complete notes and stats in pdf

WESTERN OREGON WOLVES (1-2) vs. ^#17 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-0)
Game 3 • Saturday, September 26, 2015, 2:05 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR

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TELEVISION: None
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 (click on live video link). Live stats: www.ViksLive.com, www.ViksMobile.com
 
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
Xavier Coleman's Football Diary - The Oregonian
Bruce Barnum Profile - The Portland Tribune
Barnum Family Circus - KPTV Oregon Sports Final
The Further Adventures of Bruce Barnum - Portland State Athletics YouTube Page

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VIKINGS OPEN HOME SCHEDULE WITH NON-CONFERENCE MATCH-UP AGAINST WESTERN OREGON
With a week's rest behind them, the 17th-ranked Portland State Vikings finally open their home schedule this Saturday in a non-conference contest against Western Oregon. The Vikings and Wolves meet in a 2:05 p.m. game at Providence Park that airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. A live video stream and live stats can be found at GoViks.com.
     
PSU is 2-0 on the season after opening with road wins at Washington State (24-17) and Idaho State (34-14). Last week the Vikings had a bye. Western Oregon is 1-2 after an opening 29-20 loss at Humboldt State, a 31-14 home win over Simon Fraser, then a 40-19 loss at Central Washington last Saturday.
     
Portland State will try to start a season 3-0 for the first time since starting 6-0 back in 2000. PSU's most recent three-game winning streak came Oct. 26-Nov. 9, 2013.
     
Portland State hosted Western Oregon in its 2014 home opener, winning 45-38. That game was played at Hillsboro Stadium.
     
Western Oregon leads the all-time series, 11-10-1, but the Vikings have won the last seven contests, dating back to 1962. The most recent games came in 2008 (31-14) and 2014 (45-38).
     
PSU's home opener is the first of five home contests for the Vikings. PSU will host a Big Sky Conference game with North Dakota on Oct. 3. That contest will be the only appearance by the Vikings in Hillsboro Stadium in 2015 due to a scheduling conflict with the Portland Timbers. The final three games will be played at PSU's home, Providence Park (Montana State, Oct. 17; Montana, Oct. 31; Southern Utah, Nov. 14).

STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Portland State meets Western Oregon for second year in a row, but only the third time since 1977. The Vikings have won the last seven games in the series dating back to 1962.
• In the first 20 meetings between the schools, Western Oregon was known as Oregon College of Education (OCE). PSU and Western Oregon were members of the old Oregon Collegiate Conference beginning in 1950 when they were known as Vanport and OCE through 1964.
• PSU is 36-21-1 in home openers dating to 1958 (complete home/away schedules not available prior to '58)
• The Vikings are 15-4 in home openers since moving to the NCAA I FCS level and joining the Big Sky.
• Portland State is 13-0 against lower division schools since moving to the NCAA I FCS level in 1996.
• Western Oregon offensive coordinator Brian Harris is a former Portland State player and assistant coach.

All-Time Series: Western Oregon leads 11-10-1 • PSU leads 8-5-1 in Portland • WOU leads 6-2 in Monmouth
 
LAST YEAR, Sept. 6, 2014: Portland State 45, Western Oregon 38
      Portland State picked up an expected victory but it was by no means easy as Western Oregon quarterback Ryan Bergman had a big day. The Vikings had 507 yards of total offense, including 285 rushing yards. But Bergman passed for 413 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a fourth score. Twice, he brought the Wolves back from 17-point deficits, eventually tying the game 31-31 in the fourth quarter.
      Fortunately, the Vikings were able to come up with seven sacks, including one in the fourth quarter by Corey Crowder that forced a Bergman fumble and allowed PSU to take control for good. Crowder made a team-high eight tackles in the game while Brandon Tobias had 2.5 sacks.
      Shaquille Richard rushed 14 times for 151 yards and a TD for the Vikings. Kasey Closs had six receptions for 109 yards and two scores.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVES
Western Oregon is an NCAA II member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wolves were 6-5 last season, 4-2 and tied for second. Head Coach Arne Ferguson is in his 11th season and has a 65-46  career record.
     
This year, the Wolves have started 1-2, losing both games they have played on the road. They maintain a dynamic passing attack that gave Portland State problems in last season's seven-point Viking win.
     
