Complete notes and stats in pdf

Game 5
UC DAVIS AGGIES (1-3, 0-1) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-3, 0-0)
Saturday, October 4, 2014, 4:35 p.m., Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR
 
TELEVISION: Root Sports
Play-by-Play: Tom Glasgow • Analyst: Jason Stiles • Sidelines: Brad Adam
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM (KPOJ), www.ripcityradio.com
Pregame Show: 3:30 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None, due to television • Live stats: vikslive.com, viksmobile.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: Vikings vs. Aggies
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 9-4 • PSU leads 5-2 in Portland • PSU leads 4-2 in Davis
Big Sky Conference Series: Portland State leads 1-0 • PSU leads 1-0 in Davis
Sept. 14, 1974: UCD 50-21 @ Davis
Nov. 15, 1975: PSU 32-21 @ Portland
Nov. 21, 1992: PSU 42-28 @ Portland*
Oct. 7, 1995: PSU 40-13 @ Portland
Oct. 12, 1996: PSU 32-27 @ Portland
Nov. 20, 2004: PSU 38-21 @ Portland
Sept. 10, 2005: PSU 14-12 @ Davis
Sept. 8, 2007: UCD 26-17 @ Portland
Sept. 13, 2008: UCD 38-24 @ Davis
Oct. 24, 2009: UCD 34-31 @ Portland
Sept. 11, 2010: PSU 41-33 @ Davis
 
Big Sky Conference games
Sept. 27, 2012: PSU 49-21 @ Davis
Sept. 21, 2013: PSU 41-10 @ Davis (NC)
 
*NCAA II playoff game
 
LAST MEETING, Sept. 21, 2013: Portland State 41, UC Davis 10
Portland State opened up its running game in dramatic fashion, gaining 427 yards on the ground and averaging 11.2 yards per carry, in a rout of the Aggies. In a game delayed 36 minutes by lightning in the second quarter, the Vikings were lightning quick with six scoring drives that took only 26 plays and a cumulative 8:46 on the clock.
     
Running back DJ Adams led the Viking sprint, gaining 208 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. Kieran McDonagh also rushed for two scores and threw two touchdown passes to Kasey Closs.

Portland State had 601 yards of total offense, and the defense was just as good, holding the Aggies to 258 yards of total offense and forcing 10 punts.
 
VIKINGS PLAN TO TURN IT AROUND IN BIG SKY OPENER
Heading into the Big Sky Conference opener this Saturday, the Portland State Vikings have yet to hit their stride. But, despite struggles both offensively and defensively, the next eight weeks are what matter the most for PSU.
     
The Vikings (1-3, 0-0) will host UC Davis (1-3, 0-1) in a 4:35 p.m. game Saturday at Providence Park. The game will be televised on Root Sports as the Big Sky Conference Game of the Week. It also airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. Live stats are available at www.vikslive.com and wwwviksmobile.com.
     
This is the first of three games in which the Vikings appear on Root Sports (also Oct. 18 vs. Northern Arizona; Nov. 21 vs. Eastern Washington).
     
Portland State has shown flashes of brilliance through the first four games on both sides of the ball, but the consistency has yet to appear. And it has been an admittedly tough preseason schedule that featured two Pac-12 opponents. PSU's scoring (23.5) and total offense numbers (342.5) are well down from last year's averages (34.9, 540.5). The defense has also struggled against three strong passing teams (Oregon State, Western Oregon, Washington State) and a devastating triple-option running attack (Cal Poly). The result has been 42.0 points and 543.0 yards per game allowed.
     
UCD opened its Big Sky schedule last Saturday at home, facing second-ranked Eastern Washington. The Aggies kept it close early, trailing just 9-7 at halftime. But the Eagles pulled away in the second half for a 37-14 victory.
     
At 1-3, the Aggies have the same record and very similar statistical numbers to the Vikings in terms of yards gained and allowed, and points scored and allowed. UC Davis and Portland State rank 11th and 13th, respectively, in both points allowed and yardage allowed in the Big Sky Conference this season. Each team enters the game having lost two in a row. One of the two teams expects to get well and improve on offenses that rank in the lower half of the Big Sky statistical charts.
     
Although it has been a slow start for the Vikings, things are looking up in the coming weeks. PSU has beaten UC Davis in each of the last three meetings, including a 41-10 drubbing last year in Davis. The UCD game is the first of three out of five at home (PSU has played three of the first four on the road). PSU also comes off a bye week with extra rest and preparation.
     
Three of the upcoming five opponents finished behind the Vikings in last year's Big Sky standings (North Dakota, Idaho State, Weber State).
 
CAR GIVEAWAY THIS SATURDAY
Saturday's Big Sky Conference football game between Portland State and UC Davis at Providence Park will feature the Tonkin Touchdown Giveaway. For every touchdown scored by Portland State, a ticket-buying customer or current PSU student in attendance will receive a free two-year lease of a Tonkin Toyota.
     
