complete notes and stats in pdf

Game 12
^#5 EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (9-2, 6-1) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-8, 2-5)
Friday, November 21, 2014, 7:10 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR
 
TELEVISION: Root Sports • Play-by-Play: Brad Adam • _Analyst: Jason Stiles
RADIO: K103.7 FM and www.k103.com • Pregame Show: 6 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None due to television • Live stats: www.vikslive.com, www.viksmobile.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: Vikings vs. Eagles
All-Time Series: PSU leads 19-16-1 • PSU leads 10-8 in Portland • PSU leads 9-7-1 in Cheney • EWU leads 1-0 in Seattle
Big Sky Series: EWU leads 10-8 • EWU leads 5-4 in Portland • The series is tied 4-4 in Cheney • EWU leads 1-0 in Seattle
 
Big Sky Conference games
Sept. 28, 1996: EWU 24-7 @ Cheney
Sept. 20, 1997: EWU 31-14 @ Portland
Sept. 12, 1998: PSU 30-27 @ Cheney (ot)
Sept. 16, 1999: PSU 48-39 @ Portland
Nov. 11, 2000: EWU 27-24 @ Portland
Nov. 10, 2001: PSU 37-22 @ Cheney
Oct. 12, 2002: PSU 34-31 @ Portland
Oct. 11, 2003: EWU 42-16 @ Cheney
Oct. 2, 2004: EWU 41-21 @ Portland
Oct. 1, 2005: EWU 42-24 @ Cheney
Oct. 21, 2006: PSU 34-0 @ Portland
Sept. 29, 2007: PSU 28-21 @ Cheney
Oct. 4, 2008: PSU 47-36 @ Portland
Oct. 31, 2009: EWU 47-10 @ Seattle
Oct. 30, 2010: EWU 50-17 @ Portland
Oct. 29, 2011: PSU 43-26 @ Cheney
Nov. 17, 2012: EWU 41-34 @ Portland
Nov. 23, 2013: EWU 42-41 @ Cheney
 
LAST YEAR, Nov. 23, 2013: Eastern Washington 42, Portland State 41
The score was tied 21-21 entering the fourth quarter, but the teams exchanged six touchdowns in the last 15 minutes, including four in the last six minutes. When PSU scored to take the lead with exactly one minute left it appeared the Vikings would have an upset win. Unfortunately, they missed the extra point and led only 41-35. Eastern quarterback Vernon Adams needed only four plays and 29 seconds to get the tying score. Adams hit Cooper Kupp on a 15-yard touchdown pass, then Kevin Miller's extra point gave the Eagles a 42-41 lead and the win.
     
There were 1,131 yards of offense in the game with Portland State getting 603. Three Vikings combined to throw for 410 yards, but Adams threw for 457 and five touchdowns. Kupp had nine receptions for 147 yards and three scores. For the Vikings, Kasey Closs made 11 grabs for 191 yards and three touchdowns.
 
VIKINGS HAVE CHANCE TO PLAY SPOILER IN FRIDAY EAGLE CLASH
It has been a hard luck run in the second half of the season as the Portland State Vikings have lost their last three games, and four of their five Big Sky losses have come by one possession. But the Vikings have a chance to play the spoiler this Friday when they host a fifth-ranked Eastern Washington team that is trying to clinch another Big Sky Championship.
     
The Vikings and Eagles meet in a Dam Cup game at Providence Park that kicks off at 7:10 p.m. and will be televised on Root Sports. The game will also air on K103.7 FM  and www.k103.com. Live stats can be found at www.vikslive.com and www.viksmobile.com.

Friday night's game will include a halftime performance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
     
With a win, Portland State (3-8, 2-5) can at least match its Big Sky Conference record of last season (3-5). The Vikings could also prevent the Eagles from taking the Big Sky Championship and automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs. The Vikings are 2-2 at home this season.
     
PSU was staring a fourth victory in the face last Saturday in Sacramento, leading the Hornets 41-31 heading into the fourth quarter. But 17 unanswered points by the Hornets, including a game-winning punt return for touchdown with 3:23 left in the game meant another defeat.
     
