TELEVISION: Root Sports • Play-by-play: Tom Glasgow • Analyst: Jason Stiles • Sidelines: Jen Mueller
RADIO: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Pregame Show: 6 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live stats: http://vikslive.statb.us and http://viksmobile.com

THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 10-9 • PSU leads 6-4 in Portland • Cal Poly leads 5-4 in San Luis Obispo
Big Sky Conference Series: Cal Poly leads 1-0

Sept. 10, 1977: CP 29-22 @ Portland
Oct. 7, 1978: CP 56-20 @ San Luis Obispo
Oct. 27, 1979: CP 45-42 @ Portland
Oct. 31, 1981: CP 41-12 @ San Luis Obispo

Western Football Conference games (NCAA II)
Oct. 2, 1982: CP 22-0 @ Portland
Nov. 12, 1983: CP 16-7 @ San Luis Obispo
Oct. 13, 1984: PSU 29-0 @ Portland
Nov. 9, 1985: CP 34-21 @ San Luis Obispo
Nov. 1, 1986: PSU 66-7 @ Portland
Oct. 31, 1987: PSU 31-7 @ San Luis Obispo
Sept. 17, 1988: PSU 21-3 @ Portland
Oct. 7, 1989: PSU 55-26 @ San Luis Obispo
Sept. 22, 1990: CP 36-23 @ Portland
Nov. 16, 1991: PSU 55-35 @ San Luis Obispo
Nov. 14, 1992: PSU 45-31 @ Portland
Oct. 30, 1993: PSU 21-17 @ Portland
Oct. 31, 1998: PSU 41-34 @ Portland
Oct. 30, 1999: PSU 42-28 @ San Luis Obispo

Big Sky Conference games

Oct. 20, 2012: CP 37-25 @ San Luis Obispo

FIRST CONFERENCE GAME, FIRST "BIG" GAME, COMES THURSDAY
Portland State opens the all-important Big Sky Conference schedule this Thursday night when it takes on the 18th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs at JELD-WEN Field. Both teams hope to open their eight-game conference slate with a victory and both have a little added incentive to get a win.

Thursday's kickoff time is 7:15 p.m. as the game will be televised on Root Sports as the opening Big Sky Conference Game of the Week. Radio listeners can pick up the game at Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com, with a pre-game show at 6 p.m.

The Vikings are 3-1 heading into the contest, but would like to get that "signature" win over a nationally-ranked team. PSU hasn't beaten a nationally-ranked foe since the 2008 season, losing 18 straight to top 25 programs. In addition, the Vikings want to avenge a 37-25 loss at the hands of Cal Poly last year in San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly is coached by a familiar face to Viking fans; Tim Walsh. The head coach on the Park Blocks for 14 seasons (1993-2006), Walsh compiled a 90-68 career record at PSU, led four teams to the NCAA playoffs, still maintains the only two PSU wins over FBS programs, and was inducted to the Portland State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. 

No doubt Viking fans will push all of those achievements aside for one night as they root against Walsh and his Mustangs. Walsh, and his coaching staff, which includes four former Viking players from his tenure, would like a triumphant return to the Rose City.

The Vikings bring one of the top offenses in the nation into this week's play. PSU averages 612.0 yards and 42.8 points per game. The Mustangs feature a triple option running game, but have become more balanced with the pass this year, averaging over 200 yards per game in both categories and 438.7 in all. 

The Vikings are 2-0 at home this season, but are playing their first FCS opponent at JELD-WEN Field.

Thursday's game wraps up an all-California September for the Vikings playing Cal, Humboldt State, UC Davis and Cal Poly (Sept. 26). PSU has a 12-game regular season schedule for the first time in school history.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Tim Walsh led the Cal Poly Mustangs to a Big Sky Conference co-championship in 2012 and the NCAA playoffs. The Mustangs went 9-3 overall, losing to Sam Houston State, 18-16, in the opening round of the playoffs.

This season, Cal Poly has started 1-2 with a win over San Diego and losses to a pair of FBS programs in Fresno State (41-25) and Colorado State (34-17).

Cal Poly's triple-option offense has been as effective as ever this season, averaging 438.7 yards per game. However, this year, the pass has become a bigger factor. After setting a Big Sky Conference record for rushing yards last season (3,890 yards), the Mustangs are more balanced this year, averaging 227.3 on the ground and 211.3 through the air.

Running back Kristaan Ivory leads the Big Sky Conference with 112.3 rushing yards per game. He has scored three touchdowns this season. A pair of quarterbacks, Chris Brown and Vince Moraga, have split duty.  Moraga went down with injury after going 21-33 for 286 yards in two games. Brown is 20-35 for 348 yards and two touchdowns. 

Willie Tucker has the bulk of the team's receptions with 15 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns.

The Mustangs have played nearly error-free football only one turnover and 12 total penalties in three games.

Linebacker Nick Dzubnar is the top tackler in the Big Sky, averaging 11.7 stops per game.  Defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz is a force in the middle for the Mustangs. He has four tackles for loss and two sacks this season.

