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IDAHO STATE BENGALS (1-3, 0-1) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-4, 0-2)
Game 6 • Saturday, October 6, 2012 • 5:07 p.m. • JELD-WEN Field (18,627), Portland, OR

TELEVISION: Comcast SportsNet Northwest (ch. 37/HD 737)
Play-by-play: Tod Pickett • Analyst: Mouse Davis • Sidelines: Trysta Krick
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com
Pregame Show: 4 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live stats: http://vikslive.statb.us. Live video stream: www.bigskytv.org
 
THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: ISU leads 23-13-1 • The series is tied in Portland 9-9 • ISU leads in Pocatello 14-4-1
Big Sky Conference Series: The series is tied 8-8 • ISU leads in Pocatello 6-2 • PSU leads in Portland 6-2

Big Sky Conference games
Nov. 16, 1996: ISU 31-12 @ Portland
Nov. 15, 1997: ISU 26-24 @ Pocatello
Sept. 26, 1998: ISU 43-41 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 1999: PSU 52-13 @ Pocatello
Oct. 14, 2000: PSU 59-21 @ Portland
Oct. 13, 2001: ISU 23-17 @ Pocatello
Nov. 2, 2002: PSU 27-24 @ Portland
Nov. 1, 2003: ISU 30-20 @ Pocatello
Nov. 6, 2004: PSU 42-21 @ Portland
Nov. 5, 2005: ISU 36-34 @ Pocatello
Oct. 14, 2006: PSU 34-13 @ Portland
Oct. 20, 2007: ISU 38-20 @ Pocatello
Oct. 25, 2008: PSU 36-13 @ Portland
Nov. 14, 2009: ISU 41-34 @ Pocatello
Oct. 2, 2010: PSU 38-3 @ Portland
Oct. 1, 2011: PSU 42-35 @ Pocatello

STREAKS
• Portland State has won two in a row in the series, and six straight in Portland
• Idaho State has lost two games in a row and 11 of its last 12 games.
• The Bengals have lost 35 straight road games.
• Portland State has lost four in a row.
• SR OL Kyle Ritt has played in 37 straight games. Ritt has started 36, including the last 33.

LAST YEAR: PORTLAND STATE 42, IDAHO STATE 35
Portland State's 42-35 win at Idaho State last season broke a streak of 11 straight years of the home team winning each game of the series. It marked the Vikings' first win in Pocatello since 1999. The Vikings set a school record with 436 rushing yards in the victory. Quarterback Connor Kavanaugh rushed for 212 yards and four touchdowns, earning Big Sky and National Player of the Week honors. Cory McCaffrey rushed for 218 yards and two scores.

VIKINGS HOST IDAHO STATE AS THEY ATTEMPT TO HALT SKID
Two teams in great need of a victory will meet in a Big Sky Conference game this Saturday as Portland State (1-4, 0-2) hosts Idaho State (1-3, 0-1) in a 5:07 p.m. contest. The Vikings come in having lost four straight, while the Bengals have lost two in a row and 10 of their last 11.    
    
Saturday's game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Northwest. It also airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The pregame radio show begins at 4 p.m.
    
Portland State is on its longest losing streak since dropping the last seven games of the 2010 season. And, a 2012 campaign that showed great promise has been slowed by injury and inconsistent play to this point. A win against the Bengals would salve those wounds and be welcome as the Vikings don't return home again until November. PSU has won two straight against Idaho State, and has won six straight home games over ISU.
    
An offense that had been very effective through four games lost its way in a 24-10 loss at Northern Arizona last Saturday. The Vikings managed just 271 yards after entering the game with a total offense average of 431 yards and 32.5 points per game.
    
The Bengals come off a big 54-31 home loss to Sacramento State in their first conference game of the year. It marked their third loss in four games and third time they have given up 49 points or more.
    
Portland State is 1-1 at home this season, while the Bengals are 0-2 on the road.

SCOUTING THE BENGALS
Idaho State comes to Portland State seeking its first win in Portland since 1998. The Bengals have lost six in a row when coming to the Rose City since that time. The most recent loss was a 38-3 decision in 2010 (though that game was played at Hillsboro Stadium).
    
This season, the Bengals have started 1-3, and are coming off a 54-31 home loss to Sacramento State.  Idaho State has lost eight straight Big Sky games. Moreover, ISU has not won a road game since Oct. 7, 2006 - a stretch of 35 straight road losses.
    
