complete game notes and stats in pdf

#5 EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (8-2, 6-1) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-7, 2-5)
Game 11 • Saturday, November 17, 2012 • 1:07 p.m. • JELD-WEN Field (18,627), Portland, OR

TELEVISION: Comcast SportsNet (ch. 37/HD 737 in Portland)
Play-by-play: Bob Akamian • Analyst: Mouse Davis • Sidelines: Trysta Krick
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com
Pregame Show: Noon • 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: PSU leads 19-14-1 • PSU leads in Portland 10-7 • PSU leads in Cheney 9-6-1 • EWU leads in Seattle 1-0
Big Sky Series: Series is tied 8-8 • Series is tied in Portland 4-4 • PSU leads in Cheney 4-3 • EWU leads in Seattle 1-0

Big Sky Conference games
Sept. 28, 1996: EWU 24-7 @ Cheney
Sept. 20, 1997: EWU 31-14 @ Portland
Sept. 12, 1998: PSU 30-27 @ Cheney (ot)
Sept. 16, 1999: PSU 48-39 @ Portland
Nov. 11, 2000: EWU 27-24 @ Portland
Nov. 10, 2001: PSU 37-22 @ Cheney
Oct. 12, 2002: PSU 34-31 @ Portland
Oct. 11, 2003: EWU 42-16 @ Cheney
Oct. 2, 2004: EWU 41-21 @ Portland
Oct. 1, 2005: EWU 42-24 @ Cheney
Oct. 21, 2006: PSU 34-0 @ Portland
Sept. 29, 2007: PSU 28-21 @ Cheney
Oct. 4, 2008: PSU 47-36 @ Portland
Oct. 31, 2009: EWU 47-10 @ Seattle
Oct. 30, 2010: EWU 50-17 @ Portland
Oct. 29, 2011: PSU 43-26 @ Cheney

STREAKS
• Eastern Washington has won two games in a row.
• Portland State has lost two games in a row.
• The Vikings have lost 15 straight games the nationally-ranked teams (FCS or FBS). The last win was over 11th-ranked Eastern Washington (47-36) in 2008.
• SR OL Kyle Ritt has played in 43 straight games, starting 41 in a row.

LAST YEAR: PORTLAND STATE 43, EASTERN WASHINGTON 26
Connor Kavanaugh rushed for 154 yards and passed for 147 in leading the Vikings to a 43-26 win at Eastern Washington in 2011. PSU totaled 499 yards of offense. Justin Monahan caught two touchdown passes among his eight receptions. The Vikings also forced three turnovers, including a momentum-gathering Joel Sisler interception return for touchdown in the third quarter. PSU held the Eagles to -1 yard rushing, aided by five sacks of EWU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.

STORYLINES
• Eastern Washington is the closest - in proximity - Big Sky Conference opponent, and the Eagles also maintain the longest continuous series with the Vikings. This year the teams will meet for the 23rd consecutive season.
• The Big Sky series is as even as can be, tied 8-8 overall, with each team 4-4 at home and road venues.
• Eastern wide receiver Nick Edwards is the top returning touchdown maker in the Big Sky Conference (19), after making 95 receptions for 1,250 yards last year. Greg Herd (67-1,022-7) and Brandon Kaufman are also back and give the Eagles a brilliant receiving trio.

VIKINGS TAKE ON ROLE OF THE SPOILER IN SEASON FINALE
The Portland State Vikings (3-7, 2-5) will have to settle for the role of the spoiler as they play their 2012 season finale this Saturday at JELD-WEN Field. The Vikings host the fifth-ranked Eastern Washington Eagles (8-2, 6-1), who stand in a four-way tie for the first place in the Big Sky Conference. A Viking win would prevent the Eagles from a chance at the title, though EWU would appear to be a lock for an NCAA playoff berth either way. The game is part of the Dam Cup series between the two schools (see DAM CUP below).
    
The game kicks off a 1:07 p.m. and can be seen on Comcast SportsNet Northwest. The game is also available on the radio at Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The pre-game show begins at noon.
    