Cal Poly has forced three fumbles but has not made an interception this season. The Mustangs have allowed 432.3 yards per game.

LAST YEAR: Cal Poly 37, Portland State 25
Andre Broadus accounted for all four Cal Poly touchdowns in a 37-25 win in San Luis Obispo. Broadus ran for two TDs and threw for two more for the 14th-ranked Mustangs. CP dominated possession, running 91 plays and holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes. The result was 341 rushing yards and a total of 458 yards of offense. PSU led 25-20 with 9:04 left in the third quarter, however the Mustangs ran off the final 17 points.

Justin Monahan caught four balls for 129 yards, including touchdown receptions of 32 and 35 yards Jaycob Shoemaker made 17 tackles for the Vikings and Ian Sluss returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown.

STORYLINES
• Cal Poly was Big Sky Conference co-champion in 2012, reaching the NCAA Playoffs. The Mustangs lost 18-16 in a round of 16 game at Sam Houston State.
• The Mustangs set the Big Sky Conference single-season rushing record in 2012 with 3,890 yards.
• Former Portland State Head Coach Tim Walsh (1993-2006) has been the head coach at Cal Poly since 2009. He compiled a 90-68 record overall at PSU, leading the Vikings to the post-season four times (1993, 1994, 1995, 2000).
• Cal Poly Offensive Coordinator Saga Tuitele was an All-Conference lineman for Portland State (1997-2000), and also coached at Portland State. Mustangs' quarterbacks coach Juston Wood was an All-Conference quarterback for the Vikings (1999-2002). Neil Fendall (1993-96) and Jim Craft (1996-99) also played for Walsh at Portland State. Craft was an assistant coach at PSU for eight years.
• Tim Walsh is 4-0 in the series between PSU and Cal Poly. He was 3-0 with PSU against Cal Poly, and is now 1-0 with Cal Poly against PSU.
• The schools were members of the Division II Western Football Conference from 1982-1992 where PSU held a 7-4 advantage.

CAREER DAY EARNS DJ ADAMS BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior running back DJ Adams rushed for 208 yards on 14 carries, scoring two touchdowns and leading the Vikings to a 41-10 at UC Davis last Saturday. For his performance, Adams was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Portland State rolled up 601 yards of total offense on 60 plays, averaging 10 yards per play against UC Davis. With 427 rushing yards on only 38 carries, the Vikings averaged 11.2 yards per rush. Adams was even better, averaging 14.9 yards per carry. He had a career-long 85-yard touchdown run, and a 27-yard touchdown run in the game. The Vikings came within 10 yards of the PSU single-game rushing record (437 vs. Idaho State, 2012). 

Adams now leads the Big Sky Conference in rushing and ranks 12th in the nation at 122.8 yards per game. His seven touchdowns also lead the league. Adams has scored 19 rushing touchdowns in 15 career games at PSU to rank 11th all-time.

In the Viking running game at UCD, 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.

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. 

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 three times on the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week this season.
Sept. 26 vs. Cal Poly, 7:15 p.m., Root Sports (replays: Sept. 26, 11 p.m.; Sept. 27, 3 p.m.)
Oct. 5 at Montana, 12:35 p.m. PT, Root Sports
Nov. 23 at Eastern Washington, 2:35 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.

SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE: VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINS AND LOSSES: Portland State is 3-1 on the season, 2-0 at home and 1-1 on the road... the Vikings are 8-5 at home since the start of 2011, 5-8 on the road... Head Coach Nigel Burton now has a 9-8 home record, 6-14 road record... the Vikings have eight winning records in 17 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference... PSU is 59-34 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 30-69 on the road... PSU is 57-74 all-time in Big Sky Conference games in its' 17 seasons as a member. The Vikings are 35-31 at home, 22-43 on the road in BSC games.

THE 600 CLUB: For the third time in four games, the Vikings gained 600+ yards of offense, beating UC Davis, 41-10. PSU rushed for 427 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per carry in the game. That was just 10 yards short of the school record for single-game rushing. Overall, the Vikings averaged 10.0 yards per play. This season, the numbers for the Viking offense have been overwhelming:
• PSU averages 328.0 yards rushing per game to lead the nation.
• The Vikings average 612.0 yards of total offense to rank second in the nation.
• PSU's passing game is no slouch at 284.0 yards per game to rank 21st in the country.
• At 42.8 points per game the Vikings rank 11th in the nation. PSU has scored at least 30 points in each game.
• PSU's average of 19.9 yards per pass completion leads the nation.
• For the season, Portland State is averaging a remarkable 8.7 yards per play.
• SR RB DJ Adams leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 12th in the nation in rushing at 122.8 yards per game. His seven touchdowns also leads the Big Sky Conference.
• JR WR Kasey Closs is second in the Big Sky and fourth in the nation with 123.2 receiving yards per game. He averages 24.6 yards per catch and has five touchdowns.
• SO QB Kieran McDonagh leads the nation with 19.8 yards per completion.