Eastern Washington comes into this Friday's game off a bye week. The Eagles are 9-2 overall, 6-1 in the Big Sky and 3-2 on the road. They are tied with Montana State for first place. The Bobcats face the Grizzlies in their season finale.
 
SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON
Eastern Washington, ranked fifth in the nation, is as strong as ever and contending for another national championship. The Eagles won the title in 2010 and and reached the national semifinals in 2012 and 2013.
     
Head Coach Beau Baldwin is in his seventh season at Eastern Washington and has the best winning percentage of any coach in the Big Sky Conference. Baldwin is 65-24 overall, and 44-11 in Big Sky games.
     
All-American quarterback Vernon Adams has thrown for 2,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in seven games. He has missed four with injury, but came back strong in a win over Montana on Nov. 8. Another All-American, wide receiver Cooper Kupp leads the team in receiving again with 73 receptions for 1,013 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kendrick Bourne has 44 catches for 704 yards and nine scores.
     
Running back Quincy Forte has missed five games, but he still leads the team with 694 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
     
Overall, the Eagles average 525.5 yards per game (second in the Big Sky) and 43.5 points (1st). Eastern Washington is the most efficient red zone team in the Big Sky Conference, converting 44-46 trips inside the 20 into scores, including 36 touchdowns. The Eagles have committed 15 turnovers in 11 games, but forced 20, including 14 interceptions.
     
Cornerback Victor Gamboa leads the team with three interceptions and four takeaways overall. Ten different players have picks on the season. Miquiyah Zamora is Eastern Washington's top tackler with 81 this season. Star linebacker Ronnie Hamlin has 79 tackles. Defensive lineman Samson Ebukam has team-highs of 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.
     
The Eagles allow 434.0 yards and 29.6 points per game on defense which ranks right in the middle of the Big Sky defensive rankings.
     
Three players have combined to make all 10 field goal attempts for the Eagles this year. However, they have missed seven extra points.
     
Jake Miller has a 45.4 punting average, ranking right behind the Vikings' Kyle Loomis in that category.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Eastern Washington is the defending Big Sky Conference Champion and has had a share of the conference title in three of the last four seasons.
• Eastern Washington is the closest - in proximity - Big Sky Conference opponent, and the Eagles also maintain the longest continuous series with the Vikings. This year the teams will meet for the 25th consecutive season.
• The winner has scored at least 41 points in the last six meetings between the schools.
 
VIKINGS vs. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State faces its second nationally-ranked opponent of the season in Eastern Washington. Two weeks ago the Vikings lost to nationally-ranked Montana State. That marked a 20th straight loss to ranked teams.
     
The Vikings are 14-37 all-time (since 1996) against NCAA I FCS ranked teams. PSU is 10-14 at home, 4-23 on the road. The last win over a ranked team was a 47-36 victory over #11 Eastern Washington in 2008.
 
THE DAM CUP
The Portland State Vikings and Eastern Washington Eagles are in the fifth year of a five-sport rivalry cup called The Dam Cup. The Dam Cup celebrates the friendly rivalry between the states of Oregon and Washington within the Big Sky Conference. This week's football game is worth four points in the Dam Cup series. Portland State currently leads the competition, 5-0.
     
The so-named rivalry refers to the four dams linking Oregon and Washington that one passes on the 339-mile drive from the Portland State campus to the Eastern Washington campus. Located along the Columbia River, they are Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, The John Day Dam and the McNary Dam. 
     
The five sports competing for the cup are football, women's soccer, women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball. The purpose of the Dam Cup is to create a rivalry between Portland State University and Eastern Washington University and provide a sense of pride between alumni in the Portland and Spokane areas. Other goals include increasing attendance at events between both schools and building school spirit among each institutions' student body. The winner of the Dam Cup will possess The Dam Trophy acknowledging the achievement for the following year.
     
