Complete notes and stats in pdf

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NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (4-3, 2-2) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-5, 1-3)
Saturday, October 29, 2016, 2:30 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR

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TV: None
RADIO: Tailgate Country 103.7 FM, www.tailgate1037.iheart.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
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BEARS
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 7-4 • PSU leads 4-2 in Portland • PSU leads 3-2 in Greeley
Big Sky Conference Series: Portland State leads 5-3 • The series is tied 2-2 in Portland • PSU leads 3-1 in Greeley
 
Big Sky Conference games
2006: PSU 45-3 @ Portland
2007: PSU 31-21 @ Greeley
2008: PSU 24-21 @ Portland
2009: PSU 23-18 @ Greeley
2010: UNC 35-30 @ Portland
2011: PSU 23-17 @ Greeley
2012: UNC 32-28 @ Portland
2015: UNC 35-32 @ Greeley
 
*NCAA II playoff game
 
LAST MEETING, Nov. 7, 2015: Northern Colorado 35, ^#9 Portland State 32
Northern Colorado mounted a game-winning drive in the final minute to upset ninth-ranked Portland State. The Bears went 88 yards in five plays with Trae Riek scoring on a two-yard run with 23 seconds to play. UNC's final score nullified a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback by the Vikings, who trailed 28-17 with 10 minutes to play.
    
Riek rushed for a game-high 145 yards and caught five passes for 57 yards to lead the Bears.
    
Steven Long scored two touchdowns while David Jones rushed for 110 yards for the Vikings.
     
Taylor Risner made 14 tackles and an interception to lead UNC. Patrick Onwuasor had nine tackles and a pick for the Vikings.
 
RESTED VIKINGS PLAN TO END SEASON ON UPSWING
With a much-needed week of rest behind them, the Portland State Vikings will try to finish the final month of the season on an upswing. The Vikings host Northern Colorado this Saturday at Providence Park in a 2:30 p.m. game looking to end a two-game losing streak. PSU is 2-5 on the season, 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference. A strong finish to the season can still net PSU a winning record.
     
Northern Colorado comes off a 27-19 win over Sacramento State last Saturday. The Bears are 4-3 on the season, 2-2 in the Big Sky, as they too hope a strong finish to their season can get them a playoff berth. UNC's three losses have come in its last three road games.
     
UNC has Big Sky wins over Northern Arizona and Sacramento State, with losses to Eastern Washington and UC Davis, so they have no common opponents yet with the Vikings.
     
Portland State also looks for a measure of revenge over the Bears as they were upset last season in Greeley. PSU went into that game ranked ninth in the nation, but lost 35-32 on a late Northern Colorado touchdown. In addition, the Bears have won the last two times they have ventured to the Rose City (2010 and 2012).
     
PSU is 2-1 at home this season. UNC is 1-3 on the road.
     
After this week's game, the Vikings go on the road to UC Davis and Sacramento State in successive weeks. They wrap up the season with a home matchup against third-ranked Eastern Washington on Nov. 18.
 
GAME DAY MEDIA: RADIO STATION MOVE FOR VIKINGS
This week's game is not televised, but a live video stream will be available at www.GoViks.com/Live.
     
The radio broadcast will move to an alternate station this week due to a conflict with Portland Trailblazers basketball. Rather than airing on Rip City Radio, the Viking broadcast can be heard on 103.7 FM Tailgate Country and www.tailgate1037.iheart.com. The pregame show begins at 1:30 p.m.
     
Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Portland State holds the all-time series lead 7-4, including 5-3 in Big Sky Conference games. However, Northern Colorado has won three of the last four meetings, including the last two in Portland.
• The last six meetings between the teams have been decided by six points or less.
• Northern Colorado returns its top offensive weapons from 2015 in running back Trae Riek and receiver Stephen Miller.
• Former Viking quarterback Neil Lomax set Portland State records for pass completions (44) and attempts (77) in a 1979 21-20 loss to the Bears. Lomax passed for 499 yards in that game.
• Northern Colorado was 6-5 in 2015, compiling its first winning season since 2003 when it still competed at the Division II level.
 
