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: Portland State leads 22-9 • PSU leads 12-3 at Portland • PSU leads 10-6 at Sacramento
Big Sky Series: Portland State leads 12-4 • PSU leads 7-1 in Portland • PSU leads 5-3 in Sacramento

Big Sky Conference games
Nov. 2, 1996: PSU 38-31 @ Portland
Nov. 1, 1997: PSU 27-13 @ Sacramento
Oct. 10, 1998: PSU 58-31 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 1999: SAC 41-14 @ Sacramento
Sept. 16, 2000: PSU 35-23 @ Sacramento
Nov. 24, 2001: PSU 52-33 @ Portland
Oct. 19, 2002: PSU 34-20 @ Sacramento
Oct. 18, 2003: PSU 20-7 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 2004: PSU 31-0 @ Sacramento
Sept. 17, 2005: PSU 28-12 @ Portland
Nov. 11, 2006: PSU 13-7 @ Sacramento
Sept. 15, 2007: PSU 35-24 @ Portland
Sept. 27, 2008: SAC 41-31 @ Sacramento
Oct. 3, 2009: SAC 31-14 @ Portland
Nov. 6, 2010: SAC 28-15 @ Sacramento
Nov. 5, 2011: PSU 29-20 @ Portland 

LAST MEETING, Nov. 5, 2011: Portland State 29, Sacramento State 20
Portland State's defense held the Hornets to just 129 yards passing and 307 overall as the Vikings picked up an important home win in a potential run to the playoffs. The Vikings' gave up an interception for touchdown in the first half, then a turnover on their own one to set the Hornets up with two touchdowns. However, the defense handled things the rest of the way. DeShawn Shead led the Vikings with eight tackles, a sack and an interception. Connor Kavanugh threw for 271 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 89 more and another score. He found Justin Monahan six times for 154 yards. PSU had 421 yards of total offense.

STORYLINES
• After playing for 18 straight seasons, including 16 straight in Big Sky Conference contests, Portland State and Sacramento State did not play in 2012 due to league expansion. The teams have met 28 times in the last 30 years.
• PSU ended a three-game Hornets' winning streak in the series with a 29-20 win in 2011.
• In 2009, the Hornets won at JELD-WEN Field for the first time since 1985. At that time, the two teams were members of the old NCAA II Western Football Conference.
• Portland State leads the all-time series 22-9 and the Big Sky series 12-4. PSU is 12-3 in Portland all-time and 7-1 in Big Sky games in Portland.

VIKINGS WILL LOOK FOR FOUR IN A ROW ON SENIOR DAY
A suddenly red-hot Portland State football team will go after its fourth straight win this Saturday at JELD-WEN Field when the Vikings host Sacramento State. It will be Senior Day as the Vikings honor 16 seniors in their final home game. Kickoff for the contest is 1:05 p.m.

This week's game is not televised. It can be heard 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.

Portland State won its third in a row last Saturday when it defeated Idaho State 38-31 in Pocatello. That improved the Vikings' record to 6-4 overall, 3-3 in the Big Sky Conference. PSU is now assured of at least a .500 season with two games remaining on the schedule. 

The Vikings running game has been as good as ever during the Viking winning streak. PSU has run for 281, 350 and 395 yards in those wins. The Vikings average 275.5 yards per game on the ground this season to rank fourth in the nation. PSU has also broken the school record for total rushing yards in a season (2,755). The previous mark was 2,726 in 2011.

Sacramento State stands at 4-6 on the season, 3-3 in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets have lost two in a row to a pair of quality teams. Montana beat Sacramento State, 51-48, in overtime two weeks ago. Last Saturday, the Hornets lost at Cal Poly, 42-7. Sacramento State has a 2-3 road record this season.

Due to the expansion of the Big Sky Conference to 13 teams in 2012, the Vikings and Hornets have not met since 2011. That game was a 29-20 PSU win at JELD-WEN Field. Sacramento State had won the three prior meetings, but overall PSU has dominated the series (22-9 all-time, 12-4 in Big Sky games).

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State has had an exciting season to say the least, with three games going to overtime (the Hornets have gone 1-2 in those contests) out of 10 played. Sacramento State is 4-6 on the season, 3-3 in the Big Sky Conference. Head Coach Marshall Sperbeck is now in his seventh season with the Hornets and has a 34-43 record.

