Kieran McDonagh threw for a career-high 377 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second straight week he had set a career high. His main target was Kasey Closs, who made 10 receptions for 205 yards and a score. 

The win has PSU at 2-1 this season, 2-0 at home. Humboldt State is now 0-2.

The Vikings led just 7-6 midway through the second quarter, but a 23-0 third quarter surge put them in command.

Closs opened the scoring in the game with his third touchdown in as many weeks. He made a 38-yard grab on a 4th-and-8 play. McDonagh made a soft toss over the top for his fourth TD pass of the season.

PSU's offense was leading the nation in yardage going into the game. However, the Vikings twice fumbled the ball away early in the game in Lumberjacks' territory or they might have been in command sooner.

Humboldt State finally got on the board with a 32-yard field goal by Matt Bruder. That made it 7-3 Vikings with 4:42 left in the half. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Travis Hansen forced a Davon Dunn fumble. Humboldt State recovered, and four plays later Bruder booted a 28-yard field goal, making it 7-6.

A disgruntled Viking team finally turned things back in their favor. McDonagh's screen pass to DJ Adams turned into a 50-yard scamper. Then, Justin Lilley went left for 15 yards and a touchdown on the next play. PSU went into halftime leading, 13-6.

PSU had 234 yards in the first half, but committed three turnovers. Humboldt State kept the game close by running 53 plays and holding the ball for almost 19 minutes in the first half. 

The Viking offense woke up in the second half. PSU took the opening drive 74 yards in seven plays. Shaq Richard went in from one yard out. 

Following a Kyle Loomis punt that was downed at the Humboldt State one-yard line, PSU's defense got a big play from Jaycob Shoemaker. On third down, Shoemaker caught the Lumberjacks' quarterback Kyle Morris in the end zone for a safety.

Richard concluded another seven-play drive with a 12-yard scoring run and PSU had control of the game, 29-6 with 7:40 left in the third quarter.

On the final play of the third quarter, McDonagh completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Alex Toureen. That had PSU ahead, 36-6.

PSU entered the game averaging 612.5 yards of offense per game. They met that total and more with 622 yards overall. PSU has 235 on the ground and 387 in the air.

The turnaround for the Vikings was dramatic from one half to the next.

"We just talked about playing smarter than we did in the first half," said Viking Coach Nigel Burton. "If we don't put the ball on the ground we could take control of the game and that is what happened.

"In the end, it's another game where you win but 37 and there are things you can fix. If you are turning the ball over, that's bad stuff. You can't turn it over. We were a little flustered (at halftime) but we gave up only six points."

"We just executed better," said McDonagh of the second-half surge. "We took care of the ball and eliminated those mistakes. We hit the reset button in there."

With 64 rushing yards, McDonagh had a 441 yards of total offense and two passing touchdowns.

"He is really, really, really, really good," said Burton of his quarterback. "And the best part is, I don't think he is satisfied with his play, which is why he might be one of the best."

Richard and Lilley each rushed for two second-half touchdowns for the Vikings. 

The Viking defense put up impressive numbers, making 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks in the game. Shoemaker had three tackles for loss, while Bryant Long had 2.5 sacks. In all, 13 players were in on tackles for loss. 

Safety Dean Faddis led the Vikings with 11 tackles and also made a first-half interception.

Humboldt State finished with 350 yards of offense. Quarterback Kyle Morris passed for 227 and ran for 53 more yards.

GAME NOTES: The six points allowed were the fewest by a Viking team since the opening game of the 2011 season (52-0 over Southern Oregon, 24 games ago)… Closs' 205 receiving yards were the most by a Vikings since Tremayne Kirkland had 225 yards against Northern Arizona in Oct. 6, 2008… the Vikings lost four fumbles in the game and have now lost nine on the season. That is already more fumbles lost than all of last year (8)… PSU is 13-0 all-time against lower division teams since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996… Portland State plays at UC Davis next Saturday. Kickoff is 6 p.m. with the game airing on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com.