Sacramento, CA - DeAndre Carter's 61-yard punt return for touchdown late in the fourth quarter capped a 17-point comeback by Sacramento State and spelled doom for the Portland State Vikings. PSU, leading 41-31 entering the fourth, lost to the Hornets, 48-41.

The Vikings had themselves in excellent position for a road win, buoyed by a pair of forced turnovers in the third quarter, both leading to scores. But the Hornets made the plays in the fourth quarter with scoring drives of 60 and 73 yards, then Carter's game-breaker with 3:23 left in the game.

Portland State had a final possession but was unable to convert a first down and Sacramento State ran out the clock. 

"The kid made a great and we did not. It was pretty simple," said Viking Coach Nigel Burton of the punt return. "We had our opportunities to put this game away and we didn't do it. We were up by 10 and moving the ball. Kind of the story of our (season)."

The Hornets improved to 6-5 on the year, 3-4 in the Big Sky Conference. PSU dropped to 3-8, 2-5. Four of Portland State's five Big Sky losses are by one score or less. 

It was an explosive offensive game with over 1,000 yards of offense, but Sacramento State had just a little more with 534 yards to PSU's 500 yards.

Portland State fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, setting up the Hornets with a short scoring drive and 7-0 lead. But quarterback Josh Kraght led the Vikings right back on a tying 12-play, 84-yard scoring drive. Jamarr Graves caught his first career TD pass on a five-yard reception. 

Later in the quarter, Jonathan Gonzales kicked a 28-yard field goal and the Vikings led 10-7. A Brad Cornish field goal for the Hornets from 36 yards on the final play of the quarter made it 10-10.

Hornet quarterback Garrett Safron got the Hornet offense churning in the second quarter. He moved the team 91 yards on seven plays, including 4-4 passing. A 28-yard run by De'Jon Coleman put Sacramento State back on top 17-10 with 10:08 left in the quarter.

The Vikings' Nate Tago took the next play from scrimmage 73 yards for a touchdown. Gonzales extra point got the Vikings into a 17-17 tie.

Sacramento State's next play from scrimmage was a touchdown as well. Carter caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Safron and again the Hornets led, 24-17.

Gonzales tacked on another short field goal before halftime making it 24-20 Hornets.

Safety Demetrius Jackson made one of the biggest defensive plays of the year for the Vikings in the third quarter. He picked up a fumble forced by linebacker Dennis Taylor and sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown. That gave the Vikings a 27-24 advantage.

Two more big plays in the third quarter led to a 41-31 Viking lead at the end of three. Stevie Coury took a fly sweep 72 yards for a score on one play. Later in the period, Beau Durnonslet intercepted Safron, setting up another Viking score. Tago got his second touchdown of the day on a three-yard run.

Sacramento State cut into the Viking lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Nnamdi Agude caught a 31-yard scoring strike from Safron. Cornish then tied the game at 41-41 with a 25-yard field with 8:05 to play.

Both defenses held after that until Carter turned in the play of the night.

Carter had eight receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown as well as the punt return TD. Safron threw for 290 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 66 yards. 

Kraght completed 22-40 passes for 265 yards and a one score in his second career start. He also had one interception. The Vikings rushed for 235 yards as a team, Tago (73) and Coury (72) led the way.

On defense, Jeremy Lutali made a team-high 11 stops for the second week in a row. Savali Talalemotu made 10 tackles with a sack. Xavier Coleman had a career-high four pass breakups.

GAME NOTES: PSU has lost three games in a row… the Hornets have beaten the Vikings five times in the last six years… Jonathan Gonzales now has 17 field goals on the season, which is the fourth-most in school history. Only Zach Brown (18, 18, 24) has kicked more field goals in a season… Portland State and Sacramento State have met 30 times in the last 32 years and 20 of the last 21… Portland State's season finale is a Dam Cup game against fifth-ranked Eastern Washington next Friday night at Providence Park. The Vikings host the Eagles in a 7:10 p.m. kickoff that will be televised on Root Sports. The game also airs on 103.7 FM due to a conflict with the Portland Trail Blazers on Rip City Radio 620 AM.