Quarterback Kevin Yost leads an offense that produces 456 yards per game, with 400 coming through the air. Idaho State has thrown 237 passes this season and run just 101 times. Yost is 141-216 for 1,460 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
    
Derek Graves is the Bengals' top receiver with 36 catches for 306 yards and a touchdown. Cam Richmond has 30 receptions for 335 yards and two touchdowns.
    
Rodrick Rumble, a preseason All-American, had 11 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown against Sacramento State. He has played in just two games this year. In that game, Josh Hill had 12 catches for 123 yards against the Hornets.
    
While the Bengals have no trouble moving the ball through the air, they have had a lot of trouble stopping opponents on the ground. Idaho State is allowing 487 yards and 45.2 points per game. Opponents have run for an average of 329.8 yards per game and 7.4 yards per carry.
    
The Hornets had 551 yards, including 349 on the ground in last week's game against Idaho State.
    
Linebacker Demetrius Allen leads Idaho State with 31 tackles this season, including three for losses. Defensive back Donovan Henley has 25 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups.
    
Idaho State ranks first in the Big Sky Conference in passing offense, but last in rushing offense, total defense and points allowed.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK: This week's game will be Homecoming... The Vik Walk begins on the Park Blocks with the team two and a half hours before every game. The team will walk to JELD-WEN Field and fans are welcome to join. They will pass the Viking Tailgate area on SW 18th and Salmon and the Cheerful Bullpen... at every game, fans can check in at JELD-WEN Field on facebook or tweet with the hashtag #goviks to win a GoViks wristband, located at the marketing table by Gate 1... all youth football participants get in free if they are wearing a jersey and accompanied by a paid adult ticket.
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 John Canzano Show on 750 AM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES' LUNCHEONS: Viking Coaches Luncheons are scheduled for Sept. 17, 24, Oct. 8, 29, Nov. 12 at noon at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Coach Nigel Burton, Viking players, and coaches representing other sports will be on hand to speak and take questions. Luncheons take place at The OSF at 0715 S.W. Bancroft in Portland. The cost is $10.00 per person and includes lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage.
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 TELEVISION: Portland State will appear on television a record nine times in 2012. PSU and Comcast SportsNet have teamed up to present six Viking games, including four self-produced home games and two that will be picked up from opponent feeds. The home games will feature veteran broadcaster Bob Akamian and Portland State coaching legend Mouse Davis in the booth. Trysta Krick will be on the sidelines.
REMAINING TELEVISED GAMES IN THE PORTLAND AREA
Oct. 6, Portland State vs. Idaho State, 5 p.m., CSNNW
Oct. 20, Portland State at Cal Poly, 6 p.m., CSNNW (opponent feed)
Nov. 10, Portland State at Montana State, 12:30 p.m. PT, Root
Nov. 17, Portland State vs. Eastern Washington, 1 p.m., CSNNW
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.bigskytv.org... Live stats for Portland State home games are at vikslive.statb.us with an available mobile phone feature.
TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $14 to $50, with youth prices as low as $7. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. Tickets are subject to service charge. 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.

FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
OFFENSE HITS A ROAD BLOCK: For the most part this season, the Portland State offense has hummed along effectively. PSU entered last Saturday's game averaging 32.5 points and 431 yards per game - both excellent numbers. In fact, PSU had its best offensive game the previous Saturday against Southern Utah with 42 points and 587 yards of offense. But, Northern Arizona set out a road block, halting the Vikings march. PSU managed just 85 yards of offense in the first half, falling behind 17-3. A lengthy scoring drive in the second half got the game to 17-10, but the Vikings were inconsistent the rest of the way. The result was just 271 yards of total offense and 10 points - the fewest scored by a Viking team since a 69-0 loss to Oregon in 2010 - a span of 24 games.

STOPPING THE RUN: Although the Viking defense has struggled at times this season, they were respectable against Northern Arizona, allowing 348 yards and 24 points. And, one of the touchdowns came after a turnover when NAU needed only a 17-yard drive. In fact, the Vikings held NAU back Zach Bauman to 92 yards on 28 carries one week after he rushed for 254 against Montana. PSU had 11 tackles for loss in the game and held the Lumberjacks to 86 yards on 40 carries... it was the second week in a row that PSU held a Big Sky opponent to 86 rushing yards. Southern Utah had that total on 29 carries on Sept. 22... although it was a non-conference game, North Dakota had 35 rushing plays for only 107 yards... that means three Big Sky opponents have averaged only 93 rushing yards per game against PSU, and better yet just 2.8 yards per carry...
Portland State has allowed 261 yards passing per game and 16 passing touchdowns in five games. On the ground, they give up 122.6 and just 3.2 yards per carry... opponents have run 193 times and passed 154 times.

