complete notes and stats in pdf

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 ^#3 EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (9-1, 7-0) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-7, 2-5)
Friday, November 18, 2016, 7:30 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR

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TV: Root Sports NW • Play-by-play: Brad Adam • Analyst: Jason Stiles
RADIO: Tailgate Country 103.7 FM, www.tailgate1037.iheart.com • Pregame Show: 6:30 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. EAGLES
All-Time Series: PSU leads 20-17-1 • PSU leads 10-9 in Portland • PSU leads 10-7-1 in Cheney • EWU leads 1-0 in Seattle
Big Sky Conference Series: EWU leads 11-9 • EWU leads 6-4 in Portland • PSU leads 5-4 in Cheney • EWU leads 1-0 in Seattle
 
Big Sky Conference games
Sept. 28, 1996: EWU 24-7 @ Cheney
Sept. 20, 1997: EWU 31-14 @ Portland
Sept. 12, 1998: PSU 30-27 @ Cheney (ot)
Sept. 16, 1999: PSU 48-39 @ Portland
Nov. 11, 2000: EWU 27-24 @ Portland
Nov. 10, 2001: PSU 37-22 @ Cheney
Oct. 12, 2002: PSU 34-31 @ Portland
Oct. 11, 2003: EWU 42-16 @ Cheney
Oct. 2, 2004: EWU 41-21 @ Portland
Oct. 1, 2005: EWU 42-24 @ Cheney
Oct. 21, 2006: PSU 34-0 @ Portland
Sept. 29, 2007: PSU 28-21 @ Cheney
Oct. 4, 2008: PSU 47-36 @ Portland
Oct. 31, 2009: EWU 47-10 @ Seattle
Oct. 30, 2010: EWU 50-17 @ Portland
Oct. 29, 2011: PSU 43-26 @ Cheney
Nov. 17, 2012: EWU 41-34 @ Portland
Nov. 23, 2013: EWU 42-41 @ Cheney
Nov. 21, 2014: EWU 56-34 @ Portland
Nov. 21, 2015: PSU 34-31 @ Cheney
 
LAST MEETING, Nov. 21, 2015: ^#11 Portland State 34, ^#18 Eastern Washington 31
    Portland State trailed at halftime but took control of the game with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. The Eagles closed within 34-31 with 5:48 to play in the game, but PSU ate up the remainder of the clock, running 12 plays for 63 yards to capture the win. In fact, PSU was able to convert at remarkable 13 of 17 third-downs in the game to overcome a season-high three turnovers.
      David Jones rushed for 152 yards and two scores to lead the Viking offense. Linebacker AJ Schlatter put in a remarkable performance on defense with 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. In all the Vikings forced four Eagles' turnovers.
 
VIKINGS WILL SEEK SPOILER ROLE IN SEASON FINALE
A season that didn't turn out as expected for the Portland State Vikings still has the chance for one final highlight. The Vikings will host the nation's third-ranked team this Friday night in a game televised on Root Sports with a chance to be the spoiler. PSU hosts Eastern Washington in the regular season finale hoping to deny the Eagles a share of the Big Sky Conference Championship as well as retain the Dam Cup, a rivalry game reward. North Dakota has already completed its season at 9-2, 8-0, earning at least a share of the Big Sky title. The Eagles need one more win to match that.
 
A win by the Vikings would be a season highlight, while the Eagles look forward to the FCS post-season either way.
     
The Vikings (3-7, 2-5) know it won't be easy to overtake the Eagles. Eastern Washington (9-1, 7-0) has won eight straight games and has not scored fewer than 34 points in any game this season. The Eagles only loss was a 50-44 overtime decision at four-time defending national champion North Dakota State. The rival to the northeast also features two of the top offensive players in the nation in wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Gage Gubrud.
     
Meanwhile, Portland State has put up some pretty big offensive numbers of its own in recent weeks, but has faced bad luck and bad breaks along the way. In a 42-35 loss at Sacramento State last Saturday, PSU scored what appeared to be a game tying - or with a potential two-point conversion, game winning - touchdown with 15 seconds remaining. But the play was called back due to penalty. It marked the fourth time this season that PSU has lost a game with a chance to score a tying or go-ahead touchdown in the closing moments or overtime.
     
Portland State won last year's Dam Cup contest in Cheney, 34-31. The Vikings have won the trophy in four of the six years of its existence. For more see VIKINGS DEFEND DAM CUP below.
     
Friday's game will air on Root Sports NW and be available on DirecTV satellite systems. There will be no live stream available. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
RADIO BROADCAST MOVES TO 103.7 FM
Due to scheduling conflicts with the Portland Trailblazers and Oregon State Beavers, the radio broadcast moves over 103.7 FM Tailgate Country and www.tailgate1037.iheart.com.
 
