complete notes and stats in pdf

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^#14/^#13 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (5-1, 2-1) vs. CAL POLY MUSTANGS (2-4, 1-2)
Game 7 • Saturday, October 24, 2015, 6:05 p.m. • Alex G. Spanos Stadium (11,075), San Luis Obispo, CA

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TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM (KPOJ), www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 5 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: http://eversport.tv/big-sky/football/cal-poly#schedule • Live stats: http://www.gopoly.com/sports/fball/2015-16/schedule
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. MUSTANGS
All-Time Series: Cal Poly leads 11-10 • PSU leads 6-5 in Portland • Cal Poly leads 6-4 in San Luis Obispo
Big Sky Conference Series: Cal Poly leads 2-0 • Cal Poly leads 1-0 in SLO • Cal Poly leads 1-0 in Portland
 
Big Sky Conference era
Oct. 20, 2012: CP 37-25 @ San Luis Obispo
Sept. 26, 2013: CP 38-34 @ Portland (non-conference)
Sept. 20, 2014: CP 42-14 @ San Luis Obispo
 
VIKINGS WILL TRY TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM AT CAL POLY
The red-hot Portland State Vikings will try to maintain their momentum this week in a challenging Big Sky Conference game at Cal Poly. The 5-1 Vikings would appear to be the favorites against the 2-4 Mustangs, however Cal Poly has played perhaps the toughest schedule in the country and possesses a three-game winning streak over PSU.
     
Portland State and Cal Poly meet in a 6:05 p.m. game at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo this Saturday. The game is not televised but is available via live video stream at www.eversport.tv/big-sky. The game will air on Rip City Radio 620 KPOJ and www.ripcityradio.com. Live stats are also available at www.GoViks.com by clicking on the Game Day box.
     
The Vikings have been better than good the last two weeks, combining for 1,352 yards and 125 points in wins over FBS North Texas and 16th-ranked Montana State. The 125 points is the most in consecutive games by a Viking team since Mouse Davis trod the Civic Stadium sidelines in 1980.
     
Portland State's 5-1 start is its best since a 6-0 start during the 2000 season led by, ironically, current Cal Poly Head Coach Tim Walsh (Walsh was the Viking coach from 1993-2006). 
     
On the other side of the field, Cal Poly is only 2-4, 1-2 in the Big Sky. However the Mustangs will be facing their fifth Top15 opponent of the season in the Vikings. They have also played Arizona State of the Pac-12.
     
Portland State's chief challenge will be trying to stop a Cal Poly rushing offense that has trampled the Viking defense the past three seasons. The Mustangs rushed 79 times for 341 yards in a 37-25 win in 2012; rushed 79 times for 430 yards in a 38-34 win over the Vikings in 2013; and rushed 74 times for 470 yards in last year's 42-14 win.
     
The Mustangs are averaging 75 carries for 387.0 yards per game on the ground this year to lead the Big Sky once again.
     
Portland State has a perfect 3-0 road record, while Cal Poly is 1-1 at home. The Vikings will try to tie the longest road winning streak in school history this week. The record is four, set in 1968-69 and matched in 1991.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Cal Poly has won the first three meetings between the schools since the Mustangs joined the Big Sky Conference in 2012. The series was renewed after a 13-year hiatus. Last year's game was a non-conference meeting. The Mustangs are 2-0 in the conference series.
• For the second year in a row, the Mustangs led all of FCS with 351.8 rushing yards per game in 2014. They also had the fewest turnovers with seven.
• 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 6-0 in the series between PSU and Cal Poly. He was 3-0 with PSU against Cal Poly, and is now 3-0 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 in the series.\
 
LAST YEAR, Sept. 20, 2014: Cal Poly 42, Portland State 14
Cal Poly coasted to a 42-14 win over the Vikings in a non-conference matchup at San Luis Obispo.
     
The Mustangs rushed for 470 yards in the game, building a 35-0 lead before settling for the easy win. Quarterback Chris Brown rushed 12 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns. It marked the third straight year that PSU has been befuddled by Cal Poly's triple-option offense. The Mustangs have averaged 414 rushing yards in those three games.
     