Last year, Portland State scored six touchdowns against the Aggies in a 41-10 win at Davis, CA. The Vikings have scored 13 touchdowns in their first four games this season.
 
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
NIGEL BURTON ON THE RADIO: Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 3:17 p.m. on the Wheels At Work Show on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Burton will review and preview Viking football games... A Viking player will be on live every Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
 
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.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 five televised games in 2014, three of which are on the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week.
 
Oct. 4                      vs. UC Davis        Root Sports
Oct. 18                    vs. Northern Arizona Root Sports
Nov. 21                   vs. Eastern Washington      Root Sports
 
VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games that are not televised can be seen free at www.WatchBigSky.com... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.vikslive.com and viksmobile.com.
 
TICKETS: Portland State football tickets can be purchased from the Portland State Box Office, or by going online at www.GoViks.com. The PSU ticket office is located at 1825 SW Broadway on the PSU campus. Call (503) 725-3307 or email tickets@pdx.edu... Single game ticket prices range from $24 to $64 when purchased in advance, $29 to $69 when purchased on game day. Students, seniors and military receive discounted prices. PSU students are free with valid ID.
 
2014 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL PROMOTIONS
Oct. 4 – Car Giveaway Game
Oct. 18 – Kobayashi
Nov. 1 – Turkey Bowl Giveaway
Nov. 21 – Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader/Fireworks
 
STORYLINES, HISTORY AND CONNECTIONS
• Viking Coach Nigel Burton is 3-0 all-time against UC Davis.
• UC Davis is a football-only member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Aggies' Head Coach Ron Gould was the defensive backs coach at Portland State in 1992, then followed Pokey Allen to Boise State from 1993-96.
• Portland State and UC Davis have played 13 times previously, eight times since 2004. PSU has won three in a row, all at Aggie Stadium.
• The Vikings' 41-33 win in Davis on Sept. 11, 2010 was the first in the head coaching career of PSU's Nigel Burton.
• PSU has scored 131 points in its three wins over the Aggies in the Nigel Burton era.
• After last season's loss to the Vikings (and an 0-4 start), UC Davis went on to win five of its final eight games, finishing 5-3 in the Big Sky.
• UCD running back Gabe Manzanares with the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2013.
 
SCOUTING UC DAVIS
Like the Vikings, UC Davis faced a pair of FBS level Division I teams in the preseason. The Aggies lost at Stanford and Colorado State, while beating Fort Lewis in a home game. Last week, UCD opened its Big Sky schedule with a 37-14 loss to second-ranked Eastern Washington.
     
Last year, the Aggies started the season at 0-4, but bounced back to go 5-3 in Big Sky Conference play.
     
Overall, UC Davis averages 303.0 yards and 21.8 points per game, while giving up 484.5 yards and 37.0 points per game. The Aggies have been susceptible to the pass, allowing opponents 323.0 yards through the air per game and a total of 11 passing touchdowns.
     
A veteran offense includes eight seniors listed as starters and averages of 138 yards on the ground and 164 yards through the air. Senior quarterback London Lacy is finally getting his chance with the Aggies. He is 59-93 for 597 yards, three interceptions and four touchdowns this season.
     
Senior Colton Silveria leads the running attack with 49 carries for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wideout Corey Galindo is the top receiver with 14 catches for 185 yards and three scores.
     
Last year's Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, running back Gabe Manzanares (1,258 yards, 10 TDs), has seen limited action and been ineffective due to a foot injury, carrying the ball 11 times for 22 yards in two games.
     
Safety Darryl Graham leads the defense with 24 tackles, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Overall, the defense has forced seven turnovers.
     
The Aggie kicking game has struggled this year as Brady Stuart has made only 1-5 field goals.
 
LAST GAME: CAL POLY'S TRIPLE-OPTION RUNS OVER VIKINGS
Cal Poly rushed for 470 yards, gaining 531 total in a 42-14 victory over Portland State on Sept. 20 in San Luis Obispo.
     
The Mustangs built leads of 28-0 at halftime and 35-0 at the end of the third quarter as they cruised to a non-conference win.
     
CP quarterback Chris Brown had a big day, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. He also completed 4-7 passes for 61 yards and another touchdown.
     
PSU had only 165 yards of total offense through three quarters before putting together a pair of scoring drives in the fourth. FR RB Steven Long rushed for a 27-yard touchdown - the first of his PSU career - and SR WR Roston Tatum caught a 17-yard TD pass from Kieran McDonagh.
     
The Vikings finished with 286 yards of offense.
 
PORTLAND STATE IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Portland State begins its 19th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference this week after moving up from Division II in 1996. The Vikings have never won the Big Sky title, but have finished second three times. PSU's all-time Big Sky record is 60-79.
     
PSU was picked to place 8th in the Big Sky Conference's preseason coaches and media polls.

Here is a look at PSU results over the past 18 years.
 
