in a row to FBS schools.
• Portland State has won back-to-back games for the first time since 2007-08.
• JR K Zach Brown has made eight consecutive field goals dating to last season.
• SR SS DeShawn Shead has made 35 straight starts.

VIKINGS VS. FBS OPPONENTS
Portland State is 2-26 all-time against current members of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)... The Vikings are 1-2 against current members of the Mountain West Conference (1-0 vs. New Mexico, 0-1 vs. San Diego State and UNLV)... PSU's FBS wins came in 2000 (45-20 over Hawai'i of the WAC) and 2006 (17-6 over New Mexico). Both wins came under former coach Tim Walsh... The Vikings have lost seven straight games to FBS schools, six of which are current Pac-12 members.

VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
TCU is Portland State's first nationally-ranked opponent of the 2011 season. The Vikings figure to play at least three or four more among Big Sky Conference teams... Since joining the Big Sky and Division I in 1996, PSU is 14-27 all-time against nationally-ranked FCS teams, and 0-5 against nationally-ranked FBS teams... PSU is 4-16 in road games against nationally-ranked FCS opponents and 0-5 in road games against nationally-ranked FBS opponents... The FBS opponents included: #9 Oregon (L, 0-41 in 2002), #19 Fresno State (L, 17-27 in 2004), #21 California (L, 16-42 in 2006), #25 Oregon (L, 12-55 in 2006), and #5 Oregon (L, 0-69 in 2010)... PSU has lost nine straight games to nationally-ranked teams (FCS or FBS).

STORYLINES
• There is one link between Portland State and TCU, and it is a bit of a stretch. TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson once coached with former Viking Head Coach Tim Walsh. When Walsh was Head Coach at Sonoma State (1989-91), Patterson was his Defensive Coordinator.
• The Vikings have seven players from the state of Texas on their roster, two from Fort Worth: WR Roston Tatum and DT Vincent Johnson. Other Texans include CB Denzel Davis (Garland), SS Nathan Snow, CB Mike Williams, OL Thomas Robertson and WR Keitrell Anderson (all from Houston).
• TCU finished a perfect 13-0 last year, winning the Rose Bowl and being ranked number two in the nation.
• The Horned Frogs have the best record of any of the 10 Division I football programs in the state of Texas since 2005 (68-12).
• TCU is 16-3 against BCS schools since 2002.

VIKINGS TRAVEL TO ROSE BOWL CHAMPION TCU
After getting off to its best two-game start in five seasons, the Portland State Vikings go out on their first road trip of the season, playing at 2011 Rose Bowl Champion TCU this Saturday. The non-conference game kicks off at 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT in Fort Worth, TX. There is no television, but the game can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am.
   
It will be a first-ever meeting between Portland State (2-0) and the defending Mountain West Champion Horned Frogs (2-1). TCU is the only FBS opponent for the Vikings this year, and should be the toughest of any opponent.  The Horned Frogs are ranked 20th in the nation at the FBS level.
   
The Vikings are 2-0 for the first time since 2006 and feeling pretty good about their Big Sky Conference opening win over Northern Arizona last Saturday at JELD-WEN Field. PSU beat the Lumberjacks, 31-29, blocking a field goal in the closing seconds to secure the win. The win was payback for a 62-14 loss in the 2010 season finale at NAU.
   
Portland State was 1-6 on the road last year, including losses at Arizona State and Oregon. PSU is 2-26 all-time against FBS schools, having lost the last seven in a row.
   
The Vikings return to Big Sky Conference play on Oct. 1 at Idaho State, then return home for an Oct. 8 meeting with defending Big Sky Champion Montana State on Oct. 8.

SCOUTING THE HORNED FROGS
TCU has become the powerhouse program in the Mountain West Conference in recent years, winning 38 of 42 games since the start of 2008. The Horned Frogs were a perfect 13-0 last year, winning the Rose Bowl and finishing the season ranked second in the nation.
   
Despite a season-opening 50-48 loss at Baylor, TCU has won its last two and is ranked 20th in the nation. Head Coach Gary Patterson, now in his 11th season, is 100-29 overall.
   
The Horned Frogs are averaging 40.3 points and 429.0 yards of offense per game. However, a defense that has led the nation in total defense each of the last three years, has not been as effective this season. TCU is allowing 28.7 points and 431.3 yards per game. TCU has allowed 271 yards passing per game and has yet to make an interception. Each game this season though, the Horned Frogs have allowed fewer points and fewer total yards. Last week, Louisiana Monroe managed just 17 points and 314 yards.
   
TCU lost star quarterback Andy Dalton to the NFL, but Casey Pachall has been a nice replacement. Pachall is 60-87 (69%) for 661 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception. Josh Boyce has been the main target with 21 receptions for 306 yards and two scores.
   