Portland State has dropped its last two games, a 32-28 home loss to Northern Colorado on Nov. 3, then a 65-30 defeat to second-ranked Montana State last Saturday in Bozeman. The Vikings would like to finish the 2012 season on an upswing with their first win over a nationally-ranked team since 2008. Ironically, that team was Eastern Washington as PSU beat an 11th-ranked Eagles team, 47-36, in Portland.
    
Last year, the Vikings beat Eastern Washington 43-26 in Cheney. PSU leads the all-time series, 19-14-1. The Big Sky series is tied 8-8.
    
Eastern Washington defeated UC Davis 31-28 last Saturday to give themselves a shot at a Big Sky Championship. The Eagles program won the NCAA I FCS National Championship in 2010.
    
PSU is 2-2 at home this season, while the Eagles are 3-2 on the road.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Washington won the National Championship in 2010, then missed the playoffs in 2011 with a 6-5 record. However, the Eagles appear to be back in the hunt for another title in 2012. At one point, Eastern Washington was ranked number one in the nation. Currently, EWU is ranked fifth.
    
The Eagles have wins over FBS Idaho, and nationally-ranked Montana State and Cal Poly. They nearly upset Pac-12 Washington State, losing 24-20.
    
Head Coach Beau Baldwin is in his fifth season with the program and has compiled a 41-18 record.
    
The Eagles are solid on both sides of the ball, averaging 431.3 yards of total offense while giving up just 22.3 points per game (second-best in the Big Sky) on defense.
    
Freshman quarterback Vernon Adams is ranked 10th in the nation in pass efficiency (152.0), completing nearly 63% of his passes for 1,504 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. Kyle Padron has also started and seen significant action this season, passing for 1,308 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
    
The Eagles have a wide receiver group that may be the best in the nation. They include Brandon Kaufman (56-1,109-10), Greg Herd (46-631-6), Ashton Clark (37-403-3) and Nick Edwards (26-299-1). Kaufman leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks ninth in the nation in receiving yards.
    
EWU has a running back group that is averaging nearly 150 yards per game. Quincy Forte leads the way with 446 rushing yards.
    
On defense, the Eagles allow 389 yards per game, have made 26 sacks and forced 19 turnovers.
    
Linebacker Ronnie Hamlin leads the team with 98 tackles this season. Defensive end Jerry Ceja has nine sacks.
    
Special teams are also a bright spot. Kicker Jimmy Pavel is 16-17 on field goals, while punter Jake Miller averages 43.3 yards per punt. Both players rank in the top 10 in the nation in their respective categories.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK: Saturday's game is a Dam Cup contest, part of the year-long all-sports competition between Portland State and Eastern Washington... 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.
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. 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.

THE DAM CUP
The Portland State Vikings and Eastern Washington Eagles are in the third year of a five-sport rivalry cup called The Dam Cup. The Dam Cup celebrates the friendly rivalry between the states of Oregon and Washington within the Big Sky Conference. Saturday's football game will be worth four points in the Dam Cup series. Portland State currently leads the competition, 5-0.
    
The so-named rivalry refers to the four dams linking Oregon and Washington that one passes on the 339-mile drive from the Portland State campus to the Eastern Washington campus. Located along the Columbia River, they are Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, The John Day Dam and the McNary Dam.  
    
The five sports competing for the cup are football, women's soccer, women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball. The purpose of the Dam Cup is to create a rivalry between Portland State University and Eastern Washington University and provide a sense of pride between alumni in the Portland and Spokane areas. Other goals include increasing attendance at events between both schools and building school spirit among each institutions' student body.
    
The winner of the Dam Cup will possess The Dam Trophy acknowledging the achievement for the following year. Portland State currently possesses the Dam Trophy having won the inaugural Dam Cup in 2010-11 by a 9-8 score, and the 2011-12 Cup by a 15-2 score.
    
The Dam Cup is based on a point system.  Each game played in the five sports between the two schools has a point value. Points are only rewarded for regular season contests. The annual football game is worth four points, the women's soccer match is worth one point, each women's volleyball match is worth two points for a total of four points possible, and each men's and women's basketball game is worth two points for a total of four points possible in each sport, The total points possible are 17 which means that to win the cup a school would need to win at least 9 points.

