Complete notes and stats in pdf

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^#19 CAL POLY MUSTANGS (3-2, 1-1) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-4, 1-2)
Saturday, October 15, 2016, 2:30 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR

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TV: None
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 1:30 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: www.GoViks.com/Live • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com

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 THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. MUSTANGS
All-Time Series: The series is tied 11-11 • PSU leads 6-5 in Portland • CP leads 6-5 in San Luis Obispo
Big Sky Series: Cal Poly leads 2-1 • The series is tied 1-1 in San Luis Obispo • Cal Poly leads 1-0 in Portland
 
Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 20, 2012: CP 37-25 @ San Luis Obispo
Sept. 26, 2013: CP 38-34 @ Portland (non-conference game)
Sept. 20, 2014: CP 42-14 @ San Luis Obispo
Oct. 24, 2015: PSU 38-35 @ San Luis Obispo
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 24, 2015: ^#14 Portland State 38, Cal Poly 35
     Jonathan Gonzales kicked a deciding 27-yard field goal with 33 seconds left to lift Portland State to a 38-35 win.
     The Vikings took advantage of four Cal Poly turnovers - and they needed to - as the Mustangs rushed for 420 yards in their triple-option offense.
     PSU quarterback Alex Kuresa accounted for all four Viking touchdowns and a two-point conversion. He passed for 232 yards and two scores and rushed for 101 yards and two more as the Vikings came back from a 21-13 third-quarter deficit.
            Cal Poly had 536 total yards and nearly 35 minutes of possession, making PSU's ability to force turnovers all the more important.
 
VIKINGS MEET NATIONALLY-RANKED MUSTANGS
Portland State will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss last Saturday at Weber State, but it won't be easy as the Vikings will face 19th-ranked Cal Poly this Saturday. The good news is the Vikings are playing at home for only the third time this season. They will meet the Mustangs in a 2:30 p.m. game at Providence Park.
     
PSU has played four of its first six games on the road and the results have all gone to the home team. The Vikings are 2-4 overall, 2-0 at home and 0-4 on the road. Last Saturday in Ogden, the Vikings had a chance for a late touchdown to come away with a win, but couldn't convert a fourth-and-four play deep in Weber State territory. They ended up losing to the Wildcats, 14-10, in a rare defensive struggle in the Big Sky Conference.
     
Just a week after totaling a school-record 531 rushing yards in a win over Idaho State, PSU had only 136 yards on 42 carries against Weber State. The Viking defense played well, but the offense couldn't put enough points on the board.
     
Now the Vikings are challenged to face one of the top teams in the Big Sky in Cal Poly. The Mustangs, known for their triple-option offense, have had an extra week to prepare due to a bye. It marks the third time in four weeks PSU plays a team coming off a bye. Cal Poly is 3-2 overall, with marquee wins over Montana and South Dakota State. They are 1-1 in the Big Sky after a 31-24 road loss to nationally-ranked North Dakota in their most recent game.
     
Portland State took a 38-35 win over Cal Poly in last year's meeting at San Luis Obispo. Jonathan Gonzales kicked a late 27-yard field goal to provide the difference. However, the Mustangs, led by one-time PSU Coach Tim Walsh had beaten the Vikings in the three previous meetings, including a 2013 contest in Portland.
     
The all-time series is tied 11-11 and includes 11 games when the teams were NCAA II members of the old Western Football Conference. PSU leads the series in Portland, 6-5.
     
This week's game is not televised, but a live video stream will be available at www.GoViks.com/Live. The radio broadcast is on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. The pregame show begins at 1:30 p.m.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Although it is the fifth meeting between PSU and Cal Poly since the Mustangs joined the Big Sky, it will be the first counting Big Sky game in Portland.
• Cal Poly is one of five Big Sky opponents to have an open week prior to facing the Vikings. It will be the third in the past four weeks (Southern Utah, Weber State).
• Last year, Portland State beat Cal Poly for the first time since the Mustangs joined the Big Sky Conference in 2012. Cal Poly Coach Tim Walsh had been undefeated in the series. He was 3-0 as head coach with PSU against Cal Poly, and is now 3-1 with Cal Poly against PSU.
• For the third year in a row, the Mustangs led all of FCS with 387.3 rushing yards per game in 2015.
• 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 Juston Wood was an All-Conference quarterback for the Vikings (1999-2002). CP assistant Jim Craft (1996-99) also played for Walsh at Portland State. Craft was an assistant coach at PSU for eight years.
• The schools were members of the Division II Western Football Conference from 1982-1992 where PSU held a 7-4 advantage.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
The Mustangs are known for their triple-option offense which produces a Big Sky Conference leading 330.6 rushing yards per game and a remarkable 5.7 yards per carry. Overall, Cal Poly averages 476.4 yards and 33.8 points per game.
     