Year   W-L BSC Place      Coach
1996    3-8  1-7   8th           Walsh
1997    4-7  3-5   7th           Walsh
1998    5-6  4-4   t4th          Walsh
1999    8-3  6-2   t2nd         Walsh
2000    8-4* 5-3   t2nd         Walsh
2001    7-4  5-2   t2nd         Walsh
2002    6-5  3-4   t4th          Walsh
2003    4-7  1-6   7th           Walsh
2004    7-4  4-3   t3rd          Walsh
2005    6-4  4-3   t3rd          Walsh
2006    7-4  6-2   t2nd         Walsh
2007    3-8  3-5   t6th          Glanville
2008    4-7  3-5   t6th          Glanville
2009    2-9  1-7   t7th          Glanville
2010    2-9  1-7   8th           Burton
2011    7-4  5-3   t3rd          Burton
2012    3-8  2-6   t11th        Burton
2013    6-6  3-5   9th           Burton
 
* NCAA playoffs
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE: VIKING QUICK NOTES
 
RUN OR PASS?: Portland State has been known for its running offense in recent years, using concepts of the Pistol that was developed during Head Coach Nigel Burton's time at the University of Nevada. However, the passing game continues to be a larger part of the Viking scheme as time goes by. For the first time since 2009, PSU is throwing the ball more than it is running. The Vikings have thrown 141 passes through four games (35 per game), while running 130 times (32 per game). PSU has passed 52% of the time... last year, PSU ran the ball 558 times in 923 plays with was a 60/40 run-pass ratio.
 
OFFENSE YET TO HIT ITS STRIDE: Portland State's offense has been building and improving in each of the four years of the Nigel Burton era (with Bruce Barnum as offensive coordinator). PSU has increased its total offense and scoring average numbers each season prior to this year. But, through four games, the Vikings numbers are down to only 23.5 points and 342.5 yards of offense. Last year PSU averaged 34.9 points and  a school-record 540.5 yards of offense. A deeper look shows that the Vikings are not sustaining drives like they did last year. PSU converts only 33% of its third-down opportunities (compared to 40% last year), and is running 10 fewer plays per game (67 compared to 77 last year). As a result opponents are dominating time of possession as well (34:13 to 25:47). It's early though, as PSU has played only one-third of its schedule. Certainly the loss of RB DJ Adams (1,600 yards, 19 TDs), three road games and two Pac-12 opponents have been factors.
 
A COMPLETE FLIP-FLOP ON DEFENSE: Portland State's run defense has been solid for the past three seasons. In fact, the Vikings were allowing only 90.0 rushing yards through the first three games of this season. However, Cal Poly's triple-option offense has been a mystery to the Vikings. In 2012, CP rushed for 341 yards against the Vikings. Last year, it was 431 rushing yards, and on Sept. 20 the Mustangs went for a whopping 470 rushing yards. The good news for the Vikings is they will not face a triple-option team again this season. And, following last year's troubles with the Mustangs, the Vikings held five of the final seven opponents to 74 rushing yards or less.
 
BIG GAMES AGAINST THE MUSTANGS: The Vikings didn't have a lot to brag about after a 42-14 loss at Cal Poly on Sept. 20, but here are a few highlights.
• FB RB's Steven Long and Rey Vega combined to rush for 88 yards on 10 carries in the fourth quarter. Long had a 27-yard touchdown run - the first of his career.
• SR WR Roston Tatum caught a 17-yard touchdown pass - the second of his career.
• JR S Patrick Onwuasor had a team-high 10 tackles. He leads the Vikings with 29 tackles this season.
 
PENN ULTIMATE: SO QB Paris Penn has run 23 times for 177 yards this season, for a team-high average of 7.7 yards per carry. He averages 7.2 yards on 51 career rushing plays (365 total).
• This season Penn has three TDs on runs of 58, 11 and 48 yards.
• Penn ran for a career-high 112 yards on nine carries at Oregon State.
 
PLAYMAKERS: Portland State's defensive numbers were not good against Cal Poly, but the Vikings have shown the ability to make big plays this season. Through four games, PSU has:
• 28 tackles for loss
• 12 sacks
• 20 pass breakups
• six forced fumbles
 
HE'S NOT GETTING OLDER, HE'S GETTING BETTER: 2013 consensus 1st team All-American SR P Kyle Loomis is the oldest Viking (he will be 27 on Sept. 30). But the All-American proves he is aging well, averaging 46.3 yards on 28 punts this season. Loomis has 13 punts of 50 yards or better and 11 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.
 
TURNOVER TALK: Portland State went into 2014 wanting to turn around a turnover issue it dealt with last season. The Vikings had 29 turnovers in 12 games last year and a -8 turnover margin. So far, it hasn't gotten any better as PSU has nine turnovers in the first four games and a -4 turnover margin.
 
YELLOW FEVER: Portland State had a whopping 18 penalties for 146 yards against Western Oregon on Sept. 6. However, in the other three games combined, PSU had only 11 penalties for 90 yards - including 2-11 at Cal Poly... last year, PSU led the Big Sky in penalties with 109 for 876 yards.