complete release in pdf

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^#16 MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (3-2, 2-1) vs. ^#17 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-1, 1-1)
Game 6 • Saturday, October 17, 2015, 12:40 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR
 
TELEVISION: Root Sports • Play-by-play: Tom Glasgow • Analyst: Jason Stiles • Sidelines: Jen Mueller
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM (KPOJ), www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 11:30 a.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com and www.ViksMobile.com

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 THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BOBCATS
All-Time Series: MSU leads 19-9 • MSU leads in Portland 7-6 • MSU leads in Bozeman 12-2 • PSU leads in Billings 1-0
Big Sky Conference Series: MSU leads 12-6 • The series is tied in Portland 4-4 • MSU leads in Bozeman 8-2
 
Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 26, 1996: MSU 24-6 @ Bozeman
Oct. 25, 1997: PSU 44-0 @ Portland
Oct. 17, 1998: PSU 34-31 @ Bozeman
Oct. 16, 1999: PSU 49-28 @ Portland
Nov. 4, 2000: PSU 31-24 @ Bozeman
Nov. 3, 2001: PSU 33-21 @ Portland
Nov. 16, 2002: MSU 28-26 @ Bozeman
Nov. 15, 2003: MSU 25-14 @ Portland
Oct. 16, 2004: MSU 31-24 @ Bozeman (ot)
Oct. 15, 2005: PSU 44-41 @ Portland
Oct. 7, 2006: MSU 14-0 @ Bozeman
Nov. 10, 2007: MSU 50-36 @ Portland
Nov. 15, 2008: MSU 49-32 @ Bozeman
Nov. 7, 2009: MSU 28-10 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 2010: MSU 44-31 @ Bozeman
Oct. 8, 2011: MSU 38-36 @ Portland
Nov. 10, 2012: MSU 65-30 @ Bozeman
Nov. 8, 2014: MSU 29-22 @ Bozeman
 
LAST YEAR, Nov. 8, 2014: #15 Montana State 29, Portland State 22
      Redshirt freshman Josh Kraght made his first career start and kept the Vikings in the game to the very end against the 15th-ranked Bobcats. Kraght had 314 yards of total offense, including 96 rushing yards and 218 passing, without a turnover. But, MSU quarterback Dakota Prukop rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns. The Bobcats totaled 329 yards on the ground, 424 total, and never trailed in the game.
      Jeremy Lutali made 10 tackles to lead the Vikings while Alex Singleton made 17 stops for the Bobcats.
 
BEST DEFENSE VS. BEST OFFENSE IN MARQUEE BIG SKY GAME
Portland State and Montana State will play a marquee FCS game this Saturday as the two Top-20 competitors square off in a Big Sky Conference game at Providence Park. The contest features the 17th-ranked Vikings, fresh off their second win over an FBS program this season, and 16th-ranked Montana State, winners over Sacramento State last week.
     
Saturday's game will be televised on Root Sports and DirecTV with kickoff at 12:40 p.m. The game can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com.  Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com and www.ViksMobile.com.
     
The Vikings stand at 4-1 on the season, their best five-game record since the 2000 season (5-0), after a 66-7 rout of North Texas of Conference USA. PSU is 1-1 in Big Sky play with a two-point loss to North Dakota (19-17) on Oct. 3. Montana State comes in at 3-2, but slightly ahead of the Vikings at 2-1 in the Big Sky after beating Sacramento State, 35-13, last Saturday.
     
The matchup will feature the best defense in the Big Sky Conference against the league's best offense. Portland State has held opponents to only 11.4 points and 294.2 yards per game. Meanwhile, Montana State leads the league in scoring (43.2) and total offense (564.8). MSU is third in the nation in total offense and sixth in scoring.
     
Portland State will try to stop an eight-game Bobcats winning streak in this series. The Vikings have not beaten MSU since 2005 when the Vikings knocked off a ninth-ranked Bobcats team with a final-play 40-yard field goal by Eric Azorr (44-41).
     
PSU is 1-1 at home this season while MSU is 0-2 on the road.
 
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. The Viking Pre-Game Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.
 
BRUCE BARNUM ON THE RADIO: Viking football Coach Bruce Barnum can be heard every Monday at 3:15 p.m. on the Wheels At Work Show on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Barnum will review and preview Viking football games.
 
VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at a link on www.GoViks.com... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com with a mobile phone feature for in stadium viewing: www.ViksMobile.com.
 
VIKING PLAYER DIARY: Look for JR CB Xavier Coleman's player diary each week on OregonLive.com and in the Oregonian. Coleman will give weekly updates on the Viking team's progress throughout the 2015 season.
 