Fullback Joe Protheroe leads the triple-threat offense with 557 rushing yards and five touchdowns in only four games. Protheroe missed the Mustangs' last game, but is expected to return against Portland State.
     
Running back Kori Garcia has 49 carries for 344 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Dano Graves has rushed 70 times for 335 yards and four scores. He has also completed 40 of 62 passes for 729 yards, two interceptions and nine touchdowns.
     
Cal Poly averages 18.2 yards per pass completion and nearly one touchdown per every four completions. Kyle Lewis is the top receiver with 12 catches for 260 yards and three scores.
     
The Mustangs' have a much-improved defense this season as it allows 377.6 yards per game and only 128.0 rushing yards.
     
Linebacker Chris Santini leads the team with 39 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Josh Letuligasaenoa has 33 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.
     
Kicker Chris Sublette is 5-5 on field goals this season.
 
VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS
Portland State plays its second nationally-ranked opponent of the season, but first ranked FCS opponent in Cal Poly. Previously, the Vikings played FBS top-10 ranked Washington.
• Portland State is 19-39 all-time (13-16 home, 6-23 road) against nationally-ranked FCS programs since moving to Division I in 1996.
• PSU has played seven nationally-ranked FBS opponents in its history and is 0-7 all-time against those teams. The Vikings' highest-ranked FBS opponent was Oregon in 2010 (#5), followed by Washington (#8) this season.
• PSU was 5-1 against nationally-ranked teams last year (all FCS level).
 
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 2-4 on the season, 2-0 at home, 0-4 on the road.
• PSU is going after back-to-back winning seasons in 2016 for the first time since 2005 and 2006 (6-5, 7-4).
• Portland State was 9-3 in 2015, 4-2 at home, 5-1 on the road. It was PSU's best record ever at the FCS level (1978-80, 1996-2016). Portland State's three losses came by a total of 17 points.
• Portland State is playing its 24th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1978-80 (1-AA), 1996-2016). PSU is 125-138 in all games at the 1-AA/FCS level.
• In 21 seasons since moving back to FCS and the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016), PSU is 106-124, 69-41 in home games, 37-83 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016) PSU is 69-89 all-time in league games, 42-37 at home, 27-52 on the road.
• The Vikings have nine winning records in its previous 20 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Bruce Barnum (2015-16, 7-3 Big Sky, 11-7 overall) 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 have tied for second five times (four under Walsh and in 2015 under Barnum). PSU made its second NCAA FCS playoff appearance (also 2000).
 
RARE DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE ENDS IN FAMILIAR FASHION: For the second time in three weeks, Portland State was on the doorstep in the closing moments of the game. Once again, the Vikings were unable to get through the door. And so, PSU lost to Weber State, 14-10, in a rare defensive struggle in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings were driving for the winning score late in the fourth quarter, moving 61 yards down to the WSU 14-yard line. But they were stopped on a fourth-and-four play when an Alex Kuresa pass to Trent Riley fell incomplete after mix-up on the route. The Wildcats took over with 2:24 left in the game and were able to run out the clock... the first big play of the game came on the Viking side. Weber State had its most successful drive of the first half - a 45-yard march in the second quarter - but were stopped and tried a 33-yard field goal. Savali Talalemotu blocked the kick and it was recovered by Beau Duronslet. The Vikings started the ensuing series at their 34-yard line and ran 13 plays to score just before the half. Kuresa completed two passes for 31 yards and rushed four times for 22 yards, including the final yard on a dive into the end zone. The Vikings took a 7-0 lead into the halftime locker room. Weber State finally got on the scoreboard early in the second half. A 55-yard run by quarterback Jadrian Clark highlighted an 84-yard drive by the Wildcats. Emmanuel Pooler scored from three yards out with 10:18 left in the third quarter and the game was tied 7-7. Portland State wrapped an 81-yard drive around the third quarter break, but couldn't get in the end zone. The Vikings settled for a 21-yard Jonathan Gonzales field goal and led 10-7 with 13:41 remaining in the game. The Wildcats answered with a 75-yard scoring driving and took their first lead of the game with 8:44 left. On third-and-goal, Clark completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Vollert. WSU led 14-10. That set up Portland State's final run at the end zone that came up just short. PSU was in a similar situation two weeks prior at Southern Utah. Trailing 38-31 in the closing seconds, the Vikings were at the SUU four-yard line but threw an interception. Portland State gained only 317 yards against Weber State, its second-lowest total of the season. The Viking defense held WSU to 271 - a season-low by an opponent. 
 