THE TOUCHDOWN MAKER: SR RB DJ Adams rushed 14 times for a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns at UC Davis. Adams averaged 14.9 yards per carry and had scoring runs of 85 and 27 yards. With seven touchdowns this season, he now leads the Big Sky Conference... Adams has 19 TDs in his PSU career on 227 carries. Counting his two seasons at Maryland, Adams has 34 career rushing touchdowns on 334 carries. That is one end zone trip for every 9.8 totes... Adams is 11th all-time at PSU with 19 touchdowns and has reached that total in only 15 games... Adams leads the Vikings with 491 rushing yards this season. He averages 7.9 yards per carry.

"HE IS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD:" That is what Head Coach Nigel Burton said about his quarterback Kieran McDonagh earlier this season. McDonagh has twice set career highs for passing yards in a game (308, then 377) and also a career-high for total offense (441). McDonagh has thrown seven touchdown passes 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 304.2 yards of total offense per game to rank 12th in the nation.

SACK MASTERS: Portland State is leading the Big Sky Conference with 17 sacks this season. The Vikings also average a league-best 10.8 tackles for loss per game. The Vikings have shared the wealth as 22 different players have been in on tackles for loss and 13 have been in on sacks.

HANG ON: One bad mark on the Viking offense this season has been turnovers. The Vikings have 13 giveaways through four games.  PSU has lost nine fumbles on the season after having only eight fumbles lost in all of 2012.

KASEY'S CONTRIBUTION: JR WR Kasey Closs had his third 100-yard game in the win at UC Davis. Closs caught four passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a 14-yarder and a 68-yarder in the fourth quarter. Closs leads the Vikings with 20 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns. His 123.2 yards per game ranks fourth in the nation and he is averaging 24.6 yards per catch... and get this, Closs is a walk-on.  

YOU'RE NOT GETTING OLDER, YOU'RE GETTING BETTER: 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. With a 26th birthday looming for Loomis on Sept. 30, he is the oldest Viking, but also one of the most effective so far this season. After seven years away from football, Loomis is averaging 46.8 yards per punt (at sea level) to lead the Big Sky and rank second in the nation. Of his 17 punts, seven have gone 50+ yards, two have gone 60+ and seven have been downed inside the 20... Loomis boomed a season-best 67-yarder against Humboldt State.

1000-YARDERS: Both SR RB DJ Adams and JR RB Shaquille Richard passed 1,000 career rushing yards against Eastern Oregon (8/29). Adams totaled 967 yards last season for the Vikings. He now has 1,458 career yards on 227 carries, and 19 touchdowns. Richard had 908 career rushing yards prior to the season, and now has 1,164 yards on 240 carries with six touchdowns.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: 
• The Vikings held UC Davis to 258 yards of offense and 10 points. That is the fewest yards allowed by a Viking team in two seasons.
• PSU's rushing defense has been particularly good, allowing just 2.6 yards per carry this season. PSU has allowed fewer rushing yards in successive games (154, 131, 98, 78). UC Davis carried the ball 42 times for only 78 yards.
• Portland State has forced nine turnovers in four games.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference with 17 quarterback sacks and 10.8 tackles for loss per game.
• Portland State is holding opponents to 4.7 yards per play.
• SR S Dean Faddis leads the Vikings with 35 tackles this season and has three games of at least 10 tackles.
• SR LB Jaycob Shoemaker has a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss.
• SR DE Jeremy Boone is tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks and tied for the Big Sky Conference lead with two fumble recoveries.
• 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: Viking Head Coach Nigel Burton always says "it isn't the yards you give up, its the points." For the 2013 Viking defense, that statement has been prophetic. The Vikings have allowed 415.5 yards per game, but only 17.8 points (second-best in the Big Sky and 13th in the nation). The reason? Tough defense in the red zone. Portland State has allowed opponents 17 trips into the red zone so far this year. Only six times have the opponents scored touchdowns. There have also been six field goals, two missed field goals and three losses of possession on downs. The 70% opponent conversion rate is second-best in the Big Sky

CLEAN IT UP: Portland State continues to be a heavily penalized team. With 10 yellow flags for 99 yards at UC Davis, the Vikings now have 40 penalties for 382 yards on the season (95.5 yards per game). That ranks second worst in the Big Sky Conference... PSU was heavily penalized last year as well, averaging 8.6 penalties for 75.3 yards per game.

GETTING OUT THE VOTE: Portland State has received four voting points in the Sports Network Top 25 poll this week.  FCS Coaches poll.

TASTY, YET INSIGNIFICANT, TIDBITS: 
• Nigel Burton is 3-0 at UC Davis and the Vikings have average 43.7 points in those games.
• Portland State is 4-0 all-time in Thursday games.
• Portland State has appeared on television locally in Portland 51 times since joining the Big Sky Conference. PSU is 19-32 in those games, 12-10 at home, 7-22 on the road... PSU is 0-1 in televised games this year.
• The 57 points scored by the Vikings against Eastern Oregon is the most ever in a season-opening game in the 67-year history of the PSU program.
• The Vikings are 13-0 against lower division teams since moving to the Big Sky Conference in 1996.
• JR WR Victor Dean has blocked two field goals this season.