VIKING FOOTBALL LUNCHEONS: Every Friday of a home football week (Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 16, Oct. 30 and Nov. 13), Portland State Athletics will host a football luncheon at the Old Spaghetti Factory, located at 0715 SW Bancroft. Coach Barnum and Viking players will speak and be available for questions. The luncheon is open to the public and costs $12.
 
TICKETS: Season and single-game tickets are now on sale for Portland State Football. Season tickets range from $60 to $100 each. Single-game tickets range from $20 to $69. Students and Bi-Mart section tickets are $10 each. Kids 14 and under are $5. Special group pricing and "Montana-Pack" tickets are also available. Portland State Students tickets are FREE with valid ID. All other students and Bi-Mart section tickets are $10 each. Kids 8th grade and under are $5. Visit www.GoViks.com of call 1-888-VIK-TIKS for all details and pricing.

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VIKINGS IN THE MEDIA
Oregon Sports Final feature on QB Alex Kuresa - KPTV
Vikings Win Again Against FBS - SB Nation
Xavier Coleman's Player Diary - The Oregonian
North Texas Game Highlights - YouTube

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STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Portland State will try to turn around the series trend, having dropped eight in a row and 11 of 12 to Montana State. MSU has won three straight in Portland. The Vikings had won five in a row in the series from 1997 to 2001.
• Montana State leads the Big Sky series 12-6 and the all-time series 19-9.
• MSU Head Coach Rob Ash has never lost to the Vikings (7-0).
• The other trend the Vikings would like to stop is scoring - the Vikings have given up 303 points (43.3) and 3,242 yards (463.1) in the last seven meetings with the Bobcats.
• Due to the expanded Big Sky Conference, Montana State will be playing in Portland for the first time in four years.
• Montana State scored a series-best 65 points in its win in 2012, including 59 in the first half.
• The Bobcats have won the last seven meetings in Bozeman and the last three meetings in Portland.
 
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ninth-year Head Coach Rob Ash has made his team a frequent playoff participant. Ash is 68-34 in his Montana State career.
     
MSU brings a high-powered offense to Providence Park. The Bobcats average 227.6 yards per game rushing and 337.2 yards passing for a Big Sky-best 564.8 per game.
     
The offense is led by Big Sky Player of the Year candidate Dakota Prukop. He has completed 96-153 passes for 1,625 yards and 14 touchdowns. Prukop also leads the team in rushing with 85 carries for 424 yards and five TDs. He is the league leader in total offense (409.8 per game).
     
Chad Newell has rushed 69 times for 402 yards and seven scores.
     
Prukop has a variety of receivers to choose from. His top target is Mitch Griebel, who has 24 catches for 278 yards and one TD. Mitchell Herbert has 19 catches for 316 yards and five touchdowns. Seven different players have touchdown receptions.
     
MSU has allowed the fewest sacks in the Big Sky (4) and converts third-downs at a rate of better than 50%.
     
Linebacker Mac Bignell is the top stopper on the Bobcats with 47 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Grant Collins has 36 tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
     
Montana State has done a good job taking care of the ball and, like the Vikings, have produced only three turnovers. However, the defense has also forced just three turnovers while giving up 448.2 yards and 31.8 points per game.
 
THIS STATE IS NO TREASURE FOR THE VIKINGS
Portland State has had little success against Treasure State teams during the past decade.
• The Vikings have lost eight in a row and 11 of 12 to Montana State. PSU's last win over ninth-ranked Montana State was 44-41 in 2005.
• Portland State has lost eight straight games to Montana, and 12 of the last 13 meetings. PSU's last win over fourth-ranked Montana was a 35-32 decision in Portland in 2004.
• In 2015, the Vikings get a chance to end both of those losing streaks at Providence Park. The Bobcats visit on Oct. 17, while the Grizzlies come to town on Oct. 31.
 
THE AFTERMATH OF ANOTHER LANDMARK AFTERNOON
Portland State was actually a slight favorite according to oddsmakers as it entered last Saturday's game with North Texas of Conference USA. The Vikings lived up to that and so much more in a 66-7 drubbing of an FBS program on its home field. The 59-point margin of victory is the largest in NCAA history by an FCS program over an FBS program (the previous mark was 58 by Lehigh over then 1-A Pennsylvania in 1981).

According to the Big Sky Conference, the Vikings also have the distinction of being the first FCS team to beat two FBS teams in the same season since North Dakota State did it in 2007.
     
The victory improved Portland State to 4-1 on the season, which is already better than last year's 3-9 record.
 
