Boxscore - HTM | PDF

Sacramento, CA - An apparent tying touchdown with 15 seconds left was wiped away by a referee's flag as the Portland State Vikings lost 42-35 at Sacramento State.

Down a score with 1:56 remaining in the game, quarterback Alex Kuresa led the Vikings on a hair-raising drive all the way down to the Hornets' three-yard line. Kuresa accounted for 72 yards rushing and passing on the drive, but the Vikings couldn't get the score they needed.

On the fourth-down play, a wildcat snap to Paris Penn led to a sweep left and a waltz into the end zone. Only the extra point - or maybe even a two-point conversion attempt for the win - remained. But it didn't.

A yellow flag came out in the middle of the offensive line as Penn scored and the Vikings were pushed back to fourth-and-goal at the 13. A desperation pass attempt form Kuresa to Maximo Espitia was just out of his reach and the Hornets were able to pick up the win. 

It has been a snake-bitten season for the Vikings. The loss marked the fourth time this year they have lost a game with a chance to score a tying or go-ahead touchdown in the closing moments. With the loss, Portland State dropped to 3-7 on the season, 2-5 in Big Sky play.

The big story of the game was the running of Sacramento State's Jordan Robinson. The senior tailback ran for a career-high 262 yards on 23 carries, scoring four touchdowns. He led a Hornet offense that totaled 519 yards. 

The Vikings totaled 522 yards, including 424 rushing yards. Kuresa had a career-high 198 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 11-24 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Nate Tago added 148 yards and a score.

In the first half, Sacramento State never led but answered back every time the Vikings scored.

PSU took an early lead on a short 35-yard scoring drive. Tago scored on a one-yard burst through the left side of the line. After two punts, the Hornets tied the game on their own 69-yard drive. Quarterback Nate Ketteringham had two runs and two completions in the series. He scored on a seven-yard run to make the score 7-7.

Kuresa made the first big play of the game for either team early in the second quarter. On a third-and-one play from the PSU 45 he made a great play fake to Tago then went around the right side untouched on a 55-yard scoring scamper.

The Hornets tied up the game a few moments later on a 19-yard touchdown run by Demetrius Warren. It was 14-14. 

Three minutes later Kuresa came back with another long touchdown run, scoring from 36 yards out on a third-and-two play.

Just two plays after that Robinson went through the middle on a 75-yard touchdown run for the Hornets. That had the game tied again 21-21 at halftime.

Robinson gave the Hornets their first lead on a 40-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. It was the culmination of a 97-yard drive for Sacramento State. 

PSU made a quick scoring drive to tie it back up. Kuresa hit Josh Kraght on a 19-yard touchdown pass. But Robinson wasn't done. He punched in another 13-yard touchdown run and the Hornets led 35-28 at the end of the third quarter.

Penn tied the game at 35-35 in the first minute of the fourth quarter on a one-yard run. It came after a 67-yard scamper by Tago. 

The Viking defense finally got the stops it needed, forcing two punts in the Hornets' next two series. But the offense was unable to get the go-ahead touchdown. 

Finally, Robinson gave the Hornets' the winning score, rushing seven times in an eight-play, 59-yard drive. He scored on a nine-yard run with 1:56 left in the game.

That set up the final drive for the Vikings.

GAME NOTES: The Viking defense got interceptions from Chris Seisay and Tyler Foreman. Anthony McNichols recovered a fumble… Sacramento State has won six of the last seven meetings between the teams… Portland State wraps up the season next Friday night when it hosts Eastern Washington at Providence Park. The game is a 7 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on Root Sports.