TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Pregame Show: Noon • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: http://www.WatchBigSky.com • Live stats: http://vikslive.statb.us and http://viksmobile.com

THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: North Dakota leads 2-1 • PSU leads 1-0 in Portland • UND leads 2-0 in Grand Forks
Sept. 6, 1980: PSU 28-14 @ Portland
Sept. 5, 1981: UND 17-10 @ Grand Forks
Sept. 8, 2012: UND 45-37 @ Grand Forks

LAST MEETING, Sept. 8, 2012: North Dakota 45, Portland State 37
Making his first career start, North Dakota quarterback Marcus Hendrickson threw six touchdowns passes to lead North Dakota to a 45-37 win in the Alerus Center. There were seven touchdowns of 25 or more yards in a game filled with big plays.

PSU's special teams struggles proved costly as the Vikings failed on an extra point attempt, had a field goal and a punt blocked - all in the first half.

The Vikings outgained North Dakota, 515-401. DJ Adams rushed 16 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. Justin Monahan caught six passes for 156 yards and two scores. 

Hendrickson had 294 passing yards for North Dakota. Greg Hardin caught six passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns. 

Although North Dakota joined the Big Sky in 2012, the game was played as a non-conference contest.

STORYLINES
• Portland State and North Dakota met for the first time in 31 years last season. That was played as a non-conference game, making this year's matchup a first-ever conference meeting between the schools.
• North Dakota will make its first appearance in Portland since 1980 and only its second trip to the Rose City all-time.
• North Dakota has been a member of the NCAA I FCS level since 2007. Previously, UND was a member of the Great West Football Conference. In six years at Division I North Dakota has compiled a 28-26 record.
• Wide receiver Greg Hardin was an All-American in 2012 with 65 receptions for 1,145 yards and 14 touchdowns.
• North Dakota is currently in the process of developing a new program mascot.

VIKINGS COME HOME FOR THREE OF THEIR NEXT FOUR GAMES
With a week's rest, the Portland State football team hopes to begin a revival of its season this Saturday at JELD-WEN Field. The Vikings have lost three straight games after starting 3-1 and now stand 3-4 overall, 0-3 in the Big Sky Conference. 

Portland State hosts the University of North Dakota in a 1:05 p.m. game on Saturday. The contest airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The pre-game show begins at noon. A live video stream is available at www.WatchBigSky.com.

The following week, PSU hosts Weber State, then after a trip to Idaho State on Nov. 9, comes home to face Sacramento State on Nov. 16. The regular season concludes at Eastern Washington on Nov. 23. 

With three of their next four games at home, the Vikings have a chance to turn around their recent trend. PSU lost to Cal Poly, Montana and Southern Utah in their first three Big Sky games. Last Saturday, the Vikings had a bye. PSU wants to continue the excellent defensive play it showed at Southern Utah (183 yards allowed) and while eliminating its offensive mistakes (5 turnovers).

North Dakota (2-5, 1-3) comes to JELD-WEN Field having lost two in a row. UND has played only one road game this season, and it was a 28-25 win at Idaho State. Four of North Dakota's five losses have come to nationally-ranked teams.

Although the teams played last season (a 45-37 UND victory) this marks the first Big Sky Conference game in history between the schools.

This Saturday's game is billed as the first annual Turkey Bowl. Anyone purchasing an adult ticket has an opportunity to get a free 10-pound Butterball turkey, courtesy of Portland State and KPTV. The first 5,000 adults through the turnstiles will receive a voucher for the turkey redeemable at local grocers.

SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA
Like the Vikings, North Dakota comes into Saturday's game attempting to end a losing streak. In its second season as a Big Sky Conference member, UND is 2-5 overall, 1-3 in conference play. Although it has played six of seven games at home, North Dakota has had a rugged schedule with four of those opponents being nationally-ranked. UND's only road game was a 28-25 win at Idaho State on Oct. 5.