RUN GAME ROULETTE: Portland State has now started three different players at running back this season. Leading rusher JR RB DJ Adams got his first start at NAU. Adams has 71 carries for 396 yards and four touchdowns to lead the team. SO RB Shaquille Richard has 46 carries for 197 yards and two scores. JR RB Justin Lilley has 12 carries for 65 yards. Also integral to the run game has been FR QB Kieran McDonagh with 41 carries for 178 yards and two TDs... the four main men average 167 rushing yards and the team averages 172.6 per game.

DJ MEANS TD: Though he was held without a touchdown against Northern Arizona, JR RB DJ Adams has been the Vikings' top running back. He leads the team with 71 carries for 396 yards and four touchdowns... in fact, counting his Maryland career (15 TDs on 107 carries), Adams has scored 19 touchdowns on 178 running plays, an average of one score for every 9.3 touches.

TRUE FRESHMAN TAKES FIRST SNAPS: It can't be confirmed, but it is believed that FR QB Kieran McDonagh is the first true freshman quarterback to start his first game at Portland State since at least the 1950s, if ever. Drew Hubel started as a true freshman in 2007 but not until the seventh game of the season... McDonagh has started all five games and has 1,095 passing yards and eight touchdowns. He has run 41 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns. McDonagh is averaging 254.6 yards of total offense per game... McDonagh has benefitted from an offensive line that has allowed the fewest sacks in the league (3, ranking sixth in the nation), but there have been some growing pains as he has thrown two interceptions in each of the Vikings' four losses.

GOOD MOVE: FR WR Thomas Carter started his PSU career as a quarterback. He redshirted in 2011, then after two weeks of fall practice this season, he was moved to wide receiver. The move is paying off as Carter has 13 catches on the season for 124 yards. Carter had six for 81 yards and a touchdown against Southern Utah.

DEFENSE STARTS SLOW, FINISHES BETTER: The Viking defense has allowed 1,132 yards of offense and 129 points in the first half (226/25.8). In the second half it has allowed just 786 yards and 65 points (157/13.0).

'BACKERS IN FRONT: Preseason All-Conference SR LB Ian Sluss has lived up to his billing, with a Big Sky-leading 58 tackles. He also has 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Sluss made a dozen tackles at Washington, 12 more against Southern Utah, then a career-high 17 at Northern Arizona... SR LB Khalil Bass ranks second on the team with 47 tackles and 5.5 TFLs as well... JR LB Jaycob Shoemaker's return to play after missing almost a season-and-a-half with injury is inspiring. “Shoe” has 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, an interception return for touchdown and two pass breakups... the Vikings lead the Big Sky with 8.2 tackles for loss per game, ranking fifth in the nation.

IT DOESN'T ADD UP: Portland State is averaging 398.8 yards of offense and 28.0 points per game. However, the Vikings are giving up 383.6 yards and 38.0 points per game. A big reason for the discrepancy is a -6 turnover ratio. PSU has given it away 11 times but forced only five turnovers.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOT SO SPECIAL: The Vikings had one of the top special teams units in the nation on every team last year. But one year has made a huge difference, especially with injuries factored in. In the past three games, the Vikings have had five punts or kicks blocked and commited two turnovers. Too bad, because when the Vikings have gotten the kicks away, they have been good. SO K Nick Fernandez is 5-6 on field goals when not blocked, and SR P Thomas Duyndam is averaging 42.3 yards with and excellent net of 40.1. In fact, with a 42.3 yard average this year, Duyndam is close to the Portland State season record of 42.8. Duyndam's career-best is 42.6 in 2010.

PLAYMAKER: SR WR Nevin Lewis is a playmaker, as proven by his 2011 season. He was 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 had 29 kick returns for an average of 23.7 per return... as a receiver, Lewis had 22 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns. He had one rush for seven yards and completed a 14-yard touchdown pass on a reverse play... this season, Lewis has played in four games and touched the ball 27 times as a receiver, runner and kick returner, totaling 503 yards (18.6 yards per touch) and two touchdowns... Lewis averaged 125.8 yards per game... with 297 kick return yards this year, Lewis now ranks third all-time in career kickoff return yards at PSU (1,414).

BIG PLAY OFFENSE: Portland State has a total of 17 offensive touchdowns with 10 of them coming on plays of 25 yards or longer... FR QB Kieran McDonagh's seven TD passes average 46.1 yards in length.