Complete notes and stats

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-6, 1-4) vs. UC DAVIS AGGIES (2-6, 1-4)
Saturday, November 5, 2016, 4 p.m. • Aggie Stadium (10,849), Davis, CA

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TV: None
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 3 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. AGGIES
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 10-4 • Portland State leads 6-2 in Portland • Portland State leads 4-2 in Davis
Big Sky Series: Portland State leads 2-0 • Portland State leads 1-0 in Portland • Portland State leads 1-0 in Davis
 
Big Sky Conference games
Sept. 27, 2012: PSU 49-21 @ Davis
Sept. 21, 2013: PSU 41-10 @ Davis (NC)
Oct. 4, 2014: PSU 23-14 @ Portland
 
Streak: PSU has won four in a row, including three straight in Davis
Most Points, PSU: 49, 2013
Most Points, UCD: 50, 1974
 
Largest Margin of Victory
PSU: 31, 41-10 in 2013
UCD: 29, 50-21 in 1974
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 4, 2014: Portland State 23, UC Davis 14
     Portland State's defense held the Aggies to only 240 yards offense and 2-12 conversions on third down.
     The Vikings had 448 yards on offense, led by a 106-yard rushing effort by Nate Tago.
    Kieran McDonagh rushed for two touchdowns for PSU, while Jonathan Gonzales kicked three field goals, including one from 53 yards.
 
VIKINGS WILL TRY TO SNAP THREE-GAME SKID AT UC DAVIS
The Portland State Vikings will look for relief, redemption and recovery this week when they travel to face UC Davis in a Big Sky Conference game. PSU has had a hard-luck season, including an overtime loss last week, that has it sitting at just 2-6 overall. The Vikings will try to end their current three-game losing streak when they face the Aggies on Saturday in a 4 p.m. game at Aggie Stadium. In addition, the Vikings look for their first road win of the season (0-4).
     
Saturday's game is not televised, but it will be available via live stream at www.GoViks.com/Live. The game airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM in the Portland area and www.ripcityradio.com worldwide. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
     
Portland State scored a season-high 49 points, gained a season-high 549 yards, but still couldn't come away with a win last Saturday when Northern Colorado got hot in the second half. PSU led 21-13 at halftime, but lost 56-49 in overtime. The Vikings are now 1-4 in Big Sky Conference play.
     
UC Davis had the week off - making it the fourth Viking opponent in six Big Sky games to have a bye week prior to facing them. The Aggies have a matching 2-6, 1-4 record on the season.
     
PSU and UC Davis have met three times since the Aggies joined the Big Sky Conference (with one of those games being a non-conference game). The Vikings have had the advantage over that span, winning all three games and maintaining a four-game win streak overall against UCD. Three of those wins - dating back to 2010 - have come at Aggie Stadium. The most recent meeting was a 23-14 PSU victory on Oct. 4, 2014. The teams did not play in 2015.
     
The Vikings and Aggies have four common opponents this season. Both teams have lost to Weber State, Southern Utah and Cal Poly. The difference is UCD defeated Northern Colorado (34-21 on Oct. 15), while the Vikings took a loss to the Bears last week.
     
PSU will play in central California two weeks in a row. After playing UC Davis this week, the Vikings return to play a Big Sky game at Sacramento State on Nov. 12. Portland State's season finale is a Friday, November 18 home game against Eastern Washington.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• UC Davis is a football-only member of the Big Sky Conference, joining in 2012.
• Aggies' Head Coach Ron Gould was the defensive backs coach at Portland State in 1992, then followed Pokey Allen to Boise State from 1993-96.
• Portland State and UC Davis have played 14 times previously, nine times since 2004. PSU has won the last four in a row, with three of those games at Aggie Stadium.
• This will be the fourth time in the last five meetings that PSU has played at UC Davis. Next season, the Aggies come to PSU for a non-conference game on Sept. 16.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
UC Davis comes off a bye week as they prepare for the Vikings. The Aggies are 2-6 on the season, 1-4 in the Big Sky and 2-1 in home games. Fourth-year Head Coach Ron Gould has an 11-31 all-time record with the Aggies.
     
UC Davis averages 27.5 points and 376.2 yards of total offense per game with only nine turnovers this season. The defense has forced 13 turnovers - giving the a Aggies a +4 turnover ratio - and scored three defensive touchdowns. However, the defense has also allowed 453.8 yards and 37.5 points per game.
     
A closer look, though, shows that the Aggie defense is improving. UCD has given up only 298 yards and 22 points per game in their last three contests - a loss at Southern Utah, a win over Northern Colorado, and a loss at Cal Poly.
     