The Dam Cup is based on a point system.  Each game played in the five sports between the two schools has a point value. Points are only rewarded for regular season contests. The annual football game is worth four points, the women's soccer match is worth three points, each women's volleyball match is worth two points for a total of four points possible, and each men's and women's basketball game is worth two points for a total of four points possible in each sport. New for the 2013-14 season a fan interaction platform at www.DamCup.com that will be worth 2 points.  The total points possible are 21 which means that to win the cup a school would need to win at least 11 points.
 
The 2014-15 Dam Cup Series
Soccer - Oct. 3 - @ PSU 3, EWU 1 - PSU leads 3-0
Volleyball - Oct. 11 - @ PSU 3, EWU 0 - PSU leads 5-0
Football - Nov. 21 - EWU @ PSU
Women's Basketball - Jan. 15 @ EWU
Men's Basketball - Jan. 15 @ PSU
Women's Basketball - Feb. 14 @ PSU
Men's Basketball - Feb. 14 @ EWU
 
Previous Dam Cup Champions
2010-11         PSU 9-8
2011-12         PSU 15-2
2012-13         EWU 10-7
2013-14         PSU 13-8
 
VIKING SENIORS
Portland State has 14 seniors that will be playing in their final home game this Friday night.
 
2, Shaquille Richard, RB, 5-8, 180, SR, 3V, Hawthorne, CA (Junipero Serra)
      Richard is a four-year letterwinner for the Viking. He has played in more games than any other Viking (43) while starting 15 at running back.  Richard leads the team in rushing this season with 624 yards and has a chance to become just the 12th Viking in history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards (1,876).
 
5, Roston Tatum, WR, 6-2, 220, SR, 3V, Fort  Worth, TX (North Crowley)
      Tatum is another four-year letterwinner for the Vikings, playing in 31 career games. He has 22 receptions for 435 yards in his career, and the best average per catch of any Viking (19.8).
 
7, Jake Woolley, LB, 6-4, 225, SR, 1V, Moorpark, CA (Moorpark/C. of Canyons)
      Woolley's career was shortened due to injury, but he played in 11 games over two seasons for Portland State. Woolley had 22 career tackles and a fumble recovery.
 
8, Josh Milhollin, WR, 6-4, 200, SR, 2V, Medford, OR (South Medford)
      After entering Portland State as a quarterback, Milhollin suffered numerous injuries throughout his career, allowing him to play in only three games.
 
22, Corey Crowder, LB, 6-1, 220, SR, 3V, Elk Grove, CA (Christian Brothers)
      Crowder is a four-year letterwinner who has competed in 38 games and been a starter the past two seasons. He has 50 tackles this year, and has the most career tackles of any Viking (121).
 
29, Kyle Loomis, P, 6-2, 230, SR, 1V, Roseburg, OR (Roseburg/Oregon State)
     An All-American in 2013, Kyle Loomis in on pace for another All-American season for the Vikings. He led the nation in punting last year, and does so again this year. He will finish his career as PSU's record holder for punting average in a season (46.5) and a career (46.3).
 
45, Vincent Johnson, DT, 6-2, 290, SR, 3V, Fort Worth, TX (North Crowley)
      Although he hasn't gotten into any games this season, the fourth-year player has competed in 20 games in his career.
 
46, Brandon Tobias, DE, 6-2, 220, SR, 3V, Torrance, CA (North)
      Tobias became a team captain and full-time starter as a senior. This Saturday's game will be the 40th of his career. Tobias leads all current Vikings in career tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (7.0).
 
69, Joe Lopez, DT, 6-0, 275, SR, 1V, Portland, OR (Central Catholic/Oregon State)
      A two-year starter on the defensive line, Lopez has been a key run stopper on the Viking defense. Lopez has made 46 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss in his two seasons.
 
71, James Seuma'ala, OL, 6-3, 295, SR, 3V, Federal Way, WA (Federal Way)
      After being a backup throughout his career, Seuma'ala became a starter during his senior season, blocking for an offense that has averaged over 200 yards rushing per game.
 