Here are a few more notables from the Viking win:
• PSU has beaten two FBS teams in the same year for the first time in its history (Washington State). The Viks are 4-32 all-time against the FBS, but 2-0 this year.
• Portland State dominated in all facets of the game, totaling 670 yards of offense (439 by halftime), and holding North Texas under 200 yards and out of the end zone until the game's final minute. A blocked punt by the Vikings' Zack Berg ignited the Viking offense leading to PSU's first score.
• PSU averaged an unheard-of 9.9 yards per play while holding the Mean Green to 2.8 yards per play.
• PSU had season-highs in rushing (368) and passing (302) and held an opponent to its fewest yards (198). The Vikings scored on seven straight first-half possessions in building a 45-0 halftime lead. In all, North Texas punted 11 times, fumbled once and twice lost the ball on downs. PSU forced seven three-and-outs in the game.
• Kicker Jonathan Gonzales continued his perfect season with a 46-yard field goal. Gonzales is 6-6 on field goals this year and 22-22 on extra points. He has also established a new PSU record for consecutive extra points made (55 and counting).
• PSU, which led 45-0 at halftime, scored the most points (66) in more than two years, and easily the most points ever against an FBS team. North Texas' 7 points were the second-fewest ever by an FBS team against the Vikings. PSU beat New Mexico 17-6 in 2006.
• The Vikings have won three straight road games for the first time since 2000.
 
IMPROVING WHERE THEY NEED TO
      Portland State came into the 2015 season needing to make gains in a number of areas to improve the program. So far, the improvements are showing:
• PSU had lost 21 straight to nationally-ranked teams, then beat Idaho State on Sept. 12.
• PSU has gone from a -12 turnover margin to a +9 turnover margin.
• The Vikings have improved their defense, allowing 149 yards and 22.6 points less per game this season.
 
                                           2013   2014   2015
Turnovers                              29     26         3
Turnovers per game            2.41  2.17     0.60   
Turnovers Forced                 21      14       12
Turnovers Forced PG         1.75    1.17    2.40
Turnover Margin                   -8      -12      +9
Penalties                             109      84       21
Penalties per game             9.08   7.00    4.20
Yards Allowed PG             430.2  443.2  294.2
Rush Yards Allowed PG    141.5 160.8  105.6
Pass Yards Allowed PG     288.7 282.3  188.6
Points Allowed PG               27.5   34.0    11.4
                             
QUICK SNAPS (SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE)
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 4-1 on the season, 1-1 at home, 2-0 on the road.
• Portland State is in its 20th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1996-2015). PSU is 99-118 in all games at the FCS level. PSU is 64-40 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 35-78 on the road.
• The Vikings are in their 20th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. PSU is 63-86 all-time in Big Sky games. The Vikings are 38-37 at home, 25-49 on the road in BSC games.
• The Vikings have eight winning records in 19 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Bruce Barnum is the Vikings fourth Head Coach in the Big Sky Conference era. Previous coaches were: Tim Walsh (1993-2006, 42-41, 90-68 all-time); Jerry Glanville (2007-09, 7-17, 9-24); and Nigel Burton (2010-15, 13-27, 21-36).
• The Vikings have never won a Big Sky title, but tied for second four times under Walsh. PSU has made one NCAA I playoff appearance (2000) after placing second in the Big Sky.
 
A FEW WINNING NOTES:
• The Vikings' 4-1 record is its best after five games since 2000 (started 5-0).
• PSU has already bettered its win total of 2014 (3-9).
• The Vikings are 4-32 all-time against FBS opponents, but 2-0 this year.
• Portland State's 66-7 win over North Texas establish a new NCAA record for victory margin by an FCS school over an FBS schools (59 points).
• PSU has won three straight road games for the first time since 2000.
• Portland State's win over 23rd-ranked Idaho State (9/12) was the first win over a nationally-ranked team since 2008, ending a stretch of 21 straight losses to ranked teams.
• With a 31-0 win over Western Oregon on Sept. 26, the Vikings are 14-0 against lower division teams since joining the Big Sky Conference.
 
THE MEANER GREEN: Portland State handed the North Texas Mean Green about as bad a whipping as a team can. The Viking Green proved to be meaner, totaling a remarkable 670 yards of offense and holding North Texas to less than 200 yards and out of the end zone until the final minute... PSU had season-highs in rushing (368) and passing (302) and held an opponent to its fewest yards (198)... the Vikings scored on seven straight first-half possessions in building a 45-0 lead... North Texas punted 11 times, fumbled once and twice lost the ball on downs. PSU forced seven three-and-outs.
 
