complete notes and stats in pdf

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-5, 1-3) vs. UC DAVIS AGGIES (3-5, 2-3)
Game 8 • Saturday, October 27, 2012 • 2 p.m. • Aggie Stadium (10,849), Davis, CA

TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Pregame Show: 1 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live stats: http://www.ucdavisaggies.com/gametracker/ • Live video stream: www.bigskytv.org
 
THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 7-4 • PSU leads 5-2 in Portland • The series is tied 2-2 in Davis
Big Sky Conference Series: 1st meeting

Sept. 14, 1974: UCD 50-21 @ Davis
Nov. 15, 1975: PSU 32-21 @ Portland
Nov. 21, 1992: PSU 42-28 @ Portland (NCAA II playoff game)
Oct. 7, 1995: PSU 40-13 @ Portland
Oct. 12, 1996: PSU 32-27 @ Portland
Nov. 20, 2004: PSU 38-21 @ Portland
Sept. 10, 2005: PSU 14-12 @ Davis
Sept. 8, 2007: UCD 26-17 @ Portland
Sept. 13, 2008: UCD 38-24 @ Davis
Oct. 24, 2009: UCD 34-31 @ Portland
Sept. 11, 2010: PSU 41-33 @ Davis

STREAKS
• Portland State last lost four straight road games this season.
• SR K Zach Brown has made nine conssecutive field goals and 15 straight extra points.
• SR OL Kyle Ritt has played in 40 straight games, starting 37 in a row.

VIKINGS PLAY LONG-TIME FOE IN FIRST CONFERENCE MATCHUP
Portland State and UC Davis will meet for the 12th time ever but the first time as conference opponents when they face one another in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday at Aggie Stadium. The Vikings (2-5, 1-3) and Aggies (3-5, 2-3) will battle in a 2 p.m. game as both teams seek to put together winning seasons down the home stretch.
    
This week's game will be the first non-televised contest for the Vikings all season. But the game is available on the radio at Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The pre-game show begins at 1 p.m. A live video stream of the game is available at www.bigskytv.org beginning at 2 p.m.
    
Both teams come off losses last Saturday to nationally-ranked teams. Portland State fell to 14th-ranked Cal Poly, 37-25, in San Luis Obispo. The Vikings held a 25-20 lead in the third quarter, but were outscored 17-0 the rest of the way. The Aggies were held scoreless for more than three periods at #16 Northern Arizona before losing 21-7.
    
Portland State is now 0-4 on the road this season and seeks its first win away from home after going 3-3 on the road last season. Davis, CA is the location of third-year Head Coach Nigel Burton's first career win. He led the Vikings to a 41-33 non-conference victory at Aggie Stadium on Sept. 11, 2010 in the most recent meeting between the schools.
    
UC Davis won the three prior meetings over the Vikings between 2007-09. Portland State leads the all-time series, 7-4. It is tied, 2-2, at Davis.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
UC Davis comes into Saturday's game at 3-5 on the season, 2-3 in its opening campaign as a Big Sky Conference member. The Aggies have wins over Weber State and Idaho State and losses to Cal Poly, Montana State and Northern Arizona - all of whom are currently ranked.
    
Head Coach Bob Biggs is in his 20th season at the helm and he maintains a 143-83-1 career record.
    
Offensively, the Aggies have run hot and cold. In four games - the three wins and a 48-41 loss to then-number-two ranked Montana State - UCD averaged 42.8 points. In the other four games, all losses, the Aggies averaged 12.0 points. For the season, UC Davis is averaging 360.0 yards per game, which ranks 10th in the Big Sky Conference.
    
The Aggies average 223.8 passing yards per game, but have thrown 11 interceptions and been sacked 26 times. Randy Wright has thrown for 1,681 yards, 9 touchdowns and 10 picks. His main target has been wide receiver Corey Galindo with 23 receptions for 418 yards and two scores.
    
Marquis Nicolis and Colton Silveria have split the running chores, combining for 822 of UCD's 1,090 rushing yards. Oddly, Dalton Turay (140 yards, 5 TDs) and Courtney Williams (196 yards, 6 TDs) have scored the bulk of the touchdowns.
    