On the ground, the Frogs are averaging over 200 yards per game. Two backs carry the load in Waymon James (30-208-1) and Matthew Tucker (43-204-5).
   
Safety Tekerrein Cuba has a team-high 23 tackles through three games. Linebacker Tank Carder has made 17 stops. Defensive lineman Bray Broughton leads the team with four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
   
Kick returner Greg McCoy is fourth in the nation with a 36.9 average and he has returned one kick 94 yards for a touchdown.
   
Anson Kelton is a strong punter with a 44.4 yard average.

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: Portland State and Comcast SportsNet have teamed up to present a minimum of four Viking football games during the 2011 season. The Vikings can be seen on CSN on Sept. 3 vs. Southern Oregon, Sept. 17 vs. Northern Arizona, Oct. 8 vs. Montana State, and Oct. 15 at Montana. There is a possibility that additional Viking games will be televised on CSN and will be determined later in the season... veteran broadcasters Bob Akamian and Rashad Floyd will be on the call for the first two games. Games against Montana State (Max Media) and Montana (KPAX) will be shared feeds produced by the opponents' television partners... 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 $10.00 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.

AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS
It's early in the 2011 season, but the Pistol offense is making its mark at Portland State. After two games - and two wins - the Vikings are leading the nation in rushing (348.0 ypg) at the NCAA I FCS level. Senior running back Cory McCaffrey ranks fourth in the nation with 145.5 yards per game and leads the nation in scoring with 21.0 points per game (7 touchdowns).
   
The Vikings come off a thrilling 31-29 win over Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Conference opener on Saturday at JELD-WEN Field. In the game, the Vikings rushed for 361 yards on 53 carries for 6.8 average per carry. McCaffrey rushed 30 times for 222 yards and four touchdowns - just four yards short of his career high. Quarterback Connor Kavanaugh rushed 16 times for a career-high 134 yards. It marked the fourth time in two seasons the combo has each had 100-yard performances in the same game.
   
McCaffrey (291), from Sisters, OR, and Kavanaugh (212), from Portland, are currently ranked 1-2 in the Big Sky in rushing. 
   
Portland State's hot start has it at the top of a lot of charts in the Big Sky. PSU leads the league in rushing, total offense (512.0), scoring (41.5), rushing defense (70.5), pass efficiency defense (90.3), total defense (254.5), scoring defense (14.5), net punting (39.3), kickoff returns (30.0), tackles for loss (9.0) and fewest sacks allowed (0).
   
PSU ranks in the top 10 in the nation in 10 categories, including third in total offense, seventh in scoring, eighth in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.
   
Kavanaugh ranks 19th in the nation in rushing through two games (106.0). Kick returner Nevin Lewis, of Culver, OR, leads the Big Sky and ranks fourth in the nation in kick returns (34.3 pr).

McCAFFREY, WADE NAMED BIG SKY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
For Cory McCaffrey it was 30 plays, including four touchdowns, and Myles Wade it was just one play - but a very big one as both were named Big Sky Conference Players of the Week.
   
McCaffrey won the offensive honor, sharing it with Idaho State quarterback Kevin Yost. Wade was named Special Teams Player of the Week. Montana linebacker John Kanongata'a was the defensive Player of the Week. 
   
McCaffrey, a senior from Sisters, OR, rushed 30 times for 222 yards and scored four touchdowns in Portland State's 31-29 win over Northern Arizona. McCaffrey scored on runs of 33, 3 and 18 yards in the first half, and added an 8-yard score in the third quarter to give the Vikings a 31-17 lead. He was part of a 361-yard rushing game by the Vikings. McCaffrey also caught two passes for seven yards. This is his first Big Sky Player of the Week honor.
   
Wade, from Portland's Central Catholic High School, secured the Vikings' 31-29 win over NAU when he blocked the game-winning field-goal attempt with seven seconds to play. NAU's Matt Myers attempted the 41-yard try, but Wade deflected the kick, sending it wide left. Wade also had four tackles from his defensive tackle spot. This is also Wade's first Player of the Week honor. He is the second Viking in as many games to be named Special Teams Player of the Week (Nevin Lewis).


FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
WINS AND LOSSES: With a 31-29 Big Sky Conference opening win over Northern Arizona, the Vikings ended a seven-game league losing streak - its longest ever... PSU has now won back-to-back games for the first time since the final game of 2007 and first game of 2008... the last time PSU won back-to-back games in the same season was the final two games of 2006... the Vikings are 2-0 at home, 0-0 on the road.