Quarterback Garret Safron has been the offensive leader for the Hornets. He has completed 238-337 passes (63%) for 2,514 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Safron also leads the team in rushing with 416 yards and five touchdowns. Four other running backs have combined for over 1,000 rushing yards and seven touchdowns (Ezekiel Graham, Brandon Kellermann, Demetrius Warren and Jordan Robinson).

The Hornets have a pair of receivers that rank among the best in the Big Sky in Morris Norrise and DeAndre Carter. Carter has 59 catches for 801 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns. Norris has 68 receptions for 643 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks second in the Big Sky in receptions per game (6.8).

Linebacker Todd Davis has been the anchor of the defense with a Big Sky-leading 107 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Darnell Sankey leads the team with 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries.

THIS SATURDAY'S EVENTS
• Military Appreciation Day
• Senior Day
• It will be KGW Discount Day. Buy two tickets and get two tickets free.
• KGWs Drew Carney will attempt to kick a field goal. If he can do so, every fan in attendance will receive a coupon for a free steak sandwich at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.
• Columbia Sportswear will offer a discount coupon based on the number of points scored by the Portland State Vikings. There will be a percentage off up to 30% (30 points or more) based on the total number of points scored by PSU.

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.

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 TELEVISION: Portland State has four televised games in 2013, three of which are on the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week. The final televised game is coming up on Nov. 23 at Eastern Washington, 2:45 p.m., Root Sports.

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.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?
Portland State concludes the regular season at Eastern Washington on Nov. 23. If PSU can win its final two games, it would be 8-4 on the season, 5-3 in the Big Sky. That would put the Vikings close to a potential NCAA playoff berth. However, there are currently six Big Sky schools ahead of Portland State in the standings (Eastern Washington, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Montana, Cal Poly, and Southern Utah). The Big Sky Conference has never had more than three teams selected to the field in one post-season. But, the FCS playoff field expands to 24 teams this year, so it is realistic to think the Big Sky will get four teams into the post-season. So there is a chance, but the Vikings need two wins and some help in the standings to get serious consideration.

SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE: VIKING QUICK NOTES

RUNNING WILD: Portland State has three of the top six rushing performances in school history this season.  The Vikings' 395-yard effort at Idaho State ranks sixth all-time in PSU history. The Vikings have also had 427 rushing yards against UC Davis (4th) and 405 against Eastern Oregon (5th)... SR RB DJ Adams had 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns at ISU, marking his second 200-yard game of the season... SR QB Collin Ramirez ran for a career-high 117 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries... SO TE Hayden Plinke rushed 10 times for 48 yards from a wildcat formation... with 2,755 yards and a 275.5 yard per game average, the Vikings have broken the season rushing record (2,726 in 2011) and are on pace to break the rushing average of 247.8 ypg, set that year.

MORE OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: PSU has totaled more than 600 yards of offense in three games this season and averages 517.0 yards per game - a school record pace. Here are the season highlights:
• PSU averages 275.5 yards rushing per game to rank second in the Big Sky and fourth the nation.
• The Vikings average 517.0 yards of total offense to rank second the Big Sky and sixth in the nation.
• The Vikings lead the nation with 16.6 yards per pass completion.
• SR RB DJ Adams ranks second in the Big Sky Conference and ninth in the nation in rushing at 120.7 yards per game.
• JR WR Kasey Closs ranks fifth in the Big Sky and 21st in the nation with 90.6 receiving yards per game. He averages 18.9 yards per catch, has five touchdowns and three 100-yard games.
• SO QB Kieran McDonagh leads the nation with 16.9 yards per completion.

DJs MILESTONE: SR RB DJ Adams became just the 10th Viking in history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and the feat has now been accomplished 18 times (all since 1987). With 201 yards last week, Adams has 1,207 yards after 10 games to rank 12th all-time... with 120.7 rushing yards per game, Adams ranks ninth in the nation in rushing. Here is a look at DJ in the record book after 20 career games:
Rushing, Season: 1,207 yards, 12th
Rushing, Career: 2,174, 9th
Rushing TDs, Career: 25, 6th-tie
100-yard Games, Career: 11, 6th
100-yard Games, Season: 7, 7th-tie

ANOTHER 1,000 ON THE WAY?: With two games to play, JR WR Kasey Closs has 906 receiving yards on 48 receptions. Closs has a realistic chance at 1,000 yards this year. That standard has been reached 14 times by 12 different players in Portland State history. The receiving record is 1,299 yards by Randy Nelson in 1969.