Western Oregon averages 298.0 yards per game passing, though just 42.7 yards rushing. Quarterback Trey Shimabukuro is 67-122 for 894 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. His two main targets have been Paul Revis (16 receptions, 231 yards, one touchdown) and Wesley Gray (16-209-1).
     
Joe Harris leads the ground game with 43 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown.
     
On defense, the Wolves give up a very respectable 347.0 yards per game. Linebacker Shane Kuenzi has a team-high 26 tackles for the season. Defensive tackle Michael Kluge has 17 tackles, including four for losses and 2.5 sacks.
 
DESPITE NOT PLAYING, VIKINGS MOVE TO 17^TH IN POLL
Portland State had a week off, but still managed to move up two spots in the Stats FCS Top 25 Poll. The rise was the result of losses by other teams in the rankings.
     
PSU 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.
     
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.
 
DAWSON NAMED BIG SKY SPECIAL TEAMS POTW
Portland State kick returner Kahlil Dawson has been named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 14 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.
     
His 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 and the nation.
 
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE HAS VIKINGS RIDING HIGH
Portland State's fast start to the 2015 football season can be attributed to a reversal of fortune in many areas.
     
The Vikings opened Big Sky Conference play on Sept. 12 with a convincing 34-14 win at 23rd-ranked Idaho State. That came just one week after a 24-17 season-opening win at Washington State - a first-ever victory over a Pac-12 team - that grabbed the attention of the region and the nation.
     
Now Portland State sits at 2-0 for the first time since 2011. In addition, the Vikings have won back-to-back games for the first time since 2013, back-to-back road games since 2011, and beat a ranked team for the first time since 2008.
     
How have they done it? Very simply by playing well in all three facets of the game.
     
The Viking defense has made the biggest reversal of fortune. After allowing 443.2 yards per game and 34.0 points per game last season, the Vikings have dropped those numbers to 326.5 and 15.5 this year against a pair of quality opponents.
     
Two games is a small sample size, but the Vikings defense leads the Big Sky in scoring defense (15.5) and total defense (326.5) defense, while allowing only 2.5 rushing yards per carry. Cornerbacks Aaron Sibley and Xavier Coleman each have four passes defended and an interception through two weeks, ranking second in the league.
     
PSU also has a league-high four interceptions, which has led to another reversal of fortune. After having an abysmal -12 turnover ratio in 2014 (26 giveaways, 14 takeaways) to rank last in the league, the Vikings lead the Big Sky in turnover ratio so far this year (+5, one giveaway, six takeaways).
     
A 94-yard kickoff return for touchdown by sophomore Kahlil Dawson at Idaho State has highlighted a strong special teams effort by the Vikings through two games. PSU kicker Jonathan Gonzales is 3-3 on field goals, including a 51-yarder on Saturday. Punter/kicker Marcus Kinsella already has five punts inside the 20-yard line and two punts over 50 yards. He kicked off seven times at Idaho State and all seven were touchbacks. ISU had zero return yards on punts and kicks.
     
PSU special teams have also recovered a fumble (WSU), blocked a field goal (WSU) and stopped a fake punt attempt (ISU). The Vikings lead the Big Sky in kickoff return average (34.5).
     
While the Vikings have yet to open up their passing game (14-28-1-167-1TD) through two games, the running attack has been as good as ever. PSU rushed for 233 yards at Washington State, 236 yards at Idaho State, and run for five touchdowns. Five different players have made positive contributions, but none have eye-popping numbers.
     
Moreover, the Vikings have proven to be devoid of stars, but loaded with talented team-oriented players. Said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum in Pocatello after the Vikings second win: "Our defense, what a great job to stop that offense, are you kidding me? It's like a hockey line (with all the players on defense making contributions). They are playing as a group and we don't have any superstars out there. Not one guy is shining, it's a team, and its fun to watch."
     
"We were maybe supposed to win one (game), but now we have won two. We have to reset our goals."
 
QUICK SNAPS (SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE)
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 2-0 on the season, 0-0 at home, 2-0 on the road.
• Portland State is in its 20th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1996-2015). PSU is 97-117 in all games at the FCS level. PSU is 63-39 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 34-78 on the road.
• The Vikings are in their 20th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. PSU is 63-85 all-time in Big Sky games. The Vikings are 38-36 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.
 