IN THE BIG SKY: PSU is now 10-6 in Big Sky Conference home openers. The Vikings have won two straight Big Sky home openers and six of the last seven... PSU is 53-29 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 25-61 on the road... PSU is 51-65 all-time in Big Sky Conference games as it starts a 16th season as a member. The Vikings are 33-26 at home, 18-39 on the road in BSC games.

OREGONIAN OFFENSE: Portland State started eight players from the state of Oregon on offense for the second game in a row.... They were: Dustin Waldron (Pleasant Hill), Kyle Ritt (Aloha), Adam Kleffner (Portland/Jesuit), Mitch Gaulke (West Linn), Connor Kavanaugh (Portland/Lincoln), Cory McCaffrey (Sisters), Justin Monahan (West Linn) and Nevin Lewis (Culver). The Vikings might have started a ninth, but SR WR Ricky Cookman was out with a leg injury... in all, Portland State has 35 Oregonians on its roster.

THE DYNAMIC DUO: Portland State RB Cory McCaffrey and QB Connor Kavanaugh were back to shredding Big Sky Conference defenses last Saturday. Both seniors, McCaffrey rushed 30 times for 222 yards and four touchdowns, while Kavanaugh had a career-high 134 yards on 16 carries. It marked the fourth time in six games that the two have started together against Big Sky opponents that each has had at least 100 yards. In one of the other two games (EWU last year), Kavanaugh went out in the first period with a broken hand... if you throw out the Eastern Washington game, McCaffrey and Kavanaugh have combined to average 280.4 yards per game while scoring 14 touchdowns in the other five... McCaffrey is just the fifth Viking in history with at least two 200-yard rushing games (there have been 25 200-yard games). His 222 yards ranks 15th-best in school history... with 1,116 career rushing yards, Kavanaugh is PSU's all-time quarterback rusher. His 506 yards last season were a school record for a quarterback.

TOP RUSHING GAMES IN PSU HISTORY
    1.    393    Ryan Fuqua, 2001 @ Eastern Washington
    2.    356    Joe Rubin, 2005 vs. Northern Colorado
    3.    324    Charles Dunn, 2000 vs. Hofstra
    4.    314    Steve Papin, 1995 vs. Arkansas-Monticello
    5.    281    Darick Holmes, 1994 @ Angelo State
    6.    270    Charles Dunn, 2000 vs. Cal State Northridge
        270    Ryan Fuqua, 2001 vs. Cal State Northridge
    8.    264    Ryan Fuqua, 2002 vs. Eastern Washington
    9.    250    Charles Dunn, 1997 vs. Cal State Northridge
    10.    247    Charles Dunn, 1998 vs. Sacramento State
    11.    243    Ryan Fuqua, 2001 vs. Sacramento State
    12.    226    Cory McCaffrey, 2010 vs. Northern Colorado
    13.    225    Curtis Delgardo, 1990 @ Sacramento State
    14.    224    Rais Aho, 1992 vs. Cal Poly
    15.    222    Cory McCaffrey, 2011 vs. Northern Arizona
    16.    217    Burnell Harvin, 1989 @ Santa Clara
        217    Andy Berkis, 1964 @ Eastern Oregon
    18.    215    Joe Rubin, 2005 vs. Weber State
        215    Curtis Delgardo, 1988 @ Sacramento State
    20.    213    Charles Dunn, 1999 @ Weber State
        213    Charles Dunn, 1999 @ Cal Poly
    22.    211    Charles Dunn, 2000 @ Sacramento State
    23.    208    Ryan Fuqua, 2001 vs. Weber State
    24.    207    Ryan Fuqua, 2002 vs. North Carolina A&T
    25.    201    Charles Dunn, 2000 @ Northern Arizona

BALANCE IT OUT: Although offensive coordinator Bruce Barnum had to love the productivity of his running game against Northern Arizona, no doubt he would prefer a little more balanced attack. The Vikings rushed for 361 yards, but had only 66 through the air. SR QB Connor Kavanaugh was 6-15-2 with 60 of those yards in the first period and all 66 by halftime. Both of his second half pass attempts were intercepted.

THE BLOCK IS BACK: Northern Arizona's game-winning field goal attempt last Saturday was blocked by GR DT Myles Wade. The 300-pounder burst through the middle of the line and got a hand on the kick of Matt Myers, sending it spinning left of the goal post and saving the game for the Vikings. It was PSU's first field goal block in two years and could not have come at a better time... the Viking punt team also has two blocks in two games. FR TE Taylor Martinek got his hand on one in the first half against NAU, after JR WR Nevin Lewis blocked one in the first game. Prior to that, PSU had not blocked a punt in FIVE seasons.