The 2012-13 Dam Cup Series
Volleyball - Sept. 17 PSU 3, @ EWU 0 - PSU leads 2-0
Soccer - Sept. 30 @ PSU 4 @ EWU 0 - PSU leads 3-0
Volleyball - Oct. 18 @ PSU 3, EWU 0 - PSU leads 5-0
Football - Nov. 17 @ PSU
Men's Basketball - Jan. 28 @ EWU, Feb. 18 @ PSU
Women's Basketball - Jan. 21 @ PSU, Feb. 21 @ EWU

VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State will play its fourth nationally-ranked opponent this season when it faces #5 Eastern Washington. The Vikings lost at #22 Northern Arizona, 24-10, at #14 Cal Poly, 37-25, and at #2 Montana State, 65-30. PSU is 14-32 all-time against nationally-ranked FCS teams, 14-38 against all Division I ranked teams.
    • PSU is 10-12 at home against nationally-ranked FCS opponents.
    • PSU has lost 15 straight games to nationally-ranked teams (FCS or FBS).
    • The Vikings last win over a nationally-ranked team was #11 Eastern Washington (47-36) in 2008. PSU also won at #21 Eastern Washington (28-21) in 2007.

25 SENIORS SAY GOOD-BYE THIS SATURDAY
    Prior to this week's season finale game against Eastern Washington, the Viking football program and Portland State Athletics would like to recognize 25 seniors playing in their final game.
    
1, Dionte Brooks, LB, Compton, CA (Compton/El Camino JC)
    Brooks has played two seasons for the Vikings on defense and special teams. He has 49 tackles and seven tackles for loss.

2, Nick Green, WR, Ridgefield, WA (Central Catholic/Air Force)
    Green has played quarterback, safety, wide receiver and on special teams for the Vikings, making 25 tackles during his career.

4, Aaron Kincy, CB, St. Petersburg, FL (Murray St/Butte JC)
    A starter this season at cornerback, Kincy has been in the program for two seasons. He has made 32 tackles in 16 games played.
    
7, Marquis Jackson, DE, Northridge, CA (Birmingham/Texas Southern)
    Jackson transferred from Texas Southern for his final season of play. A starter at defensive end, he leads the Vikings in sacks (6.5), while making 9.5 tackles for loss, 35 total tackles and four pass breakups.
    
12, Kalua Noa, TE, Kuliou'ou, HI (Kaiser)    
    Noa has played in 32 games for the Vikings and has 39 career catches and three touchdowns. He has been a regular starter at tight end the past two seasons.

19, Zach Brown, K, Keizer, OR (McNary)    
    An injury to open the season forced Brown to miss several games, but he has made 4-5 field goals. It hasn't diminished his kicking career at PSU and his label as the finest kicker in school history. Brown was a consensus first-team All-American in 2011, leading the nation in field goals made. He holds 10 Portland State kicking records.
    
23, Andrew Godinet, S, Waipahu, HI (Kamehameha/Hawai'i)
    Godinet has played in 31 games at defensive back and special teams for the Vikings. This season he has earned two starts. For his career, Godinet has 33 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
    
25, Michael Williams, S, Houston, TX (Aldine)
    One of the most experienced Vikings with 41 career games played, Williams has started 29 times in his career. He has 136 tackles, three interceptions and 17 pass breakups in his career.
    
29, Denzel Davis, RB, Garland, TX (South Garland)
    Davis has played four seasons for the Vikings at defensive back, special teams and running back. Davis has played in 29 career games for the Vikings. He had a 76-yard rushing game in last season's final contest.

30, Thomas Duyndam, P, Melbourne, Australia (St. Bernard's)
    After coming all the way around the world to play for the Vikings, Duyndam has been a four-year starter at punter. He has two of the best punting seasons in school history and a chance to break the season average record this Saturday.

39, Ben Bowen, RB, Visalia, CA (Mt. Whitney)
    Bowen has played in 38 career games at running back and on special teams. He has nearly 500 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, as well as 10 tackles.