PSU was out-gained 531 yards to 286 yards. The Vikings did not commit a turnover but were unable to sustain any drives through the first three quarters.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
If you are trying to find the team that has played the toughest schedule in the country to this point, look no further than Cal Poly. The Mustangs have played four teams ranked in the Top 15 of the FCS, a fifth that was ranked earlier in the season, and an Arizona State team on the verge of being a Top 25 FBS program. The result has been a 2-4 start for Head Coach Tim Walsh's battle-weary team.
     
However, the Mustangs have had a week to rest while the Vikings were playing Montana State last Saturday.
     
Cal Poly brings the Big Sky Conference's top rushing offense into Saturday's game, as well as the Big Sky's top rusher. The Mustangs average 75 carries for 387 yards per game this season. Quarterback Chris Brown leads the league with 117.0 yards per game and nine touchdowns. He has also thrown for six touchdowns in limited passing duty (33-68, 340 yards).
     
Joe Protheroe ranks second on the Mustangs with 554 yards and four touchdowns. He averages 110.8 yards per game. Kori Garcia has 88 carries for 455 yards and four more scores.
     
On defense, the Mustangs have struggled to stop the pass, ranking last in that category (298.2 yards per game) while ranking 11th in the Big Sky in total defense (478.8). They also have the fewest quarterback sacks (6) while allowing a league-worst 50.6% third-down conversions.
     
One area the Mustangs have had a positive is turnovers and turnover margin. Cal Poly has committed only four turnovers through six games, while forcing 10.
     
Senior linebacker Tu'uta Inoke has a team-leading 58 tackles this season and has forced a league-high four fumbles.
 
DAVID JONES IS EVERYONE'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Viking running back David Jones is everyone's Player of the Week. And why not?
     
Jones rushed 23 times for 285 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Portland State Vikings to a 59-42 win over 16th-ranked Montana State last Saturday at Providence Park. Jones had TD runs of 79, 26 and 56 yards in the game as PSU set a school record for total rushing (465 yards). The Vikings had 682 total yards, scoring touchdowns on their first eight possessions of the game.
     
The Big Sky Conference picked Jones as its Offensive Player of the Week. NCAA FCS Football and College Sports Madness named Jones National Offensive Player of the Week. College Football Performance Awards also picked Jones as one of five top offensive players of the week in the nation. Other Player of the Week accolades are yet to come.
     
Jones, a 6-1, 205-pound senior from Kent, WA, moved to running back this season after three years as a wide receiver and special teams star. The move has paid off for the Vikings as Jones leads the team with 621 rushing yards on 68 carries. He has five rushing touchdowns and leads the nation in yards per carry at 9.13.
Jones' 285-yard rushing game against Montana State ranks as the fifth-best in Portland State history.
     
Following a nine-carry, 134-yard, two-TD performance in a win over North Texas on Oct. 10, Jones has 419 rushing yards on 32 carries over the past two games (13.1 yards per carry).
 
VIKINGS MOVE UP TO 14TH/13TH IN THIS WEEK'S POLLS
The Portland State Vikings are ranked 14th in this week's Stats FCS Top 25 and 13th in the FCS Coaches Poll. That is a rise in the polls from last week, and it follows a 59-42 win over previously-16th-ranked Montana State on Saturday.
 
This is Portland State's highest national ranking since being 13th on Sept. 11, 2006.
 
Other Big Sky Conference teams in the Top 25 include #7 Eastern Washington, #19 Montana and #21 Montana State.
 
PSU has entered the national rankings this season for the first time since the final week of the 2011 season (25th). Prior to that, PSU was last ranked in the first week of the 2007 season.
 
ONCE AGAIN, THE VIKING OFFENSE LEAVES NO DOUBT
A few weeks ago, following a 19-17 loss to North Dakota, there were some questions about how effective the Portland State offense could be. Two weeks, 1,352 yards and 125 points later, all the questions are answered.
     