RELYIN' ON RYAN: SR LB Ryan Rau made two big plays in the second half to help slow down Northern Arizona's comback charge. Early in the third period, following a PSU fumble, NAU had driven to the Viking 27-yard line. Rau blitzed and sacked NAU QB Cary Grossart for a 17-yard loss and the 'Jacks eventually had to settle for a field goal... midway through the third period, the 'Jacks had driven to the Viking 41-yard line and were looking for a tieing score. Rau forced a Giovannie Dixon fumble that was recovered by JR LB Joel Sisler to snuff out the drive... Rau tied his career-high with 12 tackles in the game. He leads PSU with 21 stops in two games... the Vikings' leading tackler the last two seasons, Rau now has 198 in his career.

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: SR SS DeShawn Shead tipped away a two-point conversion pass late in the fourth period as Northern Arizona tried to tie the score at the 31-31. That proved to be a decisive play as the Lumberjacks' late field goal attempt to win was blocked. Shead had seven tackles, including one for loss, in the game. He has four pass breakups this year to lead the Big Sky Conference... SR FS Donte Almond made a big interception in the fourth period to snuff out another NAU drive at the PSU 11. Almond also had four tackles in the game.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Portland State was last in the Big Sky Conference last season in rushing defense, allowing around 230 yards per game on the ground. Included were 391 rushing yards by Northern Arizona in the season finale. On Saturday, PSU held NAU - playing the same two feature backs as last season - to just 79 rushing yards. PSU is allowing only 70.5 yards on the ground through two games.

LED BY SHEAD: SR SS DeShawn Shead started his 35th straight game against Northern Arizona. He is the only Viking to start and play in all 35 games over the last four seasons.

LEWIS HIGHLIGHTS SPECIAL TEAMS: JR WR Nevin Lewis was named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the 52-0 win over Southern Oregon (blocked punt, tackle for loss on a fake punt - both leading to touchdowns). He nearly matched that effort against Northern Arizona last Saturday... Lewis returned three kickoffs for 103 yards (34.3 avg) and made a tackle in kick coverage. He made a 24-yard pass reception on offense as well. Lewis now leads the Big Sky in kick returns and ranks fourth in the nation.

ZACH BROWN AND HIS LEG OF RENOWN: JR K Zach Brown hit a 40-yard field goal in the win over NAU and is now 2-2 kicking this season. He has made eight straight field goals dating to last season. That extends his PSU career record total to 38 field goals. Brown has made 7-8 extra points for 13 total points... with 167 career points he is approaching the PSU top 10 career scoring list.

NEW ATTITUDE AT HOME: Portland State hopes to bring 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 have started their six-game home schedule 2-0... Head Coach Nigel Burton now has a 3-3 home record.

THE VIKINGS RECORD ON TV: Since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996, Portland State has appeared on television locally in Portland 38 times. PSU is 16-22 in those games, 10-7 at home, 6-15 on the road... the Vikings broke an 11-game TV losing streak with the win over Southern Oregon. PSU is now 2-0 this season on TV... the Vikings will have at least four games televised in the Portland area, though not this week's game.

CAREER AND MILESTONE WATCH: Here is a look at the active leaders in respective stats for the Vikings (and their all-time PSU ranking where applicable):

Games Played: DeShawn Shead, 2008-11, 35; Ryan Rau, 2008-11, 34; Braedyn Eagle, 2008-11, 34
Games Started: DeShawn Shead, 2008-11, 35 (consecutive); Zach Brown, 2009-11, 24
Receptions: Justin Monahan, 2010-11, 35; Keitrell Anderson, 2009-11, 19; Ricky Cookman, 2008-11, 17
Receiving Yards: Justin Monahan, 2010-11, 451; Keitrell Anderson, 2009-11, 251; Ricky Cookman, 2008-11, 193
Rushing Yards: Cory McCaffrey, 2008-11, 1,578 yards; Connor Kavanaugh, 2008-11, 1,116 yards
Passing Yards/TDs: Drew Hubel, 2007-11, 6,539 yards (5th all-time)/43 TDs (6th all-time);
    Connor Kavanaugh, 2008-11, 1,675 yards yards/8 TDs
Tackles: Ryan Rau, 2008-11, 198; DeShawn Shead, 2008-11, 157
Tackles For Loss: Ryan Rau, 2008-11, 14; Carl Sommer, 2009-11, 11; DeShawn Shead, 2008-11, 8.5
Sacks: Ryan Rau, 2008-11, 5; Carl Sommer, 2009-11, 4; Jack Forbes, 2010-11, 2
Interceptions: DeShawn Shead, 2008-11, 9
Pass Breakups: DeShawn Shead, 2008-11, 25
Field Goals: Zach Brown, 2009-11, 38 (1st all-time)