40, Ian Sluss, LB, Vista, CA (Rancho Buena Vista/Redlands)
    Sluss was an All-Big Sky Conference player in his first season and is a top candidate again this year as he leads the Vikings in tackles (97) and the Big Sky in interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (4). Sluss was a team-leader and captain this season. In two seasons, he has 152 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and eight takeaways. Also a team captain.
    
42, Joel Sisler, LB, Escondido, CA (Escondido)
    Sisler's senior season ended early due to injury, but he was an impact player throughout his career, playing in 35 games and starting 31. He finishes with 99 tackles, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
    
52, Khalil Bass, LB, Encino, CA (Crespi/C. of the Canyons)
    Bass was a starter at middle linebacker this season and played two solid years for the Vikings with 120 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.
    
69, Kyle Ritt, OL, Aloha, OR (Aloha)    
    The team's Iron Man, Ritt will be the only Viking to play in all 44 games over the past four seasons. He has started 41 in a row and today will be his 43rd career start. He has played on an offensive line that twice led the Big Sky in rushing offense, and once led the nation in passing offense.

70, Dereck Jester, DT, Thousand Oaks, CA (Thousand Oaks)
    A veteran on the defensive line, Jester has started every game this season for the Vikings. This will be his 41st career game. He has 47 tackles and seven tackles for loss.
    
72, Dalton Jasso, OL, Lakewood, CA (Lakewood)
    A backup on the offensive line, Jasso has played in 13 career games.    
    
75, Joey Esposito, OL, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (El Camino JC)
    A starter the past two years for the Vikings, Esposito was part of last year's offense that led the Big Sky Conference and set a school record for rushing. Most impressive though, Esposito has overcome cancer twice in his life.
    
78, Anthony Moxley, OL, Moreno Valley, CA (Mt. San Jacinto JC)
    Moxley has been a backup on the offensive line the past two seasons playing in six games.
    
80, Greylin James, TE, Federal Way, WA (Federal Way)
    Has played in 10 games in his PSU career at tight end and on special teams. A key blocker in the Viking running game in 2011.

81, Hank Taylor, WR, Toledo, OH (Anthony Wayne/Mt. Union)
    Originally a quarterback, Taylor moved to wide receiver in 2011. Has played in four career games.
    
84, Justin Monahan, WR, West Linn, OR (West Linn/Whitworth)
    Became the Vikings' top receiver over the past three seasons, making more than 100 career catches to put him in the top 15 in Portland State history. Has 106 career catches for 1,550 yards and 13 touchdowns. Also a team captain.
    
85, Nevin Lewis, WR, Culver, OR (Culver)    
    An all-around talent, Lewis has been a star at receiver and on special teams, earning first team All-Big Sky Conference on special teams in 2011. Lewis has 2,606 all-purpose yards in his career and ranks third all-time in kick return yards.
    
86, Gage Loftin, TE, Spanish Fork, UT (Spanish Fork/Snow)
    Loftin has played two seasons at tight end for the Vikings as a part-time starter. A strong blocker, he also has 12 receptions for 188 yards.
    
87, Keitrell Anderson, WR, Houston, TX (Aldine)
    A part-time starter throughout his career, Anderson has played in 33 career games. He has 45 receptions for 464 yards and three touchdowns.

FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
McDONAGH NAMED TO THE JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST: Portland State freshman quarterback Kieran McDonagh has been named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List as one of the top freshmen in the nation... McDonagh, a true freshman from Vancouver's Skyview High School, has been the catalyst for a Viking offense this season that ranks third in the Big Sky Conference in scoring (34.9 points per game) and total offense (440.2 yards per game). The Vikings are 14th in the nation in scoring and 15th in total offense... for his part, McDonagh is averaging 233.7 yards of total offense per game. He has completed 148 of 270 passes for 2,001 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. McDonagh has run 76 times for 336 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a 22-yard touchdown reception... while other true freshmen have started at quarterback in Portland State history, McDonagh is believed to be the first true freshman to start his first game. He has started all nine contests for the Vikings this year and is now the all-time freshman passing leader at PSU (Neil Lomax, 1,670 yards in 1977; Drew Hubel, 1,470 yards in 2007)... McDonagh earned National Freshman of the Week honors on Oct. 6 after leading the Vikings to a 77-10 win over Idaho State. He was 15-23 passing for 280 yards and a touchdown, rushed 10 times for 66 yards and four touchdowns, and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Nominees for the Jerry Rice Award Watch List: Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington; Zak Browning, Southern Utah; Reese Hannon, Furman; Ryan Heaston, Missouri State; Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga; Jake Hutson, Valparaiso; Jameer Jackson, North Dakota; Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah; Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa; T.J. Lally, South Dakota State; Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri State; Kieran McDonagh, Portland State; Sean Price, Appalachian State; J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois; Luke Rhodes, William & Mary; Elandon Roberts, Morgan State; John Robertson, Villanova; Andre Stubbs, Youngstown State; Jeff Williams, Delaware; Josh Woodrum, Liberty