77, Cornelius Edison, OL, 6-3, 295, SR, 3V, University Place, WA (Curtis)
      Edison took over as a starter late in his freshman season and has started 34 straight games since that time. He has been an anchor for a Viking offense that has produced record-breaking numbers over the past four seasons. He earned All-Big Sky Conference honors as a junior and is a team co-captain this year.
 
80, Tyson Heller, TE, 6-3, 250, SR, 1V, Caldwell, ID (Caldwell/Santa Barbara CC)
      Heller is a two-year letterwinner at tight end and has been a starter for the second half of this season. He has four receptions this season and six in his career.
 
89, Kasey Closs, WR, 6-3, 205, SR, 1V, Lake Oswego, OR (LOHS/Saddleback JC)
      Closs went from walk-on to top receiver, leading the Vikings in receiving each of the last two years. He was named All-Big Sky Conference as a junior and has 105 catches, 1,705 yards and 12 touchdowns in his 22-game career.
 
97, Nick Fernandez, K, 5-8, 175, SR, 3V, Murrieta, CA (Chaparral)
      Fernandez has played in 25 games in his career, mainly as a kickoff man. However, he has also converted 56 extra points and made six field goals over four seasons.
 
PORTLAND STATE PUTS ITS BEST FEET FORWARD
Portland State's kicking game is having a banner season as evidenced by the NCAA statistical leaders.
     
Senior Kyle Loomis is leading the nation in punting at the NCAA I FCS level for the second year in a row with a 46.1 average. Loomis led the nation last year with a 46.5 mark, earning consensus first team All-American honors.
     
Loomis, a native of Roseburg, OR, has 29 punts in excess of 50 yards, and 31 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
     
Sophomore kicker Jonathan Gonzales currently ranks fifth in the nation in field goals with an average of 1.55 made per game. Gonzales leads the Big Sky Conference in field goals made with 17 of 23 on the season. He is the only kicker in the league to be perfect in extra-point attempts (29-29).
     
Gonzales, from Apple Valley, CA, has made 16-19 field goals over the past seven weeks, including a streak of eight in a row.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE: VIKING QUICK NOTES
 
WINS AND LOSSES:
• Portland State is 3-8 this season, 2-2 at home, 1-6 on the road.
• The Vikings are 12-9 at home since the start of 2011, 7-17 on the road.
• Head Coach Nigel Burton has a 13-12 home record, 8-23 road record, and 21-35 overall record.
• The Vikings have eight winning records in 19 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU is 63-38 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 32-78 on the road.
• PSU is 62-84 all-time in Big Sky Conference games in its 19th season as a member. The Vikings are 38-35 at home, 24-49 on the road in BSC games.
• PSU was 6-6 last season, 4-2 at home and 2-4 on the road.
 
A KRAGHTY START: RS FR QB Josh Kraght earned the start against Montana State - the first of his career - and performed admirably against the nation's 15th-ranked team. Kraght had 314 yards of total offense in the game, and gave the Vikings a chance in the fourth quarter. Kraght rushed 19 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. He completed 19-38 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown. The Viking offense did not commit a turnover... that performance earned him a second start at Sacramento State where he put up similar numbers. Kraght was 22-40 for 265 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He rushed 10 times for 43 yards and had 308 yards of total offense. PSU was up 41-31 going into the fourth quarter but gave up 17 straight points to lose.
 
TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THE DEFENSE: It is true that the Vikings have lost their last three games. It is also true that the Viking defense has had to endure a number of injuries to key players. But in Big Sky Conference games the Viking defense has looked pretty good:
• The Vikings are third in total defense (378.9) and pass defense (235.3) in conference games.
• PSU held Montana State 13 points below its scoring average (29) and 82 yards under its season average (424).
• The Vikings held Idaho State to its fewest points in seven weeks (31) and 150 yards below its season average (430).
 
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS: JR LB Jeremy Lutali continues to play well this season. He has tied his career high the past two weeks with 11 tackles at Montana State and 11 tackles at Sacramento State. Lutali leads the Vikings with 80 tackles... JR S Demetrius Jackson returned to the starting lineup and promptly returned a fumble for touchdown against Sacramento State. It was PSU's second defensive touchdown of the season... SO CB Xavier Coleman broke up four passes at Sacramento State and now has 10 on the season. That ties for seventh-most in a season in PSU history.
 