On defense, UC Davis allows 389.6 yards per game, 159 on the ground and 230 through the air. The Aggies have made a lot of big plays, forcing 16 turnovers and making 20 sacks.
    
Linebacker Byron Gruendl leads the team with 62 tackles. He also has two sacks and two interceptions. Jordan Glass, also a linebacker, has 58 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. Defensive end Nick King and defensive tackle Andrew Benjamin have 4.5 sacks each to lead the team.
    
The Aggies have a strong kicking game. Brady Stuart has converted 10-13 field goals this season. Punter Colton Schmidt has a 43.4 yard average, while the Aggies net punting (39.8) ranks third in the nation.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
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
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.
    
FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
WINS AND LOSSES: Portland State is 2-5 on the season, and has lost four straight on the road... PSU is 2-1 at home, 0-4 on the road... the Vikings are 6-3 at home since the start of 2011, 3-6 on the road... Head Coach Nigel Burton now has a 7-6 home record, 4-12 road record... the Vikings have eight winning records in 16 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference... PSU is 57-32 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 28-67 on the road... PSU is 56-71 all-time in Big Sky Conference games in its' 17th season as a member. The Vikings are 35-29 at home, 21-42 on the road in BSC games.

STOPPING THE RUN: Portland State had done a solid job in stopping the run this season prior to giving up 341 yards on the ground to Cal Poly's triple option offense. However, the Mustangs needed 79 rushing plays to reach that total and averaged a modest 4.3 yards per carry... prior to that game, the Vikings other four Big Sky opponents averaged only 86.7 rushing yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry... Portland State has allowed 146.0 yards on the ground per game this year, 243.3 through the air... opponents have run 297 times and passed 213 times.

RUN GAME ROULETTE: Portland State has started three different players at running back this season. Leading rusher JR RB DJ Adams has just one start (at Northern Arizona) but has 95 carries for 575 yards and five touchdowns to lead the team. Adams ranks third in the Big Sky Conference with over 82.7 rushing yards per game.... SO RB Shaquille Richard has 68 carries for 313 yards and two scores with one start. JR RB Justin Lilley has 14 carries for 80 yards, though he has started five games. Also integral to the run game has been FR QB Kieran McDonagh with 56 carries for 271 yards and six TDs... the four main men average 185.9 rushing yards and the team averages 202.7 per game.

BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State ranks third in the Big Sky Conference in total offense (442.3 yards per game) and fourth in scoring at (34.6 points per game). Portland State averages 202.7 yards on the ground (3rd) and 239.6 yards through the air (7th)... the Vikings have allowed the fewest sacks in the league with just three despite 220 pass attempts. That mark ranks third in the nation and will be tested by a UC Davis team that has made 26 sacks this season... PSU also leads the Big Sky in tackles for loss with 8.1 per game and ranks seventh in the nation in that category.

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. Neil Lomax did not start until game eight of his freshman year... McDonagh has started all seven games and has 1,596 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. He has run 56 times for 271 yards and six touchdowns. McDonagh is averaging 266.7 yards of total offense per game... McDonagh's 1,596 passing yards is the most by a freshman quarterback at Portland State since Neil Lomax had 1,670 yards as a part-time starter in 1977. Lomax's total is the most ever by a Viking freshman QB.

TOP FRESHMAN SEASONS AT QUARTERBACK
1977    Neil Lomax, 102-181-5, 1,670 yards, 18 TDs, .561 (9 games, 3 starts)
2012    Kieran McDonagh, 117-209-7, 1,596 yards, 11 TDs, .560 (7 games, 7 starts)
2007    Drew Hubel, 123-217-11, 1,470 yards, 15 TDs, .567 (6 games, 4 starts)
1997    Jimmy Blanchard, 115-211-5, 1,185 yards, 3 TDs, .545 (redshirt FR, 9 games, 3 starts)

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 leads the team with 21 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He also has one running play of 11 yards and a touchdown pass thrown for 22 yards.

MONEY MAN: Despite missing three games this season, SR WR Justin Monahan has 16 receptions, and team-highs of 379 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Monahan has 461 all-purpose yards for an average of over 115 per game... at North Dakota, Monahan caught six passes for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns... Monahan was the Vikings' leading receiver in 2011 (52-707-6). He has 98 career catches for nearly 1,453 yards and 12 touchdowns.