CAN HE REACH 1,000?: JR RB DJ Adams heads into the season's final game with 911 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. With a 91-yard per game rushing average, Adams is on pace to just reach 1,000 for the season. Can he do it? There have been 17 1,000-yard rushers in Portland State history, all of which have come since 1987. The last player to do so was QB Connor Kavanaugh last year with 1,060 yards.

RUN GAME ROULETTE: Portland State has started three different players at running back this season. Leading rusher JR RB DJ Adams has just three starts but has 143 carries for 911 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the team. Adams ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference with 91.1 rushing yards per game and has four 100-yard games this season... SO RB Shaquille Richard has 99 carries for 449 yards and two scores with two starts. JR RB Justin Lilley has 30 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown, though he has started five games. Also integral to the run game has been FR QB Kieran McDonagh with 76 carries for 336 yards and eight TDs... the four main men average 187.4 rushing yards and the team averages 218.3 per game.

BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State ranks third in the Big Sky Conference in total offense (442.2 yards per game) and scoring (34.9 points per game). Portland State averages 218.3 yards on the ground (3rd) and 222.4 yards through the air (10th)... the Vikings have allowed the fewest sacks in the league (7) despite 298 pass attempts. That mark ranks third in the nation... PSU also leads the Big Sky in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game and ranks seventh in the nation in that category... SR LB Ian Sluss leads the Big Sky Conference in interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (4).

HALF AND HALF: Portland State allows 395.3 yards per game on defense. That ranks a respectable sixth in the Big Sky Conference. However, the Vikings are giving up 35.5 points per game, which ranks 12th. That large total, accentuated by Montana State's 59 points in the first half last Saturday, can be attributed to poor starts defensively in several games. The Vikings have allowed 239 first-half points (23.9), but only 116 second-half points (11.6).

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 28 catches for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He also has five rushes for 21 yards and a touchdown, and a touchdown pass thrown for 22 yards to FR QB Kieran McDonagh.

MONEY MAN: Despite missing three games this season, SR WR Justin Monahan has 24 receptions, and team-highs of 474 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He averages 19.8 yards per catch... 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 106 career catches for 1,550 yards and 13 touchdowns.

@THESLUSSREPORT: That is the twitter handle for SR LB Ian Sluss and he has gained a lot of followers on and off the field. A second-team All-Big Sky Conference selection last year, Sluss was a preseason All-Conference pick this season. And, he has lived up to the billing. Sluss leads the Vikings in tackles with 97, and he leads the Big Sky Conference in interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (4). In addition, Sluss has two sacks, three pass breakups, three defensive touchdowns and 10 tackles for loss... in PSU's 49-21 win over UC Davis on Oct. 27, Sluss earned Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week by making six tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. He came up with all four turnovers in the fourth period to preserve the win... 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... he returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown against Cal Poly... against UC Davis, Sluss had a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown... Sluss added 11 tackles against Northern Colorado.

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 79 tackles, a team-high 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception return for touchdown... Shoemaker had a career-high 17 tackles at Cal Poly. That total ranks tied for eighth most in a game in PSU history.

HOOKED ON BASS: Although he missed the game at Montana State, SR LB Khalil Bass ranks third on the team with 75 tackles and and fourth 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.