THE TOUCHDOWN MAKER: SR RB DJ Adams leads the Vikings with 13 touchdowns this season. Adams has 25 TDs in his 21-game PSU career. Counting his two seasons at Maryland, Adams has 40 career rushing touchdowns on 476 carries. That is one end zone trip for every 11.8 totes... 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... Adams had his second career 200-yard game with 201 yards and two touchdowns at Idaho State (11/9).

BEST FOOT IN THE NATION: Speaking of excellent special teams play, JR P Kyle Loomis continues to lead the nation in punting. Loomis has a 47.8 average and of his 47 punts, 18 have gone over 50 yards. He has a pair of 67-yard punts this season. Sixteen of Loomis' punts have been downed inside the 20 yard line and 14 have been fair caught... Loomis 47.8 average is well ahead of the PSU all-time season record of 42.8 (John Kincheloe, 1979)... Portland State's 42.5 net punting average also leads the nation... 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. Loomis has accomplished all of this after seven years away from football.

BLOCK PARTY: The block party continues for the Vikings. SR S David Edgerson blocked a Weber State field goal two weeks ago, bringing PSU's season total of kick blocks to seven, which leads the nation... JR WR Victor Dean has blocked three field goals, SR S Michael Plummer has blocked two punts, SR DE Bryant Long has blocked one punt this year. 

STILL MORE SPECIAL TEAMS: In addition to PSU's kick-blocking abilities and sensational punting game, the Vikings hold opponents to 14.4 yards per kickoff return this season. That number leads the Big Sky and ranks fourth in the nation.

REALITY CHECK: Portland State still has one important area of special teams to get fixed. The field goal kicking game has been a disappointment, making just 3-12 attempts this season. FR K Marcus Kinsella has taken over the kicking duties the last two weeks, making 2-5.

DEFENSE HITS ITS STRIDE: Portland State's defense has shown great improvement over the past three games, particularly in run defense. PSU has given up only 283 rushing yards in the last four games on 129 carries (2.2 ypc). In fact, five of the last eight Viking opponents have failed to run for 100 yards.

QUARTERBACK ROULETTE: Portland State had used all three of its quarterbacks at some point in each of the previous two games before starting SR QB Collin Ramirez against Weber State. That marked the first time that SO QB Kieran McDonagh had not started or played in a game (19 straight starts). Ramirez has now started the last two games, both wins. He has totaled 18-42 passing for 274 yards, one touchdown and one interception.  Ramirez also ran the ball 12 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns at Idaho State.

THE DEFENSIVE EDGE: SR S David Edgerson is tied for the lead in the Big Sky Conference and ranks ninth in the nation with four interceptions. Edgerson was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28 after making two interceptions against North Dakota... on Nov. 2 against Weber State, Edgerson returned a fumble 28 yards for a score, blocked a field goal and made six tackles... Edgerson had a season-high 10 tackles at Idaho State and has 61 on the season.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: 
• Portland State has forced 16 turnovers in 10 games.
• Portland State ranks seventh in the nation in tackles for loss per game (8.1).
• SR S Dean Faddis has 80 tackles and a team-leading seven pass breakups this season.
• SR LB Jaycob Shoemaker leads the team with 82 tackles to rank seventh in the Big Sky (9.1 pg). Shoemaker also leads the Vikings with 223 career tackles.
• SR DE Bryant Long leads the team with nine tackles for loss. SO DT Junior Alexis has 4.5 sacks this season.
• The Viking defense has 22 quarterback sacks.

RED ZONE REVIEW: Portland State has allowed opponents 37 trips into the red zone this season. Only 19 times have the opponents scored touchdowns (52%). There has also been two turnovers, 10 field goals, three missed field goals and three losses of possession on downs.

OFFENSIVE LINE LEGACY: Portland State's offensive line has allowed only four sacks this season - the fewest sacks allowed by any team in the nation... PSU gives up only 4.1 tackles for loss per game, which is 10th in the nation... in 2012, PSU gave up only seven sacks while throwing 343 passes.

DEAN'S LIST - FADDIS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: SR S Dean Faddis has been selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 team. Faddis was selected to a team that includes eligible student-athletes from all Division I schools in most of the western United States. He now advances to the national ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors... Faddis, a 6-foot, 205-pounder from Ramona, CA, has started every game this season for the Vikings. He shares the team lead with 75 tackles and also leads the team with five pass breakups. Faddis also has four tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. Faddis is majoring in Physical Activity and Exercise and has a 3.62 GPA.