DEFENSE STARTS SLOW, FINISHES BETTER: The Viking defense has allowed 1,574 yards of offense and 156 points in the first half (224.9/22.3). In the second half it has allowed just 1,151 yards and 85 points (164.4/12.1)... the Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in tackles for loss (8.1 pg) and have four defensive TDs.

THE SLUSS REPORT: That's his twitter handle, and SR LB Ian Sluss has a lot of followers on the field and off. The preseason All-Conference Viking has lived up to his billing, with 70 tackles to rank third in the Big Sky. He also has 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Sluss made a dozen tackles at Washington, 12 more against Southern Utah, then a career-high 17 at Northern Arizona... he returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown against Idaho State... then he returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown against Cal Poly... his four takeaways leads the team.

HOOKED ON BASS: SR LB Khalil Bass ranks second on the team with 64 tackles and and third with eight TFLs... Bass returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown against Idaho State... he has led the team in tackles three times this year.

THE SHOE FITS: JR LB Jaycob Shoemaker's return to play after missing almost a season-and-a-half with injury is inspiring. “Shoe” has 61 tackles, nine tackles for loss, an interception return for touchdown and two pass breakups... Shoemaker had a career-high 17 tackles at Cal Poly. That total ranks tied for eighth most in a game in PSU history.

BIG PLAY OFFENSE: Portland State has a total of 28 offensive touchdowns with 15 of them coming on plays of 25 yards or longer... FR QB Kieran McDonagh's 11 TD passes average 41.4 yards in length.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK: All-American SR K Zach Brown finally returned to play after being out with an injury since the first drive of the first game of the season. Brown kicked a 35-yard field goal - his first of the year and two extra points against Cal Poly... Brown has made nine straight field goals dating to last season... he now has 61 career field goals which is a PSU record... Brown would have had an excellent shot at the Big Sky Conference record (76), but that appears out of reach with just four games to play... Brown was the nation's top kicker in 2011. He was a consensus first team All-American, earning honors from Associated Press, The Sports Network, the AFCA, and Walter Camp, while being named the nation's top kicker by the College Football Performance Awards and College Sporting News… Brown was also a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, recognizing kickers for excellence on the field and community service… in addition, Brown led the nation in field goals made with 24-27. He broke his own Portland State record for field goals made (18), and now owns 10 school records… he is a six-time Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.

ZACH BROWN's PORTLAND STATE KICKING RECORDS
Field Goals, Season: 24
Field Goals, Career: 61
Field Goals, Consecutive: 16
Field Goal Percentage, Season: 24-27 (.889)
Field Goal Percentage, Career: 61-79 (.772)
Field Goals, 50+ yards, Career: 6
PATs, Consecutive: 44 (tied)
PAT Percentage, Career: .973 (73-75)
Scoring, Season by a Kicker: 99 points (101 points total with 2-pt conversion)
Scoring, Career by a Kicker: 257 points (261 total with two two-point conversions)

PLAYMAKER: SR WR Nevin Lewis has played in six games and touched the ball 35 times as a receiver, runner and kick returner, totaling 736 yards (21.1 yards per touch) and two touchdowns... Lewis averages 122.7 yards per game... with 379 kick return yards this year, Lewis now ranks third all-time in career kickoff return yards at PSU (1,496).

DUYNDAM WATCH: SR P Thomas Duyndam has a 42.2 punting average this season, just off his career-best of 42.6 in 2010 and the PSU record of 42.8... PSU nets an excellent 39.5 yards on Duyndam's punts.

RECORD TOTALS: Portland State's 77-10 win over Idaho State marked the most points scored by a Viking team since Nov. 8, 1980 when Mouse Davis and Neil Lomax led a 105-0 win over Delaware State at then-Civic Stadium. The irony is that both Davis and Lomax were in the house to see the game against ISU; Lomax as a spectator and Davis as an analyst on the Viking TV broadcast on Comcast SportsNet... PSU rushed for 437 yards against Idaho State breaking the school record of 436 set against the same Bengal team in 2011... the Vikings' 758 yards of total offense were the second-most in school history. The most is 788, set by the Vikings in 1976 against Eastern Montana under the guidance of Davis... PSU averaged 9.1 yards per play against Idaho State.