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• The Vikings ended a three-game losing streak to Eastern Washington and guaranteed its best Division I season (9-2) and a playoff berth in last season's 34-31 win.
• The Eagles feature three-time All-American Cooper Kupp.
• Eastern Washington led the nation in passing in 2015, averaging 353.3 yards per game.
• Eastern Washington is the closest - in proximity - Big Sky Conference opponent, and the Eagles also maintain the longest continuous series with the Vikings. This year the teams will meet for the 27th consecutive season.
• Eastern Washington won the national championship in 2010, reached the semifinals in 2012 and 2013 and got to the quarterfinals in 2014.
• Portland State's all-time best passing game (Drew Hubel, 623 yards, 2008, 47-36 win) and rushing game (Ryan Fuqua, 393 yards, 2001, 37-22 win) and longest pass play (Jimmy Blanchard to Terry Charles, 99 yards, 1998, 48-39 win) have come against Eastern Washington.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Washington enters this week's contest with the most potent passing game in the nation. The Eagles have thrown for a national-leading 417.1 yards per game. They rank second in total offense (551.2) and third in scoring (45.1). That offensive efficiency has led the Eagles back to being one of the best teams in the nation after a 6-5 season last year.
     
Senior wide receiver Cooper Kupp holds virtually every receiving record at the FCS level. Kupp leads the Eagles again this year with 85 catches for 1,230 yards and 12 touchdowns. He gets a lot of support from receivers Kendrick Bourne (60-915-5) and Shaq Hill (58-890-14).
     
Sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud has emerged as a top class signal caller, completing 276-400 passes (69%) for 3,767 yards and 37 touchdowns.
     
Gubrud leads the nation in passing yards (376.7 ypg) and total offense (418.8 ypg), while Kupp leads the nation in receiving yards and ranks second in receptions, and Hill leads the nation in receiving touchdowns.
     
Eastern's defense has given up yards and points at times, ranking 104th in the nation with 440.9 yards allowed per game. But, the Eagles have been good at forcing turnovers with 22 takeaways and a +7 turnover ratio.
     
Zach Bruce leads EWU with 84 tackles and three interceptions. Miquiyah Zamora has 83 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Mitch Fettig has 67 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups.
 
VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS
Portland State plays its third nationally-ranked opponent of the season and second ranked FCS opponent in Eastern Washington. Previously, the Vikings played FBS top-10 ranked Washington and FCS Top-20 ranked Cal Poly.
• Portland State is 19-40 all-time (13-17 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 is 0-2 against all ranked teams this year. The Vikings were 5-1 against nationally-ranked teams last year (all FCS level).
 
VIKINGS DEFEND DAM CUP
Portland State will defend the Dam Cup Trophy on Friday when the Vikings host the Eastern Washington Eagles. PSU has won the Dam Cup in four of the six years it has been up for grabs. Previously an all-sports trophy, the Dam Cup is now a football-only competition. The Vikings took the first football-only Dam Cup last season with a 34-31 win in Cheney, WA.
 
More About the Dam Cup . . .
The Eastern Washington Eagles and Portland State Vikings began a five-sport rivalry cup called The Dam Cup in 2010-11. The Dam Cup celebrates the friendly rivalry between the states of Oregon and Washington within the Big Sky Conference.
     
The so-named rivalry refers to the four dams linking Oregon and Washington that one passes on the 339-mile drive from the Portland State campus to the Eastern Washington campus. Located along the Columbia River, they are Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, The John Day Dam and the McNary Dam.
     
The purpose of the Dam Cup is to enhance the rivalry between Portland State and Eastern Washington and provide a sense of pride between alumni in the Portland and Spokane areas. Other goals include increasing attendance at events between both schools and building school spirit among each institutions' student body.
     
The winner of the Dam Cup will possess The Dam Trophy acknowledging the achievement for the following year.
 
Dam Cup Champions
2010-11          PSU             
2011-12          PSU 
2012-13          EWU
2013-14          PSU
2014-15          EWU
2015-16          PSU
 
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 3-7 on the season, 2-2 at home, 1-5 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 126-141 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 107-127, 69-43 in home games, 38-84 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016) PSU is 70-92 all-time in league games, 42-39 at home, 28-53 on the road.
• The Vikings have nine winning records in 21 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Bruce Barnum (2015-16, 8-7 Big Sky, 12-10 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).
 
ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING FINISH FOR THE VIKINGS: Portland State's football season suffered another setback in the closing seconds in a 42-35 loss at Sacramento State. It marked the fourth time this season that PSU has lost a game with a chance to score a tying or go-ahead touchdown in the closing moments or overtime. Here is a summary of the sadness:
• On Sept. 24 at Southern Utah, the Vikings trailed 38-31. PSU was at the SUU three-yard line with 26 seconds left and a chance to tie - or possibly go ahead with a two-point conversion. But, in the face of a blitz, Alex Kuresa threw an interception that was returned 98 yards by Jermaine Doubs to seal the win for Southern Utah.
• On Oct. 8 at Weber State, the Vikings were again driving for the winning score late in the fourth quarter. They had moved 61 yards down to the WSU 14-yard line with two minutes to play. But on a fourth-and-four play an Alex Kuresa pass to Trent Riley fell incomplete after mix-up on the route.
• On Oct. 29, Portland State had tied the game with Northern Colorado, 49-49, with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter, sending it to overtime. UNC scored on the first overtime possession to lead 56-49. The Vikings appeared to score the equalizer on their possession when Kuresa rifled a pass on a slant route to Josh Kraght, who fell into the end zone with the ball as PSU players and fans celebrated. But officials reviewed the play and ruled that Kraght did not control the ball all the way and ruled it incomplete. Kuresa's fourth-down pass to Paris Penn skipped off the receiver's fingertips and the Bears escaped with the win.
• Last Saturday at Sacramento State, the Vikings appeared to have again scored a tying touchdown - or possible go-ahead with a two point conversion. With 15 seconds left and trailing the Hornets 42-35, Paris Penn swept left to score on a fourth-and-goal play from the three-yard line. However, the Vikings were flagged for a hold, and then unable to convert on fourth down and 13.
 
A LOSS, BUT THE VIKING OFFENSE KEEPS TRENDING UPWARD: The Viking offense has 135 points  (45.0) and 1,673 yards of offense (557.7) in the last three games. PSU had set a school record for rushing (531 yards) on Oct. 1 in a 45-20 win over Idaho State, and has six 500+ total offense games this year... PSU rushed for 424 yards at Sacramento State, which also ranks among the top 10 rushing games all-time. SR QB Alex Kuresa rushed for a career-high 198 yards and two touchdowns.
• With 452.5 yards per game of total offense, the Vikings rank 18th in the nation.
• With 247.6 rushing yards per game the Vikings rank eighth in the nation.
• PSU has only three turnovers in its last six games. This after 16 in the first four games.
• In the last four games, Portland State is 32-52 on third down, a remarkable 61% conversion rate. The Vikings have now converted 49% of their third-down plays this season to rank eighth in the nation.
 
KURESA'S BIG NIGHT: SR QB Alex Kuresa has accomplished a lot in his two seasons with the Portland State Vikings, including being named Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2015. But his performance at UC Davis added up to the best passing night of his career. Kuresa completed a career-best 80% of his passes (16-20) and had a career-high 384 passing yards with a touchdown. That was 109 more yards than any previous game.
 
KURESA'S BIG NIGHT, PART TWO: SR QB Alex Kuresa followed his big game at UC Davis with a career-high rushing performance at Sacramento State. Kuresa had 15 carries for 198 yards and touchdown runs of 55 and 36 yards in the game. It was his third new career-high for rushing this season... Kuresa leads the Vikings with 765 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season.
 
TURNOVER TURNAROUND: Studies show the team that wins the turnover battle wins the football game 81% of the time. The Vikings proved that at UC Davis, forcing two turnovers while committing none, on the way to a 51-29 win... so far this season, the team winning the turnover battle in Portland State's games has won six of nine (67%), with one tie in turnovers... the turnover tables were not pretty early in the year for the Vikings. PSU had 16 turnovers in its first four games. Since then, the Vikings have committed only three in the last six games, while forcing 10. However, they have not capitalized on those takeaways enough (PSU forced three Sacramento State turnovers but failed to score off any of them). PSU has 19 turnovers for 62 opponent points. The Vikings have forced 13 turnovers for 17 points... last season the Vikings forced 28 TOs (and turned them into 67 points) while committing only 15 (for 30 opponent points).
 