North Dakota has a strong passing game with All-American wide receiver Greg Hardin a key target. He is one of three receivers with over 30 catches this year. Hardin has a team-high 633 yards and three touchdowns. Jameer Jackson leads the team and is second in the Big Sky (6.5 pg) with 39 receptions for 384 yards. Kenny Golladay has 37 catches for 515 yards.

Hardin is a factor in the kick return game as well, returning 26 kickoffs for a 27.2 average and two touchdowns. Hardin's 193.7 all-purpose yards per game leads the Big Sky.

UND has a pair of freshman quarterbacks that have run the offense. Joe Mollberg has been the main man, completing 117 of 192 passes for 1,393 yards and five touchdowns. He has also thrown 10 interceptions. 

North Dakota has 12 interceptions overall and 21 turnovers. It has also allowed a league-high 24 quarterback sacks.

Jake Miller leads the running game with 80 carries for 378 yards and five scores.

On defense, North Dakota is allowing 428.3 yards and 36.3 points per game. UND gives up 175 yards on the ground and 253 through the air while forcing only six turnovers. UND is second to last in the Big Sky in total defense and last in interceptions.

Linebacker Garrison Goodman leads the team with 44 tackles. Dominique Bennett has a team-high five sacks.

Zeb Miller has made 5-8 field goals for North Dakota this year. Mitch Meindel averages 42.5 yards per punt.

North Dakota is tops in the Big Sky in kick coverage due to 25 touchbacks in 36 kickoffs.

North Dakota has been good on third (45%) and fourth (8-10) downs this season, but has allowed opponents to convert as well (49% and 44%). UND is last in third-down defense.

UND is tops in the Big Sky in red zone offense, converting 19 of 21 trips, 16 of which have gone for touchdowns.

CLEANING UP THE MISTAKES
Usually the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins, right? Well, that may be put to the test this Saturday at JELD-WEN Field. Portland State (23) and North Dakota (21) are one and two in the Big Sky Conference in turnovers committed this season. North Dakota (-2.17) and Portland State (-1.71) are also one and two in turnover margin per game.

In addition, Portland State has committed the most penalties in the Big Sky (68-627), while North Dakota ranks 11th (53-478).

Whichever team can reverse those trends should also stop its losing streak.

TURKEY BOWL
Viking fans should gobble up tickets for the first annual Turkey Bowl this Saturday when Portland State hosts North Dakota in a Big Sky Conference football game. Portland State Athletics and KPTV are co-sponsoring the Turkey Bowl which will allow any adult to receive a free turkey with a paid ticket to the game ($19 general admission and up). 

The first 5,000 adult tickets presented at the gate on game day will receive a voucher for a free 10-pound Butterball turkey. Two vouchers would allow any fan to receive a free 20-pound Butterball turkey. Vouchers are redeemable at any local supermarket that sells Butterballs (The average price for turkeys is approximately $1.39 per pound).

Portland State season ticket holders, as well as any adult with a full price single-game purchased ticket will receive a voucher as they pass through the gates, with 5,000 vouchers available for giveaway.

Complimentary or discounted tickets are not eligible.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES

NIGEL BURTON ON THE RADIO: Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 3:15 p.m. on the Wheels At Work Show on Fox Sports Radio 620 AM. Burton will review and preview Viking football games... Burton can also be heard on the John Canzano's Bald Faced Truth Show on 750 AM The Game on Monday's of home football weeks. 

VIKING COACHES' LUNCHEONS: Viking Coaches Luncheons take place at noon every Monday at the Old Spaghetti Factory and continue weekly through March. 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 THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.WatchBigSky.com... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com with a mobile phone feature for in-stadium and on-the-go viewing: http://viksmobile.com.

THE VIK WALK: The Vik Walk begins on the Park Blocks with the team two and a half hours before every home 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.

TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $19 to $52, with youth prices as low as $9. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. Tickets are subject to service charge. To purchase tickets by phone, call 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.

SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE: VIKING QUICK NOTES

WINS AND LOSSES: Portland State is 3-4 on the season, 2-1 at home and 1-3 on the road... the Vikings are 8-6 at home since the start of 2011, 5-10 on the road... Head Coach Nigel Burton now has a 9-9 home record, 6-16 road record... the Vikings have eight winning records in 17 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference... PSU is 59-35 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 30-71 on the road... PSU is 57-77 all-time in Big Sky Conference games in its' 18th season as a member. The Vikings are 35-32 at home, 22-45 on the road in BSC games.

A SURPRISE IN CEDAR CITY: Portland State was held to seven points in the loss at Southern Utah on Oct. 12. The Vikings had a season-low 313 yards of total offense, but the main cause for the low scoring output were five turnovers. PSU now has 23 turnovers on the season. Only Savannah State (25) has committed more... two of PSU's turnovers led directly to Southern Utah touchdowns - a killer in a 17-7 loss... the seven points scored were the fewest in a Big Sky Conference game by a Viking team since a 14-0 loss at Montana State on Oct. 7, 2006... the Vikings went into the Southern Utah game averaging 574.3 yards of total offense per game. That number has now dipped to 537.0, but PSU still ranks third in the nation in total offense and first in the Big Sky.

OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: PSU has totaled more than 600 yards of offense in three games this season. Here are the season highlights:
• PSU averages 247.0 yards rushing per game to ranks second in the Big Sky and 11th the nation.
• The Vikings average 537.0 yards of total offense to lead the Big Sky and rank third in the nation.
• For the season, Portland State is averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per play.
• The Vikings lead the nation with 17.6 yards per pass completion.
• SR RB DJ Adams ranks third in the Big Sky Conference and 22nd in the nation in rushing at 106.1 yards per game.
• JR WR Kasey Closs leads the Big Sky and ranks eighth in the nation with 103.1 receiving yards per game. He averages 20.1 yards per catch and has five touchdowns. Other Vikings with big receiving averages include Victor Dean (15 catches, 22.2 ypc) and Roston Tatum (7 catches, 31.9 ypc).
• SO QB Kieran McDonagh leads the nation with 17.6 yards per completion.

BEST FOOT IN THE NATION: JR P Kyle Loomis has an interesting story (see below) as a veteran of one season of football at Oregon State (2006) and nearly four years in the US Army. Having celebrated his 26th birthday on Sept. 30, he is the oldest Viking, but also one of the most effective. After seven years away from football, Loomis is averaging 47.7 yards per punt to LEAD the nation. Of his 32 punts, 14 have gone 50+ yards, two have gone 60+ and 11 have been downed inside the 20... Loomis has twice boomed a season-best 67-yarder (against Humboldt State and Southern Utah).

ON THE BLOCK: Portland State blocked two punts at Southern Utah on Oct. 12. SR S Michael Plummer got his hand on a Thunderbird punt, as did SR DE Bryant Long. Both punts did go forward though, preventing any return by the Vikings... PSU now has five blocked kicks on the season as JR WR Victor Dean has blocked three field goals. 

MORE SPECIAL TEAMS: Some special teams highlights for the Vikings this season.
• Portland State has blocked a total of five field goals (3) and punts (2).
• The Vikings allow only 14.7 yards per kick return which ranks third in the nation.
• The Vikings' net punting average is 41.9, ranking second in the nation.
• With a 24.4 kick return average, FR RB Nate Tago ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference.

KASEY'S CONTRIBUTION: JR WR Kasey Closs leads the Vikings with 36 catches for 722 yards and five touchdowns. His average of 103.1 yards per game leads the Big Sky and ranks eighth in the nation... Closs averages 20.1 yards per catch... A walk-on, Closs has three 100-yard games.

DEAN'S LIST: JR WR Victor Dean had two big games in a row against a pair of nationally-ranked teams (Cal Poly and Montana), totaling eight receptions for 207 yards. Five of those eight catches went for touchdowns, including a 12-yarder and a 71-yarder against Montana. In addition, Dean blocked a field goal against the Griz - his third of the season.