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKING FOOTBALL LUNCHEONS: Every Friday of a home football week (Sept. 2, Sept. 30, Oct. 14, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 17), 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 starts at noon and is open to the public and costs $12.
 
BRUCE BARNUM ON THE RADIO: Viking football Coach Bruce Barnum can be heard every Wednesday afternoon on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Barnum joins Travis Demers as he reviews and previews Viking football games.
 
VIKING PLAYER DIARY: Look for SR CB Xavier Coleman's player diary each week on OregonLive.com and in the Oregonian. For the second year in a row, Coleman will give weekly updates on the Viking team's progress throughout the 2016 season. His diary should appear each Monday at OregonLive.com.
 
TICKETS: Single-game tickets range from $20 to $30. Student tickets are $10 each. Kids 14 and under are $5. Portland State Students tickets are FREE with valid ID. Visit www.GoViks.com of call 1-888-VIK-TIKS for all details and pricing.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Northern Colorado is going after back-to-back winning seasons for the first time at the Division I level. Last week, the Bears took a step in the right direction with a 27-19 Homecoming win over Sacramento State. UNC is now 4-3 on the season, 2-2 in the Big Sky and would have a shot at an NCAA Playoff bid if it can run the table over the final four weeks.
     
The Bears have the pieces in place as top rusher Trae Riek returned last week after missing a game due to injury. Riek leads the Bears with 555 rushing yards in six games to rank fourth in the Big Sky Conference (92.5 ypg).  Riek had 202 total yards and the game-winning touchdown last season against the Vikings.
     
Meanwhile, quarterback Kyle Sloter is having a solid year, completing 65% of his passes for 1,536 yards and 16 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Stephen Miller is the top receiver with 32 catches for 579 yards and two touchdowns. Eight different receivers have touchdown catches.
     
Overall, the Bears have a balanced attack averaging 182.6 rushing yards and 249.6 passing yards per game. They have a 56/44 run-pass ratio. Northern Colorado averages 33.1 points and 432.1 yards per game.
     
Northern Colorado has struggled a bit on defense, giving up 479.3 yards and 35.1 points per game to rank 12th and ninth in the Big Sky, respectively. The Bears have forced seven fumbles but have yet to intercept a pass this season. The Bears allow 293.6 passing yards per game, ranking 12th in the conference.
     
Kyle Newsom is the team's leading tackler with 60 stops, including five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Thomas Singleton has made 58 tackles with two sacks. Michael Walker is the top defensive back with seven pass breakups, which is tied for second-most in the Big Sky.
     
Northern Colorado gives up the most penalty yards per game in the Big Sky (83.4).
 
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 2-5 on the season, 2-1 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). But the Vikings will have to win their remaining four games to pull off the feat.
• 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 125-139 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 106-125, 69-42 in home games, 37-83 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016) PSU is 69-90 all-time in league games, 42-38 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, 7-4 Big Sky, 11-8 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).
 
CAL POLY RUNNING GAME TOO MUCH FOR VIKINGS: Cal Poly ranks second in the nation in rushing and first in the nation in pass efficiency and it all came together in a 55-35 win over Portland State on Oct. 15. The Mustangs ran 67 times for 462 yards and completed 13-14 passes for another 196, totaling 658 yards overall in their win. The Viking defense simply didn't have an answer for Cal Poly which was 9-13 on third down and 3-3 on fourth down plays... the Vikings were missing SR RB Nate Tago, which didn't help the rushing game, as well as three defensive starters, all due to injury. Alex Kuresa had one of his best days throwing the ball, completing 19-30 passes for a career-high 275 yards and two touchdowns... JR WR Kahlil Dawson also returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown to highlight the Viking effort. 
 
KEY VIKINGS MISSING FOR CAL POLY, HOPE TO BE BACK FOR NORTHERN COLORADO: Portland State missed SR LB Mosa Likio, JR CB Chris Seisay, SR RB Nate Tago and JR C Chad Bach from the starting lineup against Cal Poly. Added to several other Vikings out with injury, it may have been the most depleted the Vikings have been all season. With a bye week behind them, PSU hopes to get most of those players back for Northern Colorado... following a season in which PSU was not hurt too badly by injuries (2015), 2016 has been filled with a rash of injuries, including three players that have had to retire from football. In all, 25 players have lost a total of 88 games to injury so far this season.
 
