Complete season wrapup in pdf
 
At its conclusion, "What might have been" hung heavy over Portland State's 2016 football season. A season that began with great promise ended at 3-8 overall, 2-6 in Big Sky Conference. Five of Portland State's six losses in conference play went down to the closing moments before they were decided, making those losses particularly tough.
     
A major contributor to the Vikings' struggles were injuries. After a relatively healthy 2015 season that concluded with a 9-3 record and a trip to the playoffs, PSU had 29 players lose 131 games due to injury in 2016.
     
Here is a look at the 2016 season:
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• Portland State had six players earn All-Big Sky Conference honors and six others named honorable mention All-Big Sky. Selected to the first team were SR OL Cam Keizur and SR CB Xavier Coleman. On the second team were SR TE Maximo Espitia and JR ST Mitchell Thompson. On the third team were JR LT Randin Crecelius and SR K Jonathan Gonzales. Named honorable mention were: SR QB Alex Kuresa, SR RB Paris Penn, SR RB Nate Tago, JR OL Tyshon Mosley, SR DT Savali Talalemotu and SR P Marcus Kinsella.
• Portland State had four new records set during the 2016 season: SR K Jonathan Gonzales set marks for consecutive PATs in a season (48-48) and career PAT percentage (131-132, .992). JR KR Kahlil Dawson established a new record for career kick return average (26.7, 39-1,040-2), and the Vikings established a new record for rushing yards in a game with 531 in a win over Idaho State (45-30, 10/1).
• JR RB/ST Mitchell Thompson was given the team's BarnyBall Award as the player that best represents the values of the program.
• National honors will be released in December. The Big Sky Conference will release Academic All-Big Sky honors in January.
 
KEIZUR AND COLEMAN LEAD VIKINGS ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE LIST
Portland State seniors Cam Keizur and Xavier Coleman led Portland State's list of All-Big Sky Conference selections for football. Keizur, an offensive lineman, and Coleman, a cornerback, were named first team All-Big Sky.
     
Earning second team All-Big Sky Conference were tight end Maximo Espitia and special teams performer Mitch Thompson. On third team were kicker Jonathan Gonzales and offensive lineman Randin Crecelius.
     
The Vikings also had six players named honorable mention: running backs Nate Tago and Paris Penn, quarterback Alex Kuresa, offensive lineman Tyshon Mosley, defensive tackle Savali Talalemotu and punter Marcus Kinsella.
     
Keizur, who spent time at right guard and center for the Vikings, has been a mainstay on the offensive line for four seasons. He started 41 of the 44 career games in which he played. A 6-4, 320-pounder from West Linn High School, Keizur blocked for an offense that gained 243 rushing yards per game this season - second in the Big Sky - and 454 yards per game overall, scoring 33 points per game. In his four years, the Vikings have rushed for more than 200 yards per game each season. They set seven school offensive records in 2013 including rushing yards, total yards and rushing touchdowns. A third-team All-Big Sky selection in 2015, Keizur was one of the top players in the Big Sky this year and a team captain for the Vikings.
     
Coleman, also a team captain this season, was paid a compliment by opposing teams this season by not seeing a lot of passes thrown his way. After leading the Big Sky with 13 pass breakups and ranking second in interceptions with five in 2015, Coleman didn't see nearly as much traffic in 2016. Still, he was one of the top Viking defenders again, making 29 tackles with five pass breakups and two interceptions. Coleman, originally from Jesuit High School, had a team-leading 45 games played and 35 starts in his career, totaling 152 tackles, 32 pass breakups and nine interceptions. The 5-11, 190-pound defensive back was second team All-Big Sky as a junior. He was a team co-captain in 2016.
     
Espitia, who is also a local product, played one season for the Vikings as a graduate transfer from California. A 6-2, 235-pound tight end, Espitia prepped at South Salem High School. In 2016, he ranked second on the Vikings' team with 33 receptions and three touchdown grabs. Espitia had a team-leading 592 receiving yards. He added seven rushing plays for 37 yards and one touchdown.
     
Thompson, a backup running back for the Vikings was a key special teams player. Though just 5-7 and 170 pounds, Thompson was a play-maker on kick coverage. The junior had 12 tackles for the season. On offense, Thompson had seven running plays for 20 yards and a touchdown. Originally a walk-on from Oregon City High School, Thompson was given a scholarship prior to the start of the 2016 season. He also earned the BarnyBall Award from the team for the player that best represents the values of the program.
     