TOUREEN GETS ANOTHER YEAR, MAKES THE MOST OF IT: WR Alex Toureen has been granted an extra year of eligibility by the Big Sky Conference. Toureen was a freshman in 2011, but was injured in the third game of the season, missing the remainder of the year. His presence is particularly important right now as the Vikings have lost SR WR Kasey Closs and SO WR Darnell Adams due to injuries. Toureen responded with a career-high 137 yards on six receptions at Sacramento State. He ranks second on the team with 29 catches for 445 yards and a touchdown this season. In his 33-game career, Toureen has 48 receptions for 728 yards and five scores.
 
TURNOVER MARGIN: Giveaways and takeaways have been a point of contention for the Vikings this year with too many of the former (21) and not enough of the latter (13). PSU took two and gave away two at Sacramento State... the best representation of the costliness of turnovers is in points allowed off the miscues... PSU has now allowed 113 points off turnovers this season, while getting just 58 off forced turnovers.
 
RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE: Portland State's running game has evolved throughout the season, and the was never more evident than at Sacramento State. Seven different players carried the ball. FR RB Steven Long started, but it was SO RB Nate Tago (73-yard TD run) and FR WR Stevie Coury (72-yard TD run) who had the big running plays. The Vikings carried 33 times for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
• SR RB Shaquille Richard (624) and Long (545) lead the Viking running game. SO RB Nate Tago has 354 yards, while QBs Paris Penn, Kieran McDonagh and Josh Kraght have combined to rush for 537 yards.
• Seven different Vikings have rushing touchdowns this year, led by four from McDonagh.
• For the fifth straight season, PSU has over 2,000 rushing yards and is averaging over 200 yards rushing per game.
• PSU's 2,288 rushing yards is the fourth-most in a season in school history (3,330 in 2013; 2,726 in 2011; 2,382 in 2012).
 
STRONG UP FRONT: Portland State's offensive line has been the key to a great running game the past five seasons. The line has also been great at pass protection. PSU has allowed a league low 10 sacks this season while the Vikings have thrown 372 passes... PSU allowed just 10 sacks last year, and has given up only 35 sacks over the past four seasons (45 games).
 
5x100: FR QB Josh Kraght came very close to a 100-yard rushing game against Montana State (96). He would have been the sixth Viking on the roster to accomplish that feat. Portland State now has five players on its roster than have had at least one 100-yard rushing game. Here is each player's career-high:
Steven Long 253 vs. Northern Arizona, 2014
Kieran McDonagh   108 vs. North Dakota, 2013
Paris Penn_ 112 at Oregon State, 2014
Shaquille Richard   151 vs. Western Oregon, 2014
Nate Tago__ 106 vs. UC Davis, 2014
 
SPEAKING OF 100: SR LB Corey Crowder, JR CB Aaron Sibley and JR LB Jeremy Lutali have all reached 100 career tackles in the game at Weber State. Crowder now has a team-leading 121, while Sibley and Lutali have 109 each.
 
CLOSS ALSO REACHES 100: SR WR Kasey Closs had his best production of the season against Idaho State (11/1) with nine catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. That pushed him to 105 career receptions in two seasons. Closs caught 63 passes to lead the Vikings last year and has a team-high 42 catches so far this season. Unfortunately, a foot injury has knocked him out for the final two games of the season.
 
GREAT RUN DEFENSE (MOST OF THE TIME): Portland State gave up 1,143 yards rushing yards (381.0 ypg) to Cal Poly, Montana State and Sacramento State - three of the best rushing teams in the Big Sky Conference. PSU's other eight opponents have only 702 rushing yards (87.7 ypg) on 241 carries (2.9 ypc).
 
