complete notes and stats in pdf

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^#17 MONTANA GRIZZLIES (4-3, 3-1) vs. ^#12 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (6-1, 3-1)
Game 8 • Saturday, October 31, 2015, 2:05 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR

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 TELEVISION: None in Portland, Cowles Montana Media in Montana
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM (KPOJ), www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 1 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: www.GoViks.com • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. GRIZZLIES
All-Time Series: Montana leads 29-11 • UM leads 12-8 in Portland • UM leads 17-3 in Missoula
Big Sky Conference Series: Montana leads 15-2 • UM leads 9-0 in Missoula • UM leads 6-2 in Portland
 
VIKINGS HOST MONTANA IN KEY BIG SKY SHOWDOWN
This Saturday's Big Sky Conference game between Portland State and Montana could go a long way toward deciding the Big Sky title chase as the two Top-20 programs bring 3-1 league records to the matchup.
     
The 12th-ranked Vikings are 6-1 on the season, 3-1 in the Big Sky and currently riding a three-game winning streak. The 17th-ranked Grizzlies are 4-3 on the season, 3-1 in the Big Sky, and have won three of their last four with the loss coming in overtime. PSU and Montana are tied for third in the league standings behind Southern Utah and Eastern Washington (both 5-2, 4-0). Both the Thunderbirds and Eagles have home games this week.
     
The Halloween showdown between the Vikings and Grizzlies kicks off at 2:05 p.m. at Providence Park. The game is not televised in Portland but a live video stream is available at www.GoViks.com. The game will be televised in Montana by Cowles Montana Media. PSU's radio broadcast can be found at Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. Live stats are also available at www.GoViks.com.
     
Portland State will try to extend its winning streak to four games. The Vikings will also try to stop an eight-game losing streak in the series with Montana. The last win by PSU was 35-32 over the then fourth-ranked Griz on Oct. 30, 2004.
     
Montana won the last meeting with the Vikings, 55-27, in 2013 in Missoula. UM has won in its last three appearances in Portland.
     
PSU is 2-1 at home this year. Montana is 1-1 on the road this season.
     
Over the final four weeks of the season, the Vikings will meet the league's other top three teams. First comes Montana this week, then after a game at Northern Colorado on Nov. 7, PSU hosts Southern Utah on Nov. 14 and travels to Eastern Washington on Nov. 21.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Among common opponents, Portland State has beaten Cal Poly and lost to North Dakota, while Montana has lost to Cal Poly and beaten North Dakota.
• Montana and Portland State have played only once in the last three years due to the expanded Big Sky Conference. The Griz come to Portland for the first time since 2011.
• The Grizzlies have won eight straight and 12 of the last 13 in the series. Montana has won all nine Big Sky games played in Missoula and 10 in a row at home overall in the series. The Griz have won in their last three appearances in Portland.
• PSU has beaten Montana just twice in its 19 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference. Both wins have come at Providence Park (1999 and 2004).
• The Grizzlies have been nationally-ranked every season the Vikings have played them in Big Sky competition. Including this season, the Vikings were nationally-ranked five times.
 
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 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: 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.
 
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Montana opened its 2015 season with a resounding 38-35 win over defending national champion North Dakota State. Since then, it has been an up and down season as the Grizzlies have compiled a 4-3 record under new Head Coach Bob Stitt.
     
Montana leads the Big Sky Conference in pass defense, allowing only 167.4 yards per game. However, the Griz have also seen the second-fewest pass attempts (166) in their seven games. Montana has the most sacks in the Big Sky with 24. Defensive end Tyrone Holmes leads the league with 11 sacks. Senior linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren has 85 tackles to rank second in the Big Sky.
     
On offense, the Grizzlies have used three quarterbacks due to injuries. The most recent starter, sophomore Makena Simis, tied a school record with six touchdown passes in last week's 42-16 win over North Dakota. It was Simis' first career start. He was 15-22 for 321 yards.
     
Despite the changes behind center, the Grizzlies pass attack has been effective, averaging 312.0 yards per game. Jamaal Jones has 42 receptions for 718 yards and five touchdowns. Chase Naccarato has 42 catches for 245 yards and one score. Ellis Henderson has made 29 grabs for 522 yards and five touchdowns, while Ben Roberts is 27 for 321 yards and five more scores.
     
John Nguyen is the Grizzlies top rusher with 82 carries for 375 yards and two scores.
 
VIKINGS MOVE UP TO 12TH IN THIS WEEK'S POLLS
The Portland State Vikings moved up to 12th in nation this week in both the Stats FCS Top 25 and the FCS Coaches Poll. The move comes following a 38-35 road win at Cal Poly on Saturday.
     