THE TOUCHDOWN MAKER: SR RB DJ Adams has been kept out of the endzone for three straight weeks and that is very unusual. Adams had seven touchdowns in the first four games this season. He had 19 TDs through 15 career games before being shutout in the last three... counting his two seasons at Maryland, Adams has 34 career rushing touchdowns on 394 carries. That is one end zone trip for every 12 totes... Adams is 11th all-time at PSU with 19 touchdowns in less than two seasons... Adams leads the Vikings with 743 rushing yards this season. He averages 6.1 yards per carry. He has four 100-yard games this season... following a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns at UC Davis (9/21), Adams earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. In that game, he averaged 14.9 yards per carry and had scoring runs of 85 and 27 yards.

CONSIDERING KIERAN: SO QB Kieran McDonagh has twice set career highs for passing yards in a game this season (308, then 377) and also set a career-high for total offense (441). McDonagh has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season and run for three more... the sophomore from Vancouver's Skyview High School was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week after the 37-30 loss to Cal. He had 308 passing yards, 368 total yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown... McDonagh is averaging 283.9 yards of total offense per game... McDonagh leads the nation in yards per completion (17.6).

GETTING DEFENSIVE:
• The Vikings put on their best defensive performance in some time, holding Southern Utah to 183 yards of total offense. Of the 17 points scored by the Thunderbirds, they came on touchdown drives of 18 and 1 yards, and a field goal drive of 12 yards. The 183 yards allowed were the fewest in two seasons.
• Portland State has forced 11 turnovers in seven games.
• Portland State ranks fifth in the nation in tackles for loss per game (8.7).
• SR S Dean Faddis leads the Vikings with 64 tackles this season and has five games of at least 10 tackles.
• SR LB Jaycob Shoemaker has 57 tackles in six games played to rank fifth in the Big Sky (9.2 pg). He leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and ranks 10th in the Big Sky.
• The six points allowed by the Viking defense to Humboldt State were the fewest given up since a 52-0 win over Southern Oregon in the 2011 opener (a span of 24 games).

RED ZONE REVIEW: Portland State had allowed opponents 29 trips into the red zone through seven games. Only 15 times have the opponents scored touchdowns (52%). There had also been eight field goals, two missed field goals and three losses of possession on downs.

SACKED: Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in sacks after four games with 17. In the last three games, the Vikings have made only one quarterback sack. 

OFFENSIVE LINE LEGACY: Portland State's offensive line has allowed only four sacks in seven games this season. That is the fewest in the Big Sky and ranks fifth fewest in the nation... PSU gives up only 3.29 tackles for loss per game, which is second in the nation... in 2012, PSU gave up only seven sacks while throwing 343 passes.

HANG ON: Turnovers have been a problem for Portland State this season. The Vikings have 23 giveaways through seven games - an average of more than three per contest. PSU has lost 12 fumbles on the season after having only eight fumbles lost in all of 2012. PSU has a -1.7 turnover margin which is 12th in the league and 118th  in the nation... the 23 turnovers is 121st in the nation.

CLEAN IT UP: Portland State continues to be a heavily penalized team. The Vikings improved in that area against Southern Utah with only five penalties for 45 yards. The Vikings now have 68 penalties for 627 yards on the season (89.6 yards per game). That ranks last in the Big Sky Conference and 118th in the nation.

A DISTURBING TREND: Portland State lost a double-digit lead in the second half to lose to Cal Poly, 38-34 on Sept. 26. PSU was up 14-0, and then 21-7 entering the third quarter. Cal Poly ran off four straight touchdowns to take the lead and eventually win the game. It marks the fourth time in two seasons PSU has given up a double-digit lead at home to lose.

VETERANS: Among Portland State's returning players, SR RB Justin Lilley has appeared in the most career games (39), followed by SR C Mitch Gaulke (34) and SR DE Bryant Long (34)… Gaulke has the most career starts (34), followed by SR OL Mitchell Van Dyk (28) and SR LB Jaycob Shoemaker (20).