THE COMMITTEE IS BACK IN SESSION: After managing only 97 yards on 30 running plays against North Dakota, Portland State came back with its best rushing effort of the season against North Texas. PSU carried the ball 46 times for 368 yards and six touchdowns. It was another classic "by committee" run-game for the Vikings.
• SR RB David Jones had a career-high 134 yards on only nine carries. He scored two touchdowns, including a 70-yarder. For good measure, he also caught a 60-yard touchdown pass. Jones leads the Vikings in rushing this season with 45 carries for 336 yards.
• SO RB Steven Long had his best game of the year with 12 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown.
• JR RB Nate Tago ran the ball nine times for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He leads the Vikings with five rushing TDs this year.
• SO RB Mitchell Thompson scored on a 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and had 73 yards on three carries.
• JR QB Alex Kuresa is second on the team in rushing with 70 carries for 287 yards and two scores.
• For the season, PSU averages 238 rushing yards per game, and has been over 200 yards in four of five contests.
 
AERIAL ASSUALT: As good as PSU's running game has been, the passing attack had been called into question a bit after the loss to North Dakota. But JR QB Alex Kuresa answered any questions with a brilliant performance against North Texas. He completed 11-19 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. It was an average of 24.4 yards per reception. For good measure, Kuresa rushed seven times for 21 yards and caught one pass for 25 yards.
• JR WR Darnell Adams had his best game with four catches for 100 yards, including a 34-yard score. It was his second career 100-yard game.
• SR WR Thomas Carter made a 56-yard touchdown reception.
• SR RB David Jones caught a 60-yard touchdown pass.
• Eight different Vikings caught passes, including Kuresa, who made a 25-yard reception on the Vikings first offensive play of the game.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (11.4) and total defense (294.2), pass efficiency defense (94.0), third-down conversion defense (24.4%) and fewest opponent first downs (15.8). The Vikings rank in the top 10 in the nation in five defensive categories and have committed the fifth-fewest penalties in the nation... JR CB Xavier Coleman and SR SS Patrick Onwuasor are tied for the lead in the Big Sky in interceptions (3 each).
• SR LB Jeremy Lutali leads the team with 44 tackles this season. He is also the current career leader with 160.
• SR DE Sadat Sulleyman leads the Vikings with six tackles for loss and two sacks. For his career, he has 19.5 TFLs and nine sacks, the most by any current Viking.
• JR CB Xavier Coleman shares the team lead with three interceptions and four pass breakups this year. He is also the team career leader in both categories with five INTs and 18 PBUs.
 
THE TAKEAWAY: Portland State has forced 12 turnovers in five games while committing only three for a +9 turnover ratio. That is a far cry from last year's -12 ratio (26 turnovers/14 takeaways).
• Portland State's defense has made eight interceptions after making only six picks all of last season.
• JR CB Xavier Coleman and SR SS Patrick Onwuasor each have three interceptions to tie for the Big Sky Conference lead. Coleman has five interceptions in his career and Onwuasor has four.
 
FANCY FOOTWORK: JR K Jonathan Gonzales has made 55 consecutive extra points in his career. That sets a new PSU record for consecutive extra points made. The previous mark was 44, set twice previously by Pat Moore (1972-75) and Zach Brown (2009-11)... Gonzales is also 6-6 on field goals this season, ranging from 19 to 51 yards. Last year, he had a streak of eight straight field goals made... Gonzales leads the Big Sky in kick scoring (8.0 ppg).
 
THESE TEAMS ARE SPECIAL: Top special teams plays this season:
• JR P Marcus Kinsella averaged 46 yards per boot against Washington State.
• JR K Jonathan Gonzales is 6-6 on field goals, including a 51-yarder.
• SR LS Kameron Canaday recovered a WSU muffed punt return at the Cougars' 11-yard line, setting up a go-ahead touchdown.
• SR CB Aaron Sibley blocked a 22-yard field goal at Washington State after the Cougars had driven 93 yards.
• SO CB Kahlil Dawson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in the win at Idaho State.
• JR K Marcus Kinsella was 7-7 with kickoffs for touchbacks against Idaho State.
• PSU snuffed out a fake punt play at Idaho State, taking over on downs.
• JR P Marcus Kinsella had five of eight punts downed inside the 20 against Western Oregon. He also had a 62-yard boot.
• SO WR Josh Kraght took a fake field goal 25 yards for a touchdown against Western Oregon.
• SO KR Kahlil Dawson averages 32.4 yards per kick return to lead the Big Sky Conference.
• SR LB Zack Berg blocked a punt against North Texas leading to a touchdown on the Vikings ensuing possession.
 