Crecelius took over the left tackle position this season and started all 12 games for the Vikings. He too blocked for an offense that gained 243 rushing yards per game this season - second in the Big Sky - and 454 yards per game overall, scoring 33 points per game. A 6-5, 295-pound junior from Lake Stevens, WA, Crecelius was honorable mention All-Big Sky as a guard in 2015.
     
For the third straight season Gonzales was named All-Big Sky Conference. He was second team in 2014, third team in 2015. The senior from Apple Valley, CA made 7-10 field goals and 48-48 extra points this season. He was the only starting kicker in the Big Sky to not miss an extra point. Gonzales broke his own PSU record for extra points in a season without a miss. He finished his career at PSU second all-time in field goals (37) and first in extra point percentage (131-132, .992).
     
Portland State's entire backfield earned honorable mention All-Big Sky. Kuresa, a senior from Millville, UT, had 2,995 yards of total offense to rank seventh-most in school history for a season. With 5,725 career yards, he ranks eighth at PSU in just two seasons. Kuresa led the Vikings in rushing this year with 147 carries for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns. He completed 145 of 257 passes for 2,137 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Kuresa, the 2015 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, established career-highs for rushing in a game (198) and passing in a game (384) this year.
     
Penn, a senior from Grant High School, had his biggest offensive season as a Viking, totaling 909 yards and a team-leading 14 touchdowns. Penn, a 6-1, 220-pound back rushed 126 times for 653 yards and 10 touchdowns. He caught 26 passes for 256 yards and a team-best four receiving touchdowns. In his career, Penn had 1,895 yards rushing, passing and receiving and was responsible for 25 touchdowns.
     
Tago, a 5-11, 215-pound senior from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, had 137 carries for 774 yards and 10 touchdowns. He split starting duty with Penn in the backfield. Tago also had seven receptions for 85 yards and four kick returns for 68 yards. His 199 yards against Idaho State were a season high. For his career, Tago rushed for 1,765 yards and 22 touchdowns.
     
Talalemotu, also a senior from Beaverton High School, started every game at defensive tackle. The 6-3, 275-pounder had 22 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick to his credit this season. In four seasons, he played 44 games with 21 starts, making 81 tackles and 10 sacks.
     
Kinsella was a two-year starter as a punter and three-year starter as a kickoff man for the Vikings. This season, the native of Melbourne, Australia, averaged only 38.9 yards per punt, but that was due to directional punting and keeping the ball away from return men. The Vikings allowed only 28 punt return yards all season.
 
PORTLAND STATE'S ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE HONOREES
1st team: SR RG Cam Keizur, SR CB Xavier Coleman
2nd team: SR TE Maximo Espitia, JR ST Mitchell Thompson
3rd team: JR LT Randin Crecelius, SR K Jonathan Gonzales
Honorable Mention: JR LG Tyshon Mosley, SR QB Alex Kuresa, SR RB Nate Tago, SR RB Paris Penn, SR DT Savali Talalemotu, SR P Marcus Kinsella
 
THOMPSON EARNS BARNYBALL AWARD
JR RB Mitchell Thompson was presented with the BarnyBall Award at the team's post-season banquet. The award goes to the player who most represents the values of the program.
     
On the first day of fall camp, Thompson, a former walk-on, was presented with a scholarship. This season he was a backup running back and special teams player for the Vikings. Thompson made 12 tackles in kick coverage and had seven rushing plays for 20 yards and a touchdown.
     
The BarnyBall Award is the only team award given away by Portland State Football.
 
WHO IS GONE, WHO IS BACK FOR 2017
Portland State had 68 players letter during the 2016 season. Twenty-one of those letterwinners were seniors. Potentially 46 letterwinners could return in 2017. Including redshirts and others, a total of 67 players who participated may return in 2017.
     
The Vikings will return 15 starters, seven on offense, seven on defense and one on special teams. A total of 30 players who have made starts during their careers are scheduled to return in 2017. PSU also has one senior who will petition the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility: WR Darnell Adams.
     