Portland State put a 59-42 whipping on 16th-ranked Montana State on Saturday, setting a school record with 465 rushing yards. The Vikings totaled 682 offensive yards in the game. It comes one week after a 66-7 rout of North Texas of Conference USA and 670 yards in that contest.
     
The 125 points scored in consecutive games are the most by a Portland State team since Mouse Davis trod the Viking sidelines in 1980 (105-0 win over Delaware State, 48-17 win over South Dakota State, Nov. 8-15, 1980).
     
Now 5-1, Portland State has its best six-game record since a 6-0 start in 2000. The Vikings have reached their highest point in a national poll since being ranked 13th on Sept. 11, 2006.
     
The Vikings were a model of efficiency in Saturday's win, running 79 plays for 682 yards, an average of 8.6 yards per play. PSU scored touchdowns on its first eight possessions of the game and did not punt until 18 seconds remained in the game.
     
Behind senior David Jones, the running game was brilliant. Jones, from Kent, WA, had a career-high 285 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. He had scores of 79, 26, and 56 yards. His 285 yards ranks as the fifth-best rushing performance in Portland State history. It comes after 134 rushing yards and three scores at North Texas of 70, 6, and 60 yards.
     
The Vikings had seven rushing touchdowns against the Bobcats as their 465 yards on the ground established a new PSU rushing mark. The previous record was 437, set in a 2012 win against Idaho State.
     
Quarterback Alex Kuresa was effective again, completing 10-14 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. The junior also rushed 13 times for 51 yards.
     
Despite giving up 42 points and 440 yards to a Montana State team that came into the game as the league's top offense, PSU still ranks second in the Big Sky in scoring defense (16.5) and total defense (318.5).
 
QUICK SNAPS (SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE)
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 5-1 on the season, 2-1 at home, 3-0 on the road.
• Portland State is in its 20th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1996-2015). PSU is 100-118 in all games at the FCS level. PSU is 65-40 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 64-86 all-time in Big Sky games. The Vikings are 39-37 at home, 25-49 on the road in BSC games.
 
A FEW WINNING NOTES:
• The Vikings' 5-1 record is its best after six games since 2000 (started 6-0).
• 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 (Washington State, North Texas).
• 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. The Vikings are now 2-0 against nationally-ranked teams this season (Montana State).
• Portland State's home attendance of 8,110 against Montana State was its best in four years.
• The Viking offense set a new school record with 465 rushing yards against Montana State (682 total).
• 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 Vikings' 59-42 win over Montana State ended an eight-game losing streak to the Bobcats. It also marked the first time that Portland State was a top-20 ranked and beat another top-20 ranked team since Nov. 2, 2002 (27-20 over Idaho State).
 
STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in 3rd-down defense and ranks second in the nation (24.7% conversion rate).
• JR K Jonathan Gonzales is a perfect 7-7 on field goals and 30-30 on extra points this season.
• SR RB David Jones leads the nation with 9.13 yards per carry (68-621-5TDs).
• SR S Patrick Onwuasor leads the Big Sky Conference in interceptions (4).
• SR QB Alex Kuresa ranks first in the Big Sky and second in the nation in yards per pass completion (17.73).
                             
UNSTOPPABLE: Portland State has had two of its best offensive performances in school history the past two weeks, totaling 1,352 yards and 125 points. It is the most total yards in consecutive games in school history. It is the most points in back-to-back games since PSU beat Delaware State (105-0) and South Dakota State (48-17) on Nov. 8-15, 1980.
• Against North Texas on Oct. 10 PSU had 670 yards of offense (368 rushing, 302 passing), scoring on seven straight first-half possessions in building a 45-0 lead.
• Against Montana State on Oct. 17, PSU had 682 yards of offense (school-record 465 rushing, 217 passing) and scored touchdowns on its first eight possessions of the game.
 