QUARTERBACKS APLENTY: Portland State had all four quarterbacks on the field for several plays during the Western Oregon game. The Vikings pulled the feat again for two plays against North Dakota. All four saw playing time again at North Texas, but never more than three were on the field at once. JR Alex Kuresa spends the majority of the time behind center, while SO Josh Kraght, the converted wide receiver, JR Paris Penn and SR Kieran McDonagh are frequently split wide. Penn and Kraght also took snaps against Western Oregon, while Penn and McDonagh took snaps against North Dakota and Penn, Kraght and McDonagh took snaps at North Texas... SR RB David Jones and SR WR Thomas Carter are also converted quarterbacks.
 
JONES BECOMES THE FIFTH: SR RB David Jones became the fifth Viking on the roster to have at least one 100-yard rushing game in his career. Jones carried 18 times for 113 yards against Idaho State. He added a 134-yard game at North Texas... PSU has rushed for 200+ yards in four of five games this season... Below is a list of the top rushing games for each Viking with at least 100 yards in a game.
David Jones 134 at North Texas, 2015
Steven Long 253 vs. Northern Arizona, 2014
Kieran McDonagh   108 vs. North Dakota, 2013
Paris Penn_ 112 at Oregon State, 2014
Nate Tago__ 106 vs. UC Davis, 2014
 
GONZALES' KICKING LIST: JR K Jonathan Gonzales has picked up where he left off last season when he led the Big Sky in field goals made (17-24). Gonzales is 6-6 on field goals and 23-30 in his Portland State career. He ranks tied for seventh in field goals made in PSU history and his field goal percentage (.767) also ranks best all-time at PSU... Gonzales holds a record for most consecutive extra points made (55)... Gonzales 51-yard field goal at Idaho State ties for ninth-longest in school history and is his second of 50+ yards.
 
2015 SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
 
A SEASON OPENER BECOMES A BARNYBALL EYE OPENER: When Portland State knocked off Washington State, 24-7, on Sept. 5 in Pullman, WA it opened the eyes of football fans not just locally, but nationally. It marked the first time that PSU had ever beaten a Pac-12 program (in 15 tries) and just the third win over an FBS opponent (in 35 tries). The win came in Head Coach Bruce Barnum's first-ever game in charge and introduced the world to #BarnyBall. PSU trailed 10-0 at halftime, but shut down the Cougars' "Air Raid" offense in the second half. The Viking offense rode a 228-137 total offense advantage in the second half to a 24-7 comeback while PSU's defense forced two turnovers. The Vikings had 233 rushing yards in all, and took the lead for good on a one-yard TD run by Steven Long with 2:19 to play. Cornerback Aaron Sibley intercepted a WSU pass with 42 seconds to play to seal the win. Sibley also blocked a field goal, broke up a pass and made four tackles. He was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
 
VIKINGS MAUL THE BENGALS: Portland State beat Idaho State in every facet of the game in a 34-14 victory at Pocatello on Sept. 12. The Vikings held the Bengals to 242 yards of offense while forcing four turnovers. PSU special teams had a kickoff return for touchdown and stopped a fourth-down fake punt play. On offense, the Vikings rushed for 236 yards. It was the first win over a nationally-ranked team since 2008, ending a string of 21 straight loss to ranked teams.
 
DAWSON'S STREAK: SO KR Kahlil Dawson streaked 94 yards on a kick return for touchdown in the Vikings 34-14 win over Idaho State (9/12). It was the first time a Viking had returned a kickoff for touchdown in five years. Dawson returned two kicks for 127 yards and was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
WHITEWASHING THE WOLVES: Portland State recorded its first shutout in 49 games with a 31-0 victory over Western Oregon (9/26). PSU held the Wolves to 224 yards of total offense, forced 12 punts and intercepted three passes. JR CB Xavier Coleman had two interceptions to lead the Vikings, who got off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2000.
 
TEXAS HOLD 'EM: Portland State put on one of its most impressive performances in school history in a 66-7 thrashing of North Texas (10/10). The Vikings went to the home of the Conference USA program and held it under 200 yards and out of the end zone until the final minute. PSU forced 11 punts and seven three-and-outs. The Vikings had 670 offensive yards, with 368 on the ground and 302 through the air. SR RB David Jones scored three touchdowns, rushing for 134 yards. He had a 70-yard TD run and also caught a 60-yard TD pass. JR QB Alex Kuresa completed 11-19 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, rushed seven times for 21 yards and caught a 25-yard pass. The win marked the first time PSU has beaten two FBS teams in the same year. The 59-point winning margin was the biggest in NCAA history by an FCS school over an FBS school. It was also first time PSU had won three straight road games since 2000.