One area of weakness for the Aggies has been third-down production. They rank second-to-last in the Big Sky Conference, converting only 30% of their third-downs. Meanwhile the defense has allowed opponents to convert at a 48.3%, the worst in the Big Sky.
     
Running back Manusamoa Luuga is one of the top offensive players in the Big Sky Conference with 146 carries for 723 yards and nine touchdowns. Luuga ranks fifth in the Big Sky in rushing.
     
Quarterback Ben Scott has been efficient, completing 61% of his passes for 1,674 yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions. Overall, the Aggies pass the ball on 53% of their plays.
     
Keelan Doss has been the main target in the passing game with 48 receptions for 558 yards and five touchdowns. Doss ranks fourth in catches and eighth in yards receiving in the Big Sky. Luuga is second on the team with 22 receptions for 228 yards and a score.
     
Defensive back Zach Jones leads the team with 51 tackles this season. He has also forced three fumbles and made an interception. Safety Keelon Culberson has 39 tackles, a team-leading seven pass breakups, an interception and a fumble return for touchdown.
     
Joshua Kelley ranks second in the Big Sky Conference, averaging 24.5 yards per kickoff return with one touchdown.      
 
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 2-6 on the season, 2-2 at home, 0-4 on the road.
• 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 125-140 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 106-126, 69-43 in home games, 37-83 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016) PSU is 69-91 all-time in league games, 42-39 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, 7-5 Big Sky, 11-9 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).
 
HARD-LUCK SEASON CONTINUES FOR VIKINGS: A season that began with so much promise has devloved into a hard-luck campaign for the Portland State Vikings. Last week's loss to Northern Colorado was another example as the Vikings, leaders at halftime, lost 56-49 in overtime. PSU appeared to score what would be a tieing touchdown in the first overtime on a pass completion from SR QB Alex Kuresa to JR WR Josh Kraght. But the call was overturned by replay officials. The Vikings were unable to convert the ensuing fourth down. That loss is one of three narrow defeats in Big Sky Conference games that could easily have gone the Vikings' way and turned a 1-4 record to as good as 4-1... On Sept. 24, PSU trailed Southern Utah 38-31, but was on the three-yard with 26 seconds to play and threatening to tie or take a lead. However, an interception cost the Vikings the game... On Oct. 8, PSU was down 14-10 to Weber State, but appeared ready to make the go-ahead score with two minutes left. However, a mix-up on a play call at the Weber 14-yard line caused the Vikings to turn the ball over on downs... turnovers have also been had a huge impact on the Vikings. In 2015, PSU was one of the nation's leaders in turnover margin (+13), but that has turned around in 2016 with the Vikings hurt by a -11 turnover margin... though injuries affect every team, the Vikings have seemed particularly susceptible this season, already losing 99 player games to injury, as well as three starters for the year (S Walter Santiago, WR Darnell Adams in game two, CB Anthony Jenkins in game three)... and of course the tragic loss of a pair of starters in the off-season, LB AJ Schlatter and LT Kyle Smith, remains in the minds of the Viking team.
 
INJURY TOLL: Portland State returned JR CB Chris Seisay, SR LB Mosa Likio, SR RB Nate Tago and SR LB Anthony McNichols from injury in the game against Northern Colorado, though only Seisay was able to start and play any significant amount in the game. JR C Chad Bach was still missing from the starting lineup, while JR WR Trent Riley was unable to play. 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 99 games to injury so far this season.
 
ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WAS LIKE A SUMMERS DAY: One Viking who had missed the entire season was able to return in the form of JR RB Za'Quan Summers. Impressive throughout spring football, the JC transfer was expected to have a big impact in 2016. However, a couple of health setbacks prevented him from practicing until the week leading up to Northern Colorado. When given the opportunity against the Bears, Summers produced, carrying the ball 10 times for 122 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown run... the addition of Summers to the backfield was important as SR RB Nate Tago, who missed the last game, was still not at full strength against UNC (5 carries, 27 yards).
 
ANOTHER COUNTRY IS HEARD FROM: With the addition of Za'Quan Summers to the backfield, the Vikings have once again increased their variety of weapons. PSU has a handful of backs capable of having a big day. Four current Vikings have 100-yard rushing games to their credit (with a total of 12 combined). Here they are, with career highs:
• SR RB Nate Tago, 199 yards vs. Idaho State
• SR RB Paris Penn, 184 yards vs. Idaho State
• SR QB Alex Kuresa, 133 yards vs. Southern Utah
• JR RB Za'Quan Summers, 122 yards vs. Northern Colorado
 
IRON MEN: The Vikings have four on offense, five on defense and three on special teams who have started every game this season: JR LT Randin Crecelius, JR LG Tyshon Mosley, JR WR Josh Kraght, SR QB Alex Kuresa on offense; FR DT Anthony Del Toro, SR DT Savali Talalemotu, JR S Beau Duronslet, JR S Tyler Foreman, SR CB Xavier Coleman; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, SR P/KO Marcus Kinsella, FR LS Riley Shackelford.
 