SACK MASTER: SR DE Marquis Jackson has been a regular threat in opponent backfields this season. Jackson leads the Vikings with 6.5 sacks. That is the most by a Viking since Adam Hayward had 9.5 in 2006. Jackson also has 35 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.

BIG PLAY OFFENSE: Portland State has a total of 41 offensive touchdowns with 18 of them coming on plays of 25 yards or longer... FR QB Kieran McDonagh's 13 TD passes average 41.0 yards in length.

MULTI-PURPOSE LINE: Give it up for the Portland State offensive line once again this season. The Viking running game is averaging 218 yards per game. At the same time, the line has allowed only seven sacks all season to rank third in the nation. PSU has 298 pass attempts and averages 223 yards per game through the air. PSU is 15th in the nation in total offense and 15th in scoring... PSU led the Big Sky in rushing each of the last two years and passing offense the two years prior to that.

YOUTH IS SERVED: Much was made of Portland State's recruiting class last February, including being selected by the Sports Network as one of the top two signing classes in all of the Football Championship Subdivision. And, after nine games played, the results are mostly in... this freshman class has to be one of the best ever, if not the best Portland State has seen. So far this season, 19 freshmen (9 true/10 redshirt or transfer) have played in games. The freshmen have 112 games played and 26 starts... also playing major roles are six 2012 transfers (JR RB DJ Adams, JR S David Edgerson, SR DE Marquis Jackson, JR CB Dennis Fite, JR DT Zack Ka'ahanui, JR DE Nick Alexander). Adams, Edgerson, Fite and Ka'ahanui were among the original signing class on Feb. 2 - signing either NLIs or transfer aid agreements. If you include late signees Sibley, Alexander and Jackson, 16 members of the signing class of 2012 are playing roles with the team this season.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK: All-American SR K Zach Brown finally returned to play against Cal Poly 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... last Saturday, Brown made 3-3 at Montana State... he now has 64 career field goals which is a PSU record. He is also the nation's current active leader in field goals made... Brown would have had an excellent shot at the Big Sky Conference field goal record (76), but is out of reach due to his games missed... 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: 64
Field Goals, Consecutive: 16
Field Goal Percentage, Season: 24-27 (.889)
Field Goal Percentage, Career: 64-83 (.771)
Field Goals, 50+ yards, Career: 6
PATs, Consecutive: 44 (tied)
PAT Percentage, Career: .966 (85-88)
Scoring, Season by a Kicker: 99 points (101 points total with 2-pt conversion)
Scoring, Career by a Kicker: 278 points (282 total with two two-point conversions)

DUYNDAM WATCH: SR P Thomas Duyndam has a 42.2 punting average this season, just shy of his career-best of 42.6 in 2010 and close to the PSU record of 42.8.

GAULKE, TOUREEN EARN ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS: A pair of Vikings have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 team for their performance in the classroom and on the field. JR C Mitch Gaulke has been named Academic All-District for the second straight season, while SO WR Alex Toureen is Academic All-District 8 for the first time.

The CoSIDA Academic All-District teams are selected from all Division I programs - FBS and FCS - in balloting by the College Sports Information Directors of America. District 8 includes a majority of the western United States, including Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawai'i. Nominees must maintain a 3.30 GPA, be an on-field contributor and at least sophomore academic standing. Ten of the 25 members of the District 8 team include members of Big Sky Conference teams. Locally, Oregon State is also represented on the team.
    
Gaulke, from West Linn High School, has been a starter the past two seasons at center and has 26 career starts as a Viking. Gaulke is a Business Administration: Accounting major with a 3.71 GPA. He has been a member of an offense that has had the Big Sky's top rushing attack the last two seasons (2010 and 2011) and ranks third in the Big Sky in scoring (34.9) and total offense (442.2) this season. Gaulke was Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Sky, PSU's Team Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and honorable mention All-Big Sky in 2011.
    
Toureen, from Cottage Grove High School, has played in eight games this season making four starts. Toureen is a Business Administration major with a 3.92 GPA. He has seven receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown this season. He also has two punt returns and four kick returns totaling 107 yards.
    
Both Gaulke and Toureen will advance to the national ballot for the CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.