BACK WHERE HE BELONGS: 2013 consensus 1st team All-American SR P Kyle Loomis is the oldest Viking (he turned 27 on Sept. 30). But the All-American proves he is aging well, averaging 46.1 yards per punt this season to lead the nation. Loomis has 29 punts of 50 yards or better and 31 punts downed inside the 20-yard line... Loomis averaged 46.5 yards per punt last year to lead the nation and set a new PSU record.
 
IT WAS GREAT WHILE IT LASTED: SO K Jonathan Gonzales saw a streak of eight straight field goals made finally come to an end when he missed a 56-yard attempt at Montana State wide left. Ironically, his last miss, four games earlier was also a 56-yarder wide right. If either of those attempts had been good, it would have been a school record.
• Gonzales is now 17-23 on field goals for the season to lead the Big Sky Conference and rank fifth in the nation. Gonzales is also the only full-time kicker in the Big Sky to be perfect on extra points (29-29).
• Gonzales has made 16-19 field goals over the last seven weeks.
• His 17 field goals made ranks fourth in season in school history. Only Zach Brown (18, 18, 24) has made more field goals in a single season as a Viking.
 
LOPEZ NAMED ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT 8: SR DT Joe Lopez has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District 8 team for his achievement on the football field and in the classroom. Lopez was one of 24 student-athletes among all Division I schools in the eight-state District 8 region to be honored. He will now go to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.
     
Lopez, a 6-foot, 275-pound senior from Portland's Central Catholic High School, is a two-year starter on the Viking team. This year, Lopez has 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and a forced fumble through 10 games. He has 46 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss over two seasons. Lopez was named honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference in 2013. He maintains a 3.50 GPA in Exercise and Sport Science.
 
VETERANS: SR RB Shaq Richard has the most playing experience on the Viking team, competing in 43 career games. SR DE Brandon Tobias is second on that list with 39 games played, followed by SR LB Corey Crowder (37) and SR OL Cornelius Edison (37)... players with the most career starts are Edison (34), JR QB Kieran McDonagh (29), JR LS Kameron Canaday (28) and JR CB Aaron Sibley (26). Edison has started 34 games in a row.
 
LOOMIS ON LIST FOR ARMED FORCES MERIT AWARD: Portland State punter Kyle Loomis was one of 15 finalists for the Armed Forced Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America on Veteran's Day, November 11. The 2014 nominees featured active college players, administrations, coaches, officials and programs that are currently involved with college football. The goal of the award was to recognize those individuals for their valuable service to our country before their current involvement with the sport.         
      Daniel Rodriguez of Clemson won the honor. He served in the Army from 2006-10, with a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2009. Rodriguez, a senior playing special teams for the Tigers, was wounded in battle against the Taliban and was awarded a Purple Heart.
 
AWARD WINNERS
      2012: Nate Boyer, University of Texas long snapper (U. S. Army)
      2013: Brandon McCoy, University of North Texas defensive lineman (U. S. Army)
      2014: Daniel Rodriguez, Clemson wide receiver (U.S. Army)
 
2014 Armed Forces Merit Award Nominees
College Player - Active
Jason Everding, Incarnate Word offensive lineman (U. S. Marines)
Nick Jones, UTEP tight end (U. S. Marines)
Kyle Loomis, Portland State punter (U. S. Army)
Tehuti Miles, Maryland wide receiver (U. S. Army)
A. J. Mobley, Florida wide receiver (U. S. Marines)
Lennie Richardson, Georgia Southern defensive end (U. S. Army)
Steven Rhodes, Middle Tennessee defensive end (U. S. Marines)
Daniel Rodriguez, Clemson wide receiver (U. S. Marines)
 
College Administration, Coaching Staff & Football Operations
Kent Baer, Colorado defensive coordinator
Dr. Hans J. Mueh, United States Air Force Academy Athletic Director
Nathan Peterson, Oklahoma State defensive graduate assistant (U. S. Marines)
 
College Football Officials - Active
Raymond Daniel (Mid-American Conference, Temple Hills, MD, Army National Guard)
Steve Thielen (Mid-American Conference, Eagan, MN, U. S. Army)
 
Programs
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics - Wounded Warrior Project™
Kansas State Football Team & 1-28 Black Lions