A breakdown of who is going and who is staying (/ means players shared starts):
 
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING (7): LT Randin Crecelius, LG Tyshon Mosley, C Chad Bach/Garrett Stauffer, RT Troy Bacon, WR Josh Kraght, WR Trent Riley, WR Austin Holman
OFFENSIVE STARTERS LOST (4): QB Alex Kuresa, RB Nate Tago/Paris Penn, RG Cam Keizur, TE Cam Sommer/Maximo Espitia
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING (7): DE Davond Dade/Dallas House, DT Anthony Del Toro, LB Sam Bodine/John Norcross, NICK Artuz Manning, S Beau Duronslet, S Tyler Foreman, CB Chris Seisay
DEFENSIVE STARTERS LOST (4): DE Michael Doman, DT Savali Talalemotu, MLB Mosa Likio/Anthony McNichols, CB Xavier Coleman
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS RETURNING (1): LS Riley Shackelford
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS LOST (2): K Jonathan Gonzales, P Marcus Kinsella
OTHER LETTERWINNERS THAT RETURN (career starts): WR Stevie Coury (1), WR Justin Calo (2), QB Thomas Hamilton, CB Malik Cyphers (1), S Chris Hayes (1), S Ryan Wood (2), RB Za'Quan Summers, CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson, RB Chase Morrison, RB Mitchell Thompson, RB Carlos Martin, WR Kahlil Dawson (1), DE Mason Vega (1), S Nate Salu, DE Kenton Bartlett, S Taylor Biaggi, LB Cameron Schmitz, OL Justin Outslay (6), OL Desmoun Thompson (7), OL Josh Brown, OL Peter Fisherkeller, TE Cole Ford, TE Charlie Taumoepeau, DT William Dawson (2), DT John Jackson (1), DT Sione Taumoe'anga, WR Darnell Adams (13)
OTHER SENIORS LOST: WR Blair Cavanaugh, S Walter Santiago, LB Austin Wolff, CB Chevy Walker, CB Darien Washington, LB Zack Dwyer, OL Josh Hanson, DE Jacob Nall
OTHER LETTERWINNERS LOST: CB Anthony Jenkins (injury retirement)
 
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State was 3-8 in 2016, 2-3 at home, 1-5 on the road.
• Portland State played its 24th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1978-80 (1-AA), 1996-2016). PSU is 126-142 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 107-128, 69-44 in home games, 38-84 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016) PSU is 70-93 all-time in league games, 42-40 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, 8-8 Big Sky, 12-11 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).
 
PORTLAND STATE'S STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing Yards: Alex Kuresa, 858; Nate Tago, 774; Paris Penn, 653
Rushing Touchdowns: Alex Kuresa, 10; Nate Tago, 10; Paris Penn, 10
Passing: Alex Kuresa 145-257-11, 2,137 yards, 12 TDs
Receptions: Josh Kraght, 36; Maximo Espitia, 33; Paris Penn, 26
Receiving Yards: Maximo Espitia, 592; Josh Kraght, 518; Paris Penn, 256
Receiving Touchdowns: Paris Penn, 4; Maximo Espitia, 3
Total Touchdowns: Paris Penn, 14; Alex Kuresa, 11; Nate Tago, 10
Scoring: Paris Penn, 84 pts (14 TD); Jonathan Gonzales, 69 (7-10 FG, 48-48 PAT); Alex Kuresa, 66 (11 TDs, 1 2-pt PAT)
Field Goals: Jonathan Gonzales 7-10
Total Offense: Alex Kuresa, 2,995 yards
All-Purpose Yards: Alex Kuresa, 965; Nate Tago, 927; Paris Penn, 909
Punting: Marcus Kinsella, 45-38.9
Punt Returns: Josh Kraght, 11-64
Kick Returns: Kahlil Dawson 8-263-1; Za'Quan Summers, 12-244-0
Tackles: Beau Duronslet 73; Tyler Foreman, 60; Sam Bodine, 58; John Norcross, 53
Tackles For Loss: Michael Doman, 8.5; John Norcross, 4.5; Artuz Manning, 4.5
Sacks: Michael Doman, 3; Anthony Del Toro, 2.5
Interceptions: Xavier Coleman, 2; Chris Seisay, 2; Tyler Foreman, 2
Pass Breakups: Chris Seisay, 8; Xavier Coleman, 5; Artuz Manning, 5; Tyler Foreman, 5
Fumble Recoveries: 6 tied with 1
Forced Fumbles: Michael Doman, 2
Blocked Kicks: 3 tied with 1
 
STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
• SR QB Alex Kuresa was fourth in the Big Sky Conference in total offense (272.3 yards per game).
• Kuresa ranked fifth in the nation in yards per pass completion (14.74 ypp).
• SR RB Paris Penn ranked fourth in the Big Sky Conference in scoring with (7.6 ppg) and 11th in nation in total touchdowns (14).
• SR K Jonathan Gonzales led the Big Sky Conference in PAT kicking, making 48-48 attempts.
 