NEW IN THE LINEUP: On offense, the Vikings had new starters in SO LG Cornelius Edison, FR QB Kieran McDonagh and SO WR Alex Toureen against Carroll... the defensive line had three new starters with SR DE Marquis Jackson, JR DE Nick Alexander and JR DT Zack Ka'ahanui. Also new in the starting lineup on defense were SR CB Aaron Kincy and JR CB Dennis Fite... against North Dakota FR OL John Archuleta and SO K Nick Fernandez had their first career starts... SR S Andrew Godinet made his first career start at Washington... FR CB Aaron Sibley made his first career start against Southern Utah... FR S Nick Rothstein made his first career start at Northern Arizona... FR WR Thomas Carter moved into a starting role as a slot receiver against Idaho State, while SO S Henry Organ made his first start in the defensive backfield, and FR LS Kameron Canaday also started for the first time... JR DE Jeremy Boone was a first-time starter against Cal Poly. Also, starting for the first time in two years was JR S Nathan Snow.

VETERANS: SR OL Kyle Ritt is one of 12 fourth-year seniors on the roster for 2012, but he is the only offensive player to compete in all 40 games over the past four years. He has the most starts of all offensive players with 39… SR K Zach Brown has started and played in 35 games. SR P Thomas Duyndam has played in 39 career games, with his only miss due to the Vikings not punting in a win at UC Davis in 2010. Duyndam has 38 starts… on defense, Mike Williams has played in the most games with 39 appearances. SR DT Dereck Jester (37) follows close behind. SR S Joel Sisler has the most starts on defense (31), followed by Williams (28).

2012 HIGHLIGHT REEL
BIG PLAY FIRST DAY: Portland State made several big plays in a season-opening 38-20 win over Carroll College (9/1). JR RB DJ Adams opened with a 46-yard touchdown run. That was followed by a 32-yard interception return for touchdown by JR LB Jaycob Shoemaker. JR RB Justin Lilley caught a 36-yard touchdown pass off a deflection intended for another player. And, SO RB Shaquille Richard scampered 80 yards with a screen pass for a score.

MONEY HANDS: SR WR Justin Monahan had a big day in his return to the field against North Dakota (9/8) despite a 45-37 loss. Monahan caught a 65-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and went on to make six catches for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns. He had 226 all-purpose yards.

BIG GAINS: Despite a 49-42 loss to Southern Utah (9/22), Portland State's offense totaled 587 yards, the most in 14 starts by a Viking team. FR QB Kieran McDonagh had 270 yards and two touchdowns passing and 52 yards rushing for 322 yards of total offense. The Vikings had seven players with positive rushing yards and nine with receptions.

KIERAN'S BIG DAY: FR QB Kieran McDonagh accounted for six touchdowns in the Vikings' 77-10 win over the Idaho State Bengals (10/6), earning Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week and The Sports Network's National Freshman of the Week for the NCAA I FCS level. McDonagh rushed for four touchdowns, passed for one touchdown, and caught a touchdown pass for good measure. In all, McDonagh completed 15-23 passes for 280 yards, rushed 10 times for a career-high 66 yards and had a 22-yard reception for a total of 368 yards. McDonagh's rushing touchdowns were 26, 11, 2 and 2 yards. His passing TD was 12 yards to freshman wide receiver Thomas Carter and his receiving TD was a 22 yarder from Carter on a trick play. It's also worth noting the McDonagh left the game before the end of the third quarter.

MOST POINTS IN 32 YEARS: Portland State's 77-10 win over Idaho State marked the most points scored by a Viking team since Nov. 8, 1980 when Mouse Davis and Neil Lomax led a 105-0 win over Delaware State at then-Civic Stadium. The irony is that both Davis and Lomax were in the house to see the game against ISU. Lomax as a spectator and Davis as an analyst on the Viking TV broadcast on Comcast SportsNet. PSU rushed for 437 yards against Idaho State breaking the school record of 436 set against the same Bengal team in 2011. The Vikings' 758 yards of total offense were the second-most in school history. The most is 788, set by the Vikings in 1976 against Eastern Montana under the guidance of Davis. PSU averaged 9.1 yards per play against Idaho State.