This is Portland State's highest national ranking since being 12th on Oct. 14, 2002.
     
This week's opponent, Montana, is ranked 17th in both polls. The Griz are 4-3 overall and tied for third in the Big Sky with the Vikings at 3-1.
     
Other Big Sky Conference teams in the Top 25 include fifth-ranked Eastern Washington, and 18th-ranked 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.
 
GONZALES IS BIG SKY SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Portland State kicker Jonathan Gonzales was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting 3-4 field goals, including the game-winner with 33 seconds left in a 38-35 win at Cal Poly on Saturday.   
     
Gonzales made field goals of 35, 36, and 27 yards in the game. His 26-yarder early in the fourth quarter was blocked. The junior from Apple Valley, CA also made 3-3 extra points.   
     
For the season, Gonzales is 10-11 on field goals and 33-33 on extra points. Gonzales holds school records for consecutive extra points made in a career (66) and field goal percentage (.771). With 27 field goals made in his career, Gonzales ranks sixth all-time at PSU.   
     
Gonzales is the fourth Viking to earn Big Sky Player of the Week honors this year: David Jones (offense); Aaron Sibley (defense); and Kahlil Dawson (special teams) also earned honors.
 
VIKING FOOTBALL CONTINUES TO CHECK THE BOXES
Long bus rides be damned in this season of BarnyBall as the Portland State Vikings continue to prove their mettle on the road.
     
The Vikings picked up another road victory on Saturday night, defeating Cal Poly in dramatic fashion, 38-35. And it came after another long bus trip - this one spread over two days - to San Luis Obispo.
     
PSU came back from eight points behind in the second half, led by quarterback Alex Kuresa's two rushing and two passing touchdowns. The Vikings got the finishing touch from kicker Jonathan Gonzales, who booted a 27-yard, game-winning field goal with 33 seconds left.
 
The win marked a couple more minor milestones for the Vikings.
      • PSU ended a three-game losing streak to Cal Poly.
      • The Vikings won their fourth straight road game - tying a school record set twice previously.
      • PSU has now won four road games in a season five times. It has never won five in one season.
      • At 6-1 Portland State is guaranteed a winning record this season.
 
Those are just the latest of the boxes the Vikings have checked off in this most splendid of seasons. Here are a few others.
      • PSU's 6-1 record is its best seven-game mark since starting 6-1 in 2000.
      • The Vikings beat a Pac-12 opponent for the first time ever (Washington State, 24-17), ending a 14-game losing streak to the Pac-12.
      • PSU has beaten two FBS opponents for the first time in its history (WSU, North Texas).
      • Portland State's 66-7 win over North Texas established a new NCAA record for victory margin by an FCS school over an FBS school (59 points).
      • Portland State defeated a nationally-ranked team for the first time since 2008 (Idaho State) and is now 2-0 against ranked opponents (Montana State).
      • The Vikings' 59-42 win over Montana State ended an eight-game losing streak to the Bobcats.
      • 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 Viking offense set a new school record with 465 rushing yards against Montana State (682 total).
      • Portland State has its highest national ranking since 2006.
 
QUICK SNAPS (SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE)
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 6-1 on the season, 2-1 at home, 4-0 on the road.
• Portland State is in its 20th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1996-2015). PSU is 101-118 in all games at the FCS level. PSU is 65-40 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 36-78 on the road.
• The Vikings are in their 20th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. PSU is 65-86 all-time in Big Sky games. The Vikings are 39-37 at home, 26-49 on the road in BSC games.
• With a guaranteed winning season in 2015, the Vikings have nine winning records in 20 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.
 
STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Portland State shares the lead in the Big Sky Conference and the nation in turnover margin with Southern Utah. Both schools have a +1.71 ratio per game (+12 overall).
• PSU ranks sixth in the nation in fewest penalties (4.29 per game) and third-down defense (.282 conversion rate) and seventh in rushing offense (258.4).
• JR K Jonathan Gonzales is 10-11 on field goals and 33-33 on extra points this season. Gonzales ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage (.909).
• SR RB David Jones ranks third in the nation with 8.18 yards per carry.
• SR S Patrick Onwuasor leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks seventh in the nation in interceptions (4).
• SR QB Alex Kuresa ranks first in the Big Sky and second in the nation in yards per pass completion (16.97).
• Portland State's home attendance of 8,110 against Montana State was its best in four years.
• PSU has scored 163 points in the last three games (54.3 ppg).
                             
