Through three weeks of play in 2015, the results are dramatically improved for the Portland State Vikings and it all starts with defense.
Head Coach Bruce Barnum promised "blue-collar, tough, hard-nosed, fundamental football" (i.e. BarnyBall) before the season. And that is exactly what the Vikings are producing Portland State is the Big Sky Conference's top defense so far while leading the league in a number of categories:
• scoring defense (10.3 points allowed)
• total defense (292.3 yards allowed)
• pass efficiency defense (99.0)
• interceptions (7)
• turnover margin (+7)
• third-down defense (24.1% conversion rate)
• fewest opponent first downs (15.3)
• Xavier Coleman leads in interceptions (3)
• the Vikings also rank second in rushing defense (62.0)
Portland State ranks second in the nation in turnover margin, third in scoring defense, fourth in rushing defense and fifth in interceptions. But most important, the Vikings are still tied for first in winning percentage at 1.000 (3-0), following victories over Washington State, Idaho State and Western Oregon.
The Vikings 31-0 shutout victory over Western Oregon on Saturday accomplished a number of things:
• PSU is 3-0 for the first time since starting 6-0 in 2000.
• PSU has a three-game winning streak for the first time since Oct. 26-Nov. 9, 2013.
• The Vikings are 16-4 in home openers in the Big Sky era.
• The Vikings had their first shutout in 49 games.
• PSU is now 14-0 against lower division teams since moving to the Big Sky Conference in 1996.
Now Portland State enters the first weekend of October already playing important Big Sky Conference games. Such is the result of being undefeated and nationally-ranked early in the 2015 season. The Vikings and North Dakota will be the only two Big Sky opponents with 1-0 records squaring off this weekend. They meet in a 2:05 p.m. game Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium - PSU's only appearance in their suburban second home this season.
North Dakota (3-1 overall) also brings in a stout defense, ranking second in the Big Sky in total defense (315.8), first in rushing defense (62.2) and third in scoring defense (22.2).
This week's game is not televised, but can be seen via live video stream at GoViks.com. The radio broadcast airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com.
PSU's game with North Dakota opens a brutal October schedule for this Vikings. On Oct. 10, they travel to face North Texas, an FBS school, of Conference USA. That is followed by a home game against nationally-ranked Montana State (Oct. 17), a road trip to nationally-ranked Cal Poly (Oct. 24), then a Halloween showdown against nationally-ranked Montana.