2013 HIGHLIGHT REEL

DYNAMIC DUO: Portland State's 57-17 opening-night win over Eastern Oregon (8/29) was led by a pair of dynamic offensive performers. SR RB DJ Adams rushed 17 times for 107 yards and three touchdowns in little more than two periods. SO QB Kieran McDonagh completed 7-11 passes for 170 yards a two scores while playing just the first half. In all the Vikings had 672 yards of total offense (10th-most all-time), and 405 yards rushing (4th-most all-time).

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Portland State totaled 280 yards in the first quarter and 434 by halftime in a 37-30 loss to California (9/7). The Vikings jumped to a quick lead and led for half of the game. SO QB Kieran McDonagh hit JR WR Kasey Closs on an 81-yard touchdown pass on the game's second play. McDonagh went on to total a career-high 308 passing yards. With 60 rushing yards and a touchdown, McDonagh had 368 yards of total offense, was responsible for two touchdowns and earned Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week. PSU totaled 553 yards of offense in the game.

A COMPLETE GAME: Portland State had a slow start, but ended up with a fast finish in a 43-6 rout of Humboldt State (9/14). The Vikings totaled 622 yards of offense, including career-best marks of 377 passing yards and 441 total offensive yards by SO QB Kieran McDonagh. He threw two touchdowns passes while JR RB Shaq Richard and SR RB Justin Lilley each ran for two touchdowns... the defense made 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks in the win, holding Humboldt State to the fewest points by a Viking opponent in 24 games.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: There was thunder and lightning in the air and on the ground in Davis, CA (9/21). Despite a 36-minute delay in the second quarter due to a lightning storm, Portland State's running game put out a 427-yard rushing performance against UC Davis. The Vikings beat the Aggies, 41-10 while rolling up 601 yards of total offense. With 427 rushing yards on only 38 carries, the Vikings averaged 11.2 yards per play. They came within 10 yards of the PSU single-game rushing records (437 vs. Idaho State, 2012). SR RB DJ Adams rushed for 208 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. He was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. PSU's quarterbacks were effective as well with redshirt freshman Paris Penn gaining 74 rushing yards on three carries and sophomore Kieran McDonagh rushing for 57 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns. Junior running back Shaq Richard added five carries for 44 yards and freshman Nate Tago had eight carries for 44 yards. Remarkably, all five runners had at least one carry of 22 yards or more. Penn had a 70-yard gain and Adams scored on touchdowns runs of 85 and 27 yards... PSU gained 601 yards on 60 plays to average 10 yards per play. It marked the third time in four games that the Viking offense has gained at least 600 yards. 

MORE FIREWORKS: Portland State lost to 18th-ranked Cal Poly, 38-34, in the Big Sky Conference opener (9/26), but the Vikings hit a few milestones in the game. JR WR Victor Dean caught three touchdown passes in the game, while SO QB Kieran McDonagh threw for a career-high four touchdowns. It was the first time in five years that either feat had been accomplished by a Viking.

SPECIAL TEAMS, DEFENSE SAVE THE DAY: Portland State moved the ball up and down the field but kept finding ways not to score before finally beating North Dakota 14-10 (10/26). The big plays came early in the fourth quarter when SR S Michael Plummer blocked a punt, then the Vikings tackled the punter on UNDs next series after he mishandled a snap. Both plays led to short-field rushing touchdowns by SR RB DJ Adams, turning a 10-0 deficit into a 14-10 win. Meanwhile, the defense kept PSU in the game, holding North Dakota to 55 yards on its last 36 offensive plays of the game, including only 37 yards in the second half. SR S David Edgerson picked off a UND pass with 1:57 left to seal the win. It was his second interception of the game and he was later named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

RUNNING DOWN A WIN: Portland State rushed for 350 yards in a wire-to-wire 45-24 win over Weber State (11/2). SR RB DJ Adams rushed 32 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns. His performance pushed him over 1,000 yards for the season (1,006) - just the 18th time in school history a Viking has reached that milestone. Adams had a lot of help as SO TE Hayden Plinke (10-79-0), FR RB Nate Tago (6-64-2) and SR RB Justin Lilley (3-41-0) all made run-game contributions.

OUTRUNNING THE BENGALS: Portland State rushed for 395 yards and total 539 yards overall in a 38-31 win at Idaho State (11/9). It marked PSU's third straight win and fourth in a row against ISU. The Vikings 395 rushing yards ranks sixth most in school history. The top two rushing performances came over the two previous seasons against the Bengals (437 in 2012 and 436 in 2011). So, over the last three years, Portland State has averaged 422.7 rushing yards and 52.2 points per game against Idaho State.