DEFENSE IS GROWING UP: A defense with a number of young and inexperienced players has begun to play better the past two weeks. The Vikings have given up an average of 320 yards and 17.0 points in those two contests while forcing three turnovers and and breaking up 13 passes.
 
YOUTH SHALL SERVE: Portland State has played six true freshman on defense this season. Those six have played in part due to numerous injuries on the Viking defense... they include starting DT Anthony Del Toro, DE Kenton Bartlett, DT Sione Taumoe'anga, CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson and LB Mason Vega... the Vikings are also playing true freshmen TE Charlie Taumoepeau and LS Riley Shackelford.
 
MEETING AT THE LINE: Just one week after setting a school-record of 531 rushing yards at Idaho State, the Vikings were slowed considerably by Weber State. PSU ran the ball 42 times for just 136 yards, a 3.2 average, and the second-lowest total of the season. That played a big role in the Vikings' 14-10 loss to the Wildcats. PSU had 317 total yards, its second-lowest total of the season.
 
TURNOVER TURNAROUND: Studies show the team that wins the turnover battle wins the football game 81% of the time. So far this season, the team winning the turnover battle in Portland State's games has won four of six (67%). After a brutal stretch of 15 turnovers in three games (all losses), the Vikings have turned things around in the last two games. PSU did not have a turnover against Idaho State (win) or Weber State (loss). PSU forced three turnovers in those games... still the turnover tables are not pretty for the Vikings this season. PSU has 16 turnovers for 52 opponent points. The Vikings have forced six turnovers for three points... last season the Vikings forced 28 TOs while committing only 15.
 
WE SAY, SEISAY: JR WR/CB Chris Seisay has moved over to the defensive side of the ball the last three games, mainly due to injuries, but it looks like he will stay there as his play has been excellent. After three games, Seisay has 17 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception. Seisay played cornerback at Oregon for two seasons, including starting games in the Rose Bowl and the National Championship. When he came to the Vikings he was put at wide receiver, a position he dominated at in high school. In his first two games, Seisay caught three passes for 66 yards.
 
THE GREAT GONZO: SR K Jonathan Gonzales has made all four field goal attempts this season. He has made 34-44 in his career and is now second all-time at PSU in field goals made and is first in percentage (.773)... Gonzales is 21-21 on extra points this season and 104-105 in his career, for a school record .991 mark... with 206 career points in less than three seasons, Gonzales ranks ninth all-time in scoring at PSU.
 
X MARKS THE SPOT: Opposing offenses have stayed away from SR CB Xavier Coleman for the most part this season. And why not? Last year, he had five interceptions and 13 pass breakups and was listed as a preseason All-American by four media services this year. Against Idaho State (10/1), Coleman made the eighth interception of his career. He also broke up a pass for his third this season and the 30th of his career - second all-time at Portland State.
 
SLASH LINE: In baseball the line for a hitter that includes batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage/OPS is called a slash line. There isn't such a thing as a slash line in football, but if there was, JR DE Davond Dade's would already look pretty good. So far this season, he has 23 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and a blocked kick.
 
NO RETURN POLICY: Portland State SR P Marcus Kinsella is averaging only 39.3 yards per punt this season, down from 40.9 last season. But much of that is due to directional punting and keeping the football away from opposing return men. As a result, the Vikings have allowed only 21 return yards and have a net average of 36.6.
 
OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• PSU set a school record with 531 rushing yards against Idaho State (10/1). PSU rushed for six touchdowns, with five on plays of over 20 yards. Four of the Vikings' top eight rushing games in history have been against the Bengals and come in the last six years (2016, 531; 2012, 437; 2011, 436; 395 in 2013).The Vikings came within eight yards of the Big Sky Conference rushing record (539).
• SR RB Nate Tago rushed for a career-high 199 yards and a touchdown against Idaho State (10/1). He had a career-high three TDs against Central Washington (9/3).
• SR RB Paris Penn rushed for career highs of 184 yards and four touchdowns against Idaho State (10/1). He leads the team with seven touchdowns this season.
• SR QB Alex Kuresa set new career highs of 133 rushing yards and 397 yards of total offense at Southern Utah (9/24).
• PSU has rushed for 200+ yards in four of six games. The Vikings had eight 200+ rushing games in 2015 (averaging 250.6 per game on the ground overall). PSU has rushed for 200+ yards per game for six straight seasons heading into 2016.
• SR TE Maximo Espitia (eh-SPEETH-ee-uh) has become a key element of the Viking offense following his transfer from California. Espitia, a graduate transfer, is making the most of his one season of remaining eligibility. He had a career-high seven receptions for 138 yards at Southern Utah (9/24). Espitia leads the team with 17 receptions for 334 yards and two touchdowns this season. He averages over 20 yards per catch. At 6-2, 235, Espitia is listed as a tight end, but he often lines up in the slot or split wide.
 