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 14 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, 198 yards at Sacramento State
• JR RB Za'Quan Summers, 122 yards vs. Northern Colorado
 
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 30 receptions for 477 yards and a touchdown. He has seven rushing plays for 38 yards and a touchdown, 11 punt returns for 64 yards, and has completed 2-4 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown... for his career, Kraght has been a quadruple threat:
• He has completed 52-103 passes for 640 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 52 times for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
• Kraght has 46 career receptions for 704 yards and two touchdowns.
• He has 28 punt returns for 153 yards.
• In total, he has accounted for 1,766 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
THE GREAT GONZO: SR K Jonathan Gonzales has made 7-9 field goals attempts this season. His three field goal game at UC Davis was the fifth of his career. He has made 37-49 kicks in his career and is second all-time at PSU in field goals made and is first in percentage (.755)... Gonzales is 44-44 on extra points this season and 127-128 in his career, for a school record .992 mark... with 238 career points in less than three seasons, Gonzales ranks sixth all-time in scoring at PSU... Gonzales has tied his own PSU record for consecutive PATs in a single season (44). He set the mark last season. He also holds the overall mark for consecutive PATs (77) set over 2014-15. Gonzales has made 47 straight PATs dating to late in the 2015 season.
 
NO RETURN POLICY: Portland State SR P Marcus Kinsella is averaging 39.5 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 28 return yards and three touchbacks making for a solid net average of 37.3.
 
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 six games, Seisay has 26 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a team-high six pass breakups and two interceptions... 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.
 
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 five pass breakups this season and 32 in his career - second all-time at Portland State.
 
INJURY TOLL: 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, 27 players have lost a total of 118 games to injury so far this season.
 
IRON MEN: The Vikings have three players on offense, four on defense and three on special teams who have started every game this season: JR LT Randin Crecelius, JR WR Josh Kraght, SR QB Alex Kuresa on offense; FR DT Anthony Del Toro, SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 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. DE Kenton Bartlett, DT Anthony Del Toro, DT Sione Taumoe'anga, CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson and DE Mason Vega have all played... 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).
 
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 10 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)... PSU rushed for 424 yards against Sacramento State (11/12), the seventh-most in  school history.
• The Vikings passed for 425 yards in a win at UC Davis (11/5). It was the most passing yards by the Vikings in eight seasons.
• 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 14 touchdowns this season to rank second in the Big Sky Conference and 10th in the nation.
• 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)... those numbers both went down when he passed for 384 yards against UC Davis (11/5) and rushed for 198 yards against Sacramento State (11/12).
• PSU has rushed for 200+ yards in six of 10 games (avg. 246.7). 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 28 receptions for a team-high 530 yards and three touchdowns this season. He averages over 18.9 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). He followed that with four catches for 104 yards at UC Davis (11/5). Kraght leads the team with 30 receptions for 477 yards and a touchdown this year.
• PSU had three 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time since having four in a win over Eastern Washington in 2008. Against UC Davis (11/5), JR WR Josh Kraght caught four passes for a career-high 104 yards, SR TE Maximo Espitia had four receptions for 100 yards, and JR WR Austin Holman caught three balls for a career-high 108 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.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet had a career-high 12 tackles against Cal Poly (10/15) and with 66 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. Norcross is now fourth on the team with a career-high 46 tackles.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet is PSU's current career leader in tackles with 178. SR CB Xavier Coleman has 148 career tackles.
• SR DE Michael Doman leads the Vikings with 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery... his 20 .5 career tackles for loss and four career forced fumbles lead the current Viking team.
• SR DT Savali Talalemotu had a sack and a fumble recovery in the win at UC Davis (11/5). He now has 10 career sacks.
 
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 7-9 on field goals this season and perfect on extra points (44-44). His three field goal game against UC Davis (11/5) was the fifth of his career.
 
MILESTONES
• SR RB Nate Tago passed 1,000 career rushing yards in the game with Central Washington (9/3). He now has 1,692 career yards and 20 career touchdowns on 336 carries. Tago has played in 41 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 3,860 passing yards in 22 games as a Viking. Kuresa has completed 246-450 passes with 28 touchdowns and 17 interceptions... Kuresa passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Southern Utah (9/24). In 22 career games, he has 292 carries for 1,520 yards and 17 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).
• SR RB Paris Penn passed 1,000 career rushing yards against Northern Colorado (10/29). He now has 1,228 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.
 
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, 44; SR OL Cam Keizur, 43; SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 43; SR RB Nate Tago, 41; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 38
• Most career starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 40; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 34; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 34; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 34; JR S Beau Duronslet, 22; SR DE Michael Doman, 22
• Consecutive starts: SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 34; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 34; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 27; SR QB Alex Kuresa, 22
 
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.
• Portland State bussed to the game at Davis, CA, a round-trip of 1,144 miles.
• Last week's trip to Sacramento State added 1,162 miles round trip.
• That makes 4,906 bus miles for the Vikings this season, eclipsing last year's total of 4,394.
• 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.