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. Against Cal Poly, DE Kenton Bartlett and DT Anthony Del Toro started, while DT Sione Taumoe'anga saw significant playing time... other true freshmen playing on defense are CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson and LB Mason Vega... the Vikings are also playing true freshmen TE Charlie Taumoepeau (who scored his first career touchdown against Cal Poly) and LS Riley Shackelford (who has handled every special teams snap).
 
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%), with one tie. After a brutal stretch of 15 turnovers in three games (all losses), the Vikings have turned things around in the last three games. PSU did not have a turnover against Idaho State (win) or Weber State (loss), and one at the end of the game with Cal Poly (loss). PSU forced four turnovers in those games... still the turnover tables are not pretty for the Vikings this season. PSU has 17 turnovers for 52 opponent points. The Vikings have forced seven turnovers for 10 points... last season the Vikings forced 28 TOs (and turning them into 67 points) while committing only 15 (for 30 opponent points).
 
MEETING AT THE LINE: Portland State ran for a school-record of 531 yards on 58 carries (9.2 ypc) against Idaho State on Oct. 1. Since then, PSU has run 65 times for only 208 yards (3.2 ypc) in a pair of losses... PSU's 72-yard total against Cal Poly was influenced by the absence of leading rusher, SR RB Nate Tago.
 
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 26-26 on extra points this season and 109-110 in his career, for a school record .991 mark... with 211 career points in less than three seasons, Gonzales ranks eighth all-time in scoring at PSU.
 
AWESOME DAWSON: JR KOR Kahlil Dawson delivered the moment the Vikings have been waiting for this season when he scampered 83 yards on a kickoff return against Cal Poly for a touchdown. Dawson has been injured this season, playing in only four games, and teams have kicked away from him when he has been on the field. But Cal Poly gave him a chance and he capitalized. Dawson has five returns this season for a 39.6 average. Last year, Dawson returned 31 kicks with a 25.1 average. He now has two kick return TDs in his career.
 
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. This year he was listed as a preseason All-American by four media services. 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.
 
NO RETURN POLICY: Portland State SR P Marcus Kinsella is averaging only 39.1 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 36.8.
 
WE SAY, SEISAY: JR WR/CB Chris Seisay has moved over to the defensive side of the ball, 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 missed the game with Cal Poly due to injury but should return against Northern Colorado... 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.
 
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)... Kuresa threw for a career-high 275 yards against Cal Poly (10/15).
• PSU has rushed for 200+ yards in four of seven 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 20 receptions for 388 yards and two touchdowns this season. He averages over 19.4 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. Espitia also has four running plays for 26 yards.
 
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• Despite the loss, the Viking defense had its best performance against Weber State (10/8) with the fewest yards (271) and points (14) allowed this season.
• SO LB Sam Bodine has become a starter in recent weeks and proven to be productive. Bodine has 32 tackles in the last three games to lead the team. With 43 total tackles, he ranks third on the team.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet had a career-high 12 tackles against Cal Poly (10/15) and with 46 on the season is tied for the team lead.
• JR LB John Norcross got his first start of the season against Cal Poly (10/15) and turned in a big game with a career-high 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
• JR FS  Beau Duronslet is PSU's current career leader in tackles with 158. SR CB Xavier Coleman has 142 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).
• JR KOR Kahlil Dawson had an 83-yard kickoff return for touchdown against Cal Poly (10/15).
• SR K Jonathan Gonzales is perfect on field goals (4-4) and extra points (26-26) 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 3,000 career passing yards in the game with Cal Poly (10/15). He has 3,200 passing yards in 19 games as a Viking. Kuresa has completed 208-384 passes with 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions... Kuresa passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Southern Utah (9/24). In 19 career games, he has 249 carries for 1,178 yards and 13 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, 41; SR OL Cam Keizur, 40; SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 40; SR RB Nate Tago, 38; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 35
• Most career starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 37; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 31; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 31; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 31; JR S Beau Duronslet, 21; SR DE Michael Doman, 19
• Consecutive starts: SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 31; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 31; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 24; SR QB Alex Kuresa, 19
 
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.
• For the Weber State trip 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.