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• For the second game in a row, the Viking defense allowed the fewest yards (271) and points (14) this season against Weber State (10/8). Previously, it had been 370 and 20 against Idaho State (10/1). PSU has had 14 pass breakups and forced three turnovers in those games (SR DE Michael Doman forced and recovered a fumble on a sack, Xavier Coleman and Chris Seisay have interceptions).
• SO LB Sam Bodine has become a starter in recent weeks and proven to be productive. Bodine has 11 tackles in each of the last two games to lead the team. With 33 total tackles, he ranks fourth on the team.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet had eight tackles, a pass breakup and returned a blocked field goal 35 yards against Weber State (10/8). With 34 tackles, Duronslet ranks third in the team.
• SR LB Anthony McNichols had a career-high 13 tackles at Washington (9/17). For the season, he has made 36 tackles to lead the team despite missing the last two games with injury.
• JR FS  Beau Duronslet is PSU's current career leader in tackles with 146. SR CB Xavier Coleman has 139 career tackles.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS HIGHLIGHTS
• JR DE Davond Dade blocked a first-quarter field goal attempt by Central Washington (9/3).
• PSU successfully converted a fake punt against San Jose State (9/10) with SR RB Nate Tago completing a 43-yard pass to SR TE Maximo Espitia.
• JR WR Trent Riley blocked a punt against San Jose State (9/10) in the fourth quarter. It was recovered and returned 25 yards by SO CB Artuz Manning.
• SR P Marcus Kinsella booted a career-best 67-yard punt at Southern Utah (9/24).
• SR DT Savali Talalemotu blocked a field goal at Weber State that was returned 35 yards by JR FS Beau Duronslet (10/8).
• SR K Jonathan Gonzales is perfect on field goals (4-4) and extra points (21-21) this season.
 
MILESTONES
• SR RB Nate Tago passed 1,000 career rushing yards in the game with Central Washington (9/3). He now has 1,467 career yards and 17 career touchdowns on 301 carries. Tago has played in 38 games with 10 starts.
• SR QB Alex Kuresa went over 2,000 career passing yards in the game with Central Washington (9/3). He has 2,925 passing yards in 18 games as a Viking. Kuresa has completed 189-354 passes with 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions... Kuresa passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Southern Utah (9/24). In 16 career games, he has 242 carries for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing.
• SR RB Nate Tago has passed 1,000 career kickoff return yards (1,048) and ranks eighth all-time at PSU.
 
VETERANS: Portland State has a less experienced roster than last season. These are the guys who have played and started the most games in their careers:
• Most games played: SR CB Xavier Coleman, 40; SR OL Cam Keizur, 39; SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 39; SR RB Nate Tago, 38; SR WR Darnell Adams, 34; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 34
• Most career starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 36; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 30; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 30; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 30; JR S Beau Duronslet, 20; SR DE Michael Doman, 19
• Consecutive starts: SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 30; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 30; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 23; SR QB Alex Kuresa, 18
 
GET ON THE BUS: AMERICANA TOUR, PART TWO: This season PSU anticipates bus trips to San Jose, CA, Seattle, Davis, CA and Sacramento, and a bus ride home from Ogden, UT... the round trip to San Jose was a total of 1,340 miles. The ride included a stop off at Oregon Wildlife Safari and the obligatory In-and-Out Burger stop in Medford... the trip to Washington was a mere 358-mile round trip to Husky Stadium...  for the trip to Southern Utah, the Vikings flew to Las Vegas on Thursday, then bussed up to Cedar City on Friday for the game (171 miles). Not much of a bus ride (relatively speaking), but the Vikings had time to include the Criss Angel Show at the Luxor Hotel in LV as well as another midnight In-and-Out run... last week the Vikings flew to Salt Lake City, then visited Temple Square and the Hogle Zoo. The Vikings bussed home from Weber State, a journey of 731 miles. ... That makes exactly 2,600 bus miles so far for the Vikings... Coach Barnum led his program on what he called the "Americana Tour" in 2015, which included bus rides to Pullman, WA, Pocatello, ID, San Luis Obispo, CA, and Cheney, WA. In all, the Vikings logged 4,394 bus miles and approximately 80 hours round trip to those four destinations (PSU also flew on two road trips). The Americana Tour included such things as dozens of on-bus movies, a stop to buy a lottery ticket on the way home from beating Washington State, a practice on Boise State's blue turf, a sight-seeing trip to Alcatraz (in which equipment manager Mike Haluska was left on the island… but soon retrieved), and a midnight McDonald's run at a lonely truck stop in eastern Oregon. In addition to the economy of the bus trips, Barnum contends the time together draws the Viking team closer.