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 five of seven (71%), with one tie in turnovers... the turnover tables are not pretty for the Vikings this season. PSU has 19 turnovers for 62 opponent points. The Vikings have forced eight turnovers for 10 points... last season the Vikings forced 28 TOs (and turned them into 67 points) while committing only 15 (for 30 opponent points).
 
RUNNING WILD: Portland State's run game was back in form against Northern Colorado, thanks in part to the addition of JR RB Za'Quan Summers. The Vikings rushed for 371 yards on the way to a season-high 549 offensive yards. Summers had 122 yards, SR QB Alex Kuresa rushed for 130 yards and SR RB Paris Penn pitched in 69 yards... PSU ran for a school-record of 531 yards on 58 carries (9.2 ypc) against Idaho State on Oct. 1.
 
QUADRUPLE THREAT: JR WR Josh Kraght began his Portland State career as a quarterback, earning three starts at the position as a freshman. However, the past two seasons he has played slot receiver and punt returner while remaining a backup QB. This season, Kraght leads the team with 23 receptions for 338 yards. He has six rushing plays for 28 yards, nine punt returns for 54 yards, and has completed one 78-yard pass for a touchdown... for his career, Kraght has completed 51-100 passes for 599 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He has rushed 51 times for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Kraght has 39 career receptions for 565 yards and a touchdown. And he has 26 punt returns for 143 yards.
 
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. Coleman has four pass breakups this season and 31 in his career - second all-time at Portland State.
 
THE GREAT GONZO: SR K Jonathan Gonzales missed his first field goal of the season against Northern Colorado, but has still made 4-5 attempts this season. He has made 34-45 in his career and is second all-time at PSU in field goals made and is first in percentage (.756)... Gonzales is 33-33 on extra points this season and 116-117 in his career, for a school record .991 mark... with 218 career points in less than three seasons, Gonzales ranks seventh all-time in scoring at PSU.
 
NO RETURN POLICY: Portland State SR P Marcus Kinsella is averaging 39.3 yards per punt this season, down a little 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 three touchbacks making for a solid net average of 37.0.
 
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 four games, Seisay has 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a team-high five 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.
 
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 five of eight games (avg. 233.2). 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 has 22 receptions for a team-high 414 yards and three touchdowns this season. He averages over 18.8 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.
• JR WR Josh Kraght had four receptions for a career-high 100 yards against Northern Colorado (10/29). Kraght leads the team with 23 receptions for 338 yards this year.
 
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 36 tackles in the last four games to lead the team and now has 47 total to rank third on the team.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet had a career-high 12 tackles against Cal Poly (10/15) and with 56 stops this season leads the team.
• 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 168. SR CB Xavier Coleman has 145 career tackles.
• SR DE Michael Doman leads the Vikings with seven tackles for loss. He also has two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
 
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). Dawson has eight returns this year for a 32.9 average. In his career, Dawson has totaled 1,040 kick return yards, ranking ninth all-time at PSU. Dawson has two touchdowns and a 26.7 kick return average for his career.
• SR K Jonathan Gonzales 4-5 on field goals this season and perfect on extra points (33-33) this season.
 
MILESTONES
• SR RB Nate Tago passed 1,000 career rushing yards in the game with Central Washington (9/3). He now has 1,494 career yards and 17 career touchdowns on 306 carries. Tago has played in 39 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 3,378 passing yards in 20 games as a Viking. Kuresa has completed 219-406 passes with 26 touchdowns and 17 interceptions... Kuresa passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Southern Utah (9/24). In 20 career games, he has 271 carries for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing.
• SR RB Nate Tago has passed 1,000 career kickoff return yards (1,048) and ranks eighth all-time at PSU. JR KOR Kahlil Dawson has 1,040 career kickoff return yards (9th all-time).
 
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, 42; SR OL Cam Keizur, 41; SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 41; SR RB Nate Tago, 39; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 36
• Most career starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 38; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 32; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 32; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 32; JR S Beau Duronslet, 22; SR DE Michael Doman, 20
• Consecutive starts: SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 32; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 32; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 25; SR QB Alex Kuresa, 20
 
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.