THE COMMITTEE IS BACK IN SESSION: After managing only 97 yards on 30 running plays against North Dakota (10/3), Portland State has come back with two brilliant rushing performances. PSU had 368 yards on the ground against North Texas, then a school record 465 yards rushing against Montana State. The Vikings totaled 13 rushing touchdowns in the two games. Here is a look at the Vikings' rushing "committee."
• SR RB David Jones had a career-high 285 yards on 23 carries with three TDs against Montana State. That came after a career-high 134 yards on only nine carries against North Texas. Jones scored six touchdowns in the two games, five rushing and one receiving. His scoring plays were of 70, 7, 60, 79, 26 and 56 yards. He had 419 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards in the two games. Jones leads the Vikings in rushing this season with 68 carries for 621 yards. His 9.13 yards per carry average leads the nation.
• JR QB Alex Kuresa is second on the team in rushing with 83 carries for 339 yards and three scores.
• JR RB Nate Tago leads the Vikings with six rushing TDs this year. He has carried 53 times for 231 yards.
• SO RB Steven Long has 44 carries for 179 yards and three scores.
• JR UQ Paris Penn has rushed 30 times for 152 yards and four touchdowns.
• Seven different Vikings have combined for 23 rushing touchdowns.
• For the season, PSU averages 275.8 rushing yards per game to rank sixth in the nation. The Vikings have been over 200 yards in five of six contests.
 
AERIAL ASSUALT: As good as PSU's running game has been, the passing attack has picked up some slack in recent weeks as well. JR QB Alex Kuresa has completed 21-33 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns in the past two games. That is an average of 23.1 yards per reception. Kuresa ranks second in the nation with a 17.73 yard per completion rate.
• No single Viking receiver stands out statistically, but five different players have touchdown receptions. JR WR Darnell Adams, SR WR Thomas Carter and JR UQ Paris Penn have eight receptions each and have combined to average 20.1 yards per catch.
• SR WR Thomas Carter has TD receptions of 56 and 24 yards this season.
• SR RB David Jones caught a 60-yard touchdown pass.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Portland State ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (16.5) and total defense (318.5). The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank second in the nation in third-down conversion defense (24.7%). The Vikings rank in the top 10 in the nation in four defensive categories and have committed the ninth-fewest penalties in the nation.
• SR SS Patrick Onwuasor leads the Big Sky Conference with four interceptions. JR CB Xavier Coleman ranks third in the conference with three interceptions.
• SR LB Jeremy Lutali leads the team with 48 tackles this season. He is also the current career leader with 164.
• SR DE Sadat Sulleyman leads the Vikings with seven tackles for loss and three sacks. For his career, he has 20.5 TFLs and 10 sacks, the most by any current Viking.
• JR CB Xavier Coleman leads the team with five pass breakups this year. He is also the team career leader with five INTs and 19 PBUs. Coleman ranks sixth all-time in PBUs at Portland State. SR CB Aaron Sibley ranks 10th all-time with 14 PBUs.
 
THE TAKEAWAY: Portland State has forced 13 turnovers in six games while committing only four 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 nine interceptions after making only six picks all of last season.
• The Vikings won the turnover battle in the first five games and tied it with Montana State (one each).
 
FANCY FOOTWORK: JR K Jonathan Gonzales might be having a better season than his All-Big Sky Conference performance of a year ago. So far, Gonzales has yet to miss a kick (7-7 FGs, 30-30 PATs).
• Gonzales has made 63 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 7-7 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 (8.5 ppg).
• Gonzales is seventh all-time in field goals made at Portland State (24) in only a season-and-a-half.
• He has made 24-31 field goals in his Portland State career for a school-record .774 percentage.
• Gonzales has two 50+ field goals in his career, ranking in the Top 10 in PSU history.
 
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.
 
A RECORD RUN: Portland State rushed to a school-record 465 yards on 65 carries, defeating 16th-ranked Montana State, 59-42 (10-17). SR RB David Jones went for a career-high 285 yards on 23 carries, scoring three touchdowns. He was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week as well as receiving a variety of other accolades. The Vikings scored touchdowns on their first eight possessions of the game and had a season-high 682 yards of total offense. That gave PSU 1,352 yards in back-to-back games, which is the most in consecutive games in school history. The Vikings also had 125 points in back-to-back games - the most in two games by a Viking team since 1980.