THE 2015 VIKINGS: A BREAKDOWN
• Portland State has 58 returning letterwinners.
• The Vikings have 16 returning starters, six on offense, eight on defense and two special teams.
• A total of 35 players return that have started games.
• There are 18 redshirts returning.
• 40 players hail from the state of Oregon, 31 are from the Portland metropolitan/SW Washington area, and 60 are from the Pacific Northwest.
• SR WR Thomas Carter III has the most experience, playing in 37 career games. SR WR Alex Toureen (34), and SR CB Aaron Sibley (34) rank second... players with the most career starts are SR LS Kameron Canaday (31) followed by SR QB Kieran McDonagh (29) and SR CB Aaron Sibley (29), and JR OL Kyle Smith (26).
 
ANOTHER SATISFYING SATURDAY: Portland State's win over Idaho State established several positives for the Viking team:
• It was the first win over a nationally-ranked team since 2008, ending a stretch of 21 straight losses to ranked teams.
• It marked the first back-to-back wins since the 2013 season.
• It marked the first back-to-back road wins since the 2011 season.
• The Vikings are 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
• PSU won at Idaho State for the third straight time (2011, 2013, 2015) and beat the Bengals for the fifth time in six seasons.
 
MORE RUN-GAME HEROICS: Portland State is averaging 234.5 yards rushing after two games with a group of five players making contributions... JR QB Alex Kuresa leads the team with 156 rushing yards and one touchdown. He had a game-high 92 yards rushing on 16 carries at Washington State... SR RB David Jones has 25 carries for 149 yards, including a game-high 113 yards at Idaho State... JR UQ Paris Penn has rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns... JR RB Nate Tago and SO RB Steven Long each rushed for fourth quarter TDs in the win over Washington State.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: Portland State's defense has played well through two games. In the second half at Washington State, the Vikings allowed just 137 yards and one score. The 17 points given up to the Cougars were the second-fewest PSU has ever allowed an FBS program in 35 games... the Vikings gave up 75 yards to Idaho State in the opening drive but only 167 the remainder of the game and forced four turnovers. PSU forced the Bengals into eight three-and-outs.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Portland State's defense currently leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (15.5), total defense (326.5), 3rd-Down Defense (9-36, 25%), and turnover margin (+5).
 
THE TAKEAWAY: Portland State has forced six turnovers in two games while committing only one for a +5 turnover ratio. That is a far cry from last year's -12 ratio (26 turnovers/14 takeaways).
 
A NICE TURNAROUND: After coughing up double-digit leads after halftime eight times in the last three seasons (including twice in 2014), the Vikings flipped the script against Washington State. PSU trailed 10-0 at halftime, but came back with a 24-7 second half, finally taking the lead in the fourth quarter on the way to a 24-17 win.
 
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 led a 236-yard rushing effort by the Vikings. PSU had 233 rushing yards at Washington State. Below is a list of the top rushing games for each Viking with at least 100 yards in a game.
David Jones 113 at Idaho 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
 
DAWSON'S STREAK: SO CB Kahlil Dawson electrified the Viking team in the first quarter against Idaho State by streaking 94 yards on a kick return touchdown in the first quarter. It was another in a growing list of excellent special  teams plays for the Vikings Dawson also had a 33-yard kick return... PSU also stopped a fake punt on a fourth-down play by Idaho State. That led to a 51-yard field goal by Jonathan Gonzales. Other top special teams plays:
• JR P Marcus Kinsella averaged 46 yards per boot against Washington State
• JR K Jonathan Gonzales is 3-3 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.
• JR K Marcus Kinsella was 7-7 with kickoffs for touchbacks against Idaho State.
 
ANOTHER COUNTRY IS HEARD FROM: JR K/P Marcus Kinsella, a native of Australia, has proven to be a valuable performer on special teams. He kicked off seven times at Idaho State and all seven were unreturnable.  He also did not allow a punt return on seven boots. Two of those punts were downed inside the ISU 20. The previous week, three of his five punts were downed inside the Washington State 20.
 
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 3-3 on field goals and 20-27 in his Portland State career. Gonzales 51-yard field goal at Idaho State ties for ninth-longest in school history and is his second of 50+ yards. Gonzales is already tied for ninth in career FGs made at PSU.
 
OTHER BIG GAMES AT IDAHO STATE:
• SO LB John Norcross made a career-high 13 tackles in the win over the Bengals.
• SR LB Jeremy Lutali had a career-high 12 tackles, as well as an interception and a pass breakup.
• SR CB Aaron Sibley broke up three ISU passes.
• SO WR Trent Riley caught a 50-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter for the go-ahead score.
 
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.