Portland State kick returner Kahlil Dawson has been named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kick for touchdown in the Vikings 34-14 win at Idaho State.

After PSU's defense gave up a touchdown on the first series of the game, Dawson made an electrifying return of the ensuing kickoff for a tying score. Dawson's 94-yard return ignited a Viking team that soon took the lead, then command, as PSU went on for a 34-14 victory to open conference play.

Dawson's kick return for touchdown marked the first time in five years that a PSU player has accomplished the feat (Nevin Lewis, 2010 vs. Montana).

Dawson had one other return in the game of 33 yards. After two games, he has a return average of 50.7 yards to lead the Big Sky Conference. 

The Big Sky's offensive player of the week was North Dakota quarterback Keaton Studsrud. The defensive player of the week was Taylor Risner of Northern Colorado.

VIKINGS MOVE UP TO 19TH IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Following Portland State's win over Idaho State last Saturday, the Vikings have moved up five spots in the Stats FCS Poll to 19th in the nation. The Vikings enter the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time at 20th.

PSU is in the national rankings 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.    

The Vikings come off a 34-14 win over 23rd-ranked Idaho State on Sept. 12 after opening the year with a win at Washington State, 24-17.    

Portland State is one of six teams in the powerhouse Big Sky Conference ranked in the top 25. Montana is ranked eighth, Montana State is 11th, Eastern Washington State is 14th, Cal Poly is 17th, and Northern Arizona is 24th.     

The Top 25 in the FCS is a jumble at best. There are still seven different teams receiving first place votes, with Jacksonville State ranked number one.

THE STATS FCS TOP 25
1. Jacksonville State (1-1)
2. Coastal Carolina (2-0)
3. Sam Houston State (0-1)
4. North Dakota State (1-1)
5. Illinois State (1-1)
6. Villanova (1-1)
7. South Dakota State (2-0)
8. Montana (1-1)
9. Northern Iowa (1-1)
10. Chattanooga (1-1)
11. Montana State (1-0)
12. James Madison (2-0)
13. New Hampshire (1-1)
14. Eastern Washington (0-2)
15. Liberty (1-1)
16. Youngstown State (1-1)
17. Cal Poly (1-1)
18. Fordham (1-1)
19. Portland State (2-0)
20. Southeastern Louisiana (2-0)
21. Eastern Kentucky (1-1)
22. Richmond (1-1)
23. Indiana State (1-1)
24. Northern Arizona (2-0)
25. Harvard (0-0)