THE COMMITTEE IS BACK IN SESSION: Portland State is averaging 258.4 yards rushing per game this season with contributions from all over. 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 78 carries for 638 yards. His 8.18 yards per carry average ranks third in the nation.
• JR QB Alex Kuresa is second on the team in rushing with 101 carries for 439 yards and five scores. Kuresa went for a career-high 101 yards against Cal Poly, scoring two touchdowns.
• JR RB Nate Tago leads the Vikings with six rushing TDs this year. He has carried 63 times for 255 yards.
• SO RB Steven Long has 46 carries for 178 yards and three scores.
• JR UQ Paris Penn has rushed 31 times for 144 yards and four touchdowns.
• Seven different Vikings have combined for 25 rushing touchdowns.
• For the season, PSU averages 258.4 rushing yards per game to rank seventh in the nation. The Vikings have been over 200 yards in five of seven 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 37-58 passes for 718 yards and six touchdowns in the past three games. That is an average of 19.4 yards per reception. Kuresa ranks second in the nation with a 16.97 yard per completion rate.
• No single Viking receiver stands out statistically, but five different players have touchdown receptions.
• JR WR Darnell Adams has 11 catches for 252 yards and two scores. His 22.9 yards per catch average leads the team.
• JR UQ Paris Penn has 11 catches for 178 yards and a score.
• SO WR Trent Riley and SR WR Thomas Carter each have nine receptions and two touchdowns.
• 14 different players have caught passes this year.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Portland State ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (19.1) and total defense (349.6) behind Southern Utah. The Vikings also rank second in the Big Sky and sixth in the nation in third-down conversion defense (28.2%).
• 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 58 tackles this season. He is also the current career leader with 174.
• SR DE Sadat Sulleyman leads the Vikings with seven tackles for loss this season, and 20.5 TFLs for his career.
• SR DE Davond Dade leads the Vikings with four sacks.
• JR CB Xavier Coleman leads the team with seven pass breakups this year. He is also the team career leader with five INTs and 21 PBUs. Coleman ranks fifth all-time in PBUs at Portland State. SR CB Aaron Sibley ranks 10th all-time with 14 PBUs.
 
THE TAKEAWAY: Portland State has forced 17 turnovers in seven games while committing only five for a +12 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.
• PSU recovered four Cal Poly fumbles.
• The Vikings have won the turnover battle in six of seven 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 made 10-11 field goals and 33-33 PATs.
• Gonzales hit a 27-yard field goal with 33 seconds to play at Cal Poly, leading the Vikings to a 38-35 win. He was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Gonzales has made 66 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 10-11 on field goals this season, ranging from 19 to 51 yards. He had a streak of nine straight made before having one blocked at Cal Poly. Last year, he had a streak of eight straight field goals made.
• Gonzales leads the Big Sky in kick scoring (9.0 ppg).
• Gonzales is sixth all-time in field goals made at Portland State (27) in less than two seasons.
• He has made 27-35 field goals in his Portland State career for a school-record .771 percentage.
• Gonzales has two 50+ field goals in his career, ranking in the Top 10 in PSU history.
 
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 10-11 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 29.5 yards per kick return to rank second in the Big Sky Conference.
• SR LB Zack Berg blocked a punt against North Texas leading to a touchdown on the Vikings ensuing possession.
• JR K Jonathan Gonzales kicked a 27-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining to beat Cal Poly, 38-35.
 
KURESA MAKES IT SIX: JR QB Alex Kuresa became the sixth Viking on the roster to have at least one 100-yard rushing game in his career. Kuresa rushed 18 times for 101 yards and two scores at Cal Poly... SR RB David Jones had become the fifth Viking with at least one 100-yard rushing game. Jones carried 18 times for 113 yards against Idaho State. Since then, he has added a 134-yard game at North Texas and 285-yard game against Montana State... PSU has rushed for 200+ yards in five of seven games this season... Below is a list of the top rushing games for each Viking with at least 100 yards in a game.
Alex Kuresa_ 101 at Cal Poly, 2015
David Jones 285 vs. Montana State, 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
 
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.
 
UNSTOPPABLE: Portland State had two of its best offensive performances in school history on Oct. 10 vs. North Texas and Oct 17 vs. Montana State. The Vikings totaled 1,352 yards and 125 points in the two games combined. It was the most total yards in consecutive games in school history. It was 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.
 
VIKINGS GET ON THE GOOD FOOT: Portland State pulled out a tough 38-35 victory at Cal Poly (10/24) behind a last-minute field goal by JR K Jonathan Gonzales. Gonzales had made two previous field goals in the game, but had one blocked earlier in the fourth quarter. However, Head Coach Bruce Barnum sent Gonzales out for the 27-yard game winner with 33 seconds to play. Gonzales was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. JR QB Alex Kuresa had 333 yards of total offense and accounted for all four touchdowns. It was PSU's fourth straight road win, tying a school record.