THE VIKING OFFENSE WAS TRENDING UPWARD: The Viking offense finished the season strong with 163 points (40.8) and 2,144 yards of offense (538.0) in its last four games.
• PSU set a school record for rushing (531 yards) on Oct. 1 in a 45-20 win over Idaho State.
• The Vikings had six games of 500+ yards total offense.
• PSU rushed for 424 yards at Sacramento State. SR QB Alex Kuresa rushed for a career-high 198 yards and two touchdowns.
• With 454.2 yards per game of total offense, the Vikings ranked 14th in the nation.
• With 243.6 rushing yards per game the Vikings ranked 10th in the nation.
• PSU had only four turnovers in its last seven games. This after 16 in the first four games.
• The Vikings converted 49.7% of their third-down plays this season to rank seventh in the nation.
 
DISAPPOINTING FINISHES FOR THE VIKINGS: Portland State football suffered losses five times when it had 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 a 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.
• On Nov. 11 at Sacramento State, the Vikings appeared to have again scored a tying touchdown - or possible go-ahead TD 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.
• On. Nov. 18, Portland State was tied 28-28 with third-ranked Eastern Washington in the fourth quarter. The Vikings appeared to have made an interception in Eagles territory but after further review the play was overturned by replay officials. Eastern went on to score a go-ahead touchdown on the drive. The Vikings came back to drive 50 yards into Eagles' territory seeking a tying touchdown, but were stopped on fourth down with 1:56 remaining in the game.
 
KURESA'S BIG NIGHT: SR QB Alex Kuresa 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 (11/5) 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 (11/12). 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 during the 2016 season.
 
TURNOVER TURNAROUND: Studies show the team that wins the turnover battle wins the football game 81% of the time. The team winning the turnover battle in Portland State's games won six of nine (67%), with two ties 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 committed only four in the last seven games, while forcing 11. However, they did not capitalize on those takeaways enough. PSU had 20 turnovers for 62 opponent points. The Vikings forced 14 turnovers for 17 points... in 2015 the Vikings forced 28 TOs (and turned them into 67 points) while committing only 15 (for 30 opponent points).
 
100-YARD RUNNERS: Once again the Vikings had a variety of weapons in the backfield, capable of having a big day. Four Vikings had 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 led the team with 36 receptions for 518 yards and a touchdown. He had eight rushing plays for 47 yards and a touchdown, 11 punt returns for 64 yards, and has completed 3-5 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown... for his career, Kraght has been a quadruple threat:
• He has completed 53-104 passes for 646 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 53 times for 278 yards and three touchdowns.
• Kraght has 52 career receptions for 745 yards and two touchdowns.
• He has 28 punt returns for 153 yards.
• In total, he has accounted for 1,822 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
THE GREAT GONZO: SR K Jonathan Gonzales made 7-10 field goals attempts in 2016. His three field goal game at UC Davis (11/5) was the fifth of his career. He made 37-50 kicks in his career and is second all-time at PSU in field goals made... Gonzales was 48-48 on extra points this season and 132-133 in his career, for a school record .992 mark... with 242 career points in three seasons, Gonzales ranks sixth all-time in scoring at PSU... Gonzales broke his own PSU record for consecutive PATs in a single season (48). He also holds the overall mark for consecutive PATs (77) set over 2014-15. Gonzales made 51 straight PATs dating to late in the 2015 season.
 
NO RETURN POLICY: Portland State SR P Marcus Kinsella averaged 38.9 yards per punt, down a little from 40.9 last season. But much of that was due to directional punting and keeping the football away from opposing return men. As a result, the Vikings allowed only 28 return yards and three touchbacks making for a solid net average of 37.0.
 
WE SAY, SEISAY: JR WR/CB Chris Seisay moved over to the defensive side of the ball, mainly due to injuries, but it looks like he will stay there as his play was excellent. In seven games on defense, Seisay had 28 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a team-high eight 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 stayed away from SR CB Xavier Coleman for the most part. And why not? In 2015, he had five interceptions and 13 pass breakups. In 2016 he was listed as a preseason All-American by four media services. Coleman had two interceptions, five pass breakups and 29 tackles this season... he totaled 32 PBUs in his career - second all-time at Portland State - and nine interceptions.
 
INJURY TOLL: Following a season in which PSU was not hurt too badly by injuries (2015), 2016 was filled with a rash of injuries, including three players that had to retire from football. In all, 29 players lost a total of 131 games to injury.
 
IRON MEN: The Vikings had three players on offense, four on defense and three on special teams who started every game in 2016: 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 played six true freshman on defense. 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 also played true freshmen TE Charlie Taumoepeau and LS Riley Shackelford (who 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 led the team with 14 touchdowns 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 rushed for 200+ yards in seven of 11 games (avg. 243.6). 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) became a key element of the Viking offense following his transfer from California. Espitia, a graduate transfer, made 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 had 33 receptions for a team-high 592 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 17.9 yards per catch. Espitia also had seven running plays for 37 yards and a TD.
• 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.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet had a career-high 12 tackles against Cal Poly (10/15) and led the team with 73 stops this season.
• 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 was fourth on the team with a career-high 53 tackles.
• JR FS Beau Duronslet is PSU's active career leader in tackles with 185. SR CB Xavier Coleman had 152 career tackles.
• SR DE Michael Doman led the Vikings with 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also forced two fumbles and had 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 had eight returns 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 was 7-10 on field goals and perfect on extra points (48-48).
 
MILESTONES
• SR RB Nate Tago passed 1,000 career rushing yards in the game with Central Washington (9/3). He had 1,765 career yards and 22 career touchdowns on 352 carries.
• SR QB Alex Kuresa went over 4,000 career passing yards in 23 games as a Viking (4,112). Kuresa completed 268-483 passes with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions... Kuresa finished his career with 305 carries for 1,613 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 finished his career with 1,245 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.
 
VETERANS: Portland State had a less experienced roster than last season. These are the guys who played and started the most games in their careers:
• Most games played: SR CB Xavier Coleman, 45; SR OL Cam Keizur, 44; SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 44; SR RB Nate Tago, 42; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 39
• Most career starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 41; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 35; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 35; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 35; JR S Beau Duronslet, 23; SR DE Michael Doman, 22
• Consecutive starts: SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 35; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 35; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 28; SR QB Alex Kuresa, 23
 
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.
• The trip to Sacramento State added 1,162 miles.
• 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.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
• With a win over Central Washington (43-26, Sept. 3), Portland State is now 15-0 against lower division schools since moving to Division I and the Big Sky Conference in 1996.
• Remarkably, Portland State played five Big Sky opponents who had bye weeks prior to their game with the Vikings.
• This was the seventh time that Portland State has played at least two FBS level programs in the same season (the Vikings played three in 2006).
• Despite this being PSU's 70th season of football, the Vikings faced San Jose State for just the first time in history.
• PSU faced only five teams in 2016 that were on the schedule in 2015. The Vikings went 4-1 against those teams.
• The University of Idaho will rejoin the Big Sky Conference as a football-playing member in 2018.
• Portland State will play Pac-12 teams in 2017 (Oregon State) and 2018 (Oregon), making it seven straights seasons with a Pac-12 team on the Viking schedule.
 
REMEMBERING AJ, KYLE AND CARDER: Portland State remembered AJ Schlatter and Kyle Smith, two fallen brothers in arms, during the 2016 season. Schlatter passed away tragically on Jan. 17 following complications from a tonsilectomy. The Viking linebacker had just completed his redshirt freshman season, starting 10 games. He had 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Schlatter was the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week following PSU's Nov. 21 win over Eastern Washington. Smith passed away on April 13. He was a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection at left tackle and about to begin his senior season. The Vikings also remembered Carder Doman, son of senior defensive end Michael Doman. Carder died in a tragic accident in June at the age of two. Viking players wore a number-31, number-67 and "C" decal on their helmets to remember AJ, Kyle and Carder.