Boxscore - HTM | PDF
Davis, CA - Portland State had it all going its way on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium, with the offense gaining over 600 yards, the defense forcing turnovers, and the Vikings coming away 51-29 winners over UC Davis in a Big Sky Conference game.
PSU ended a three-game losing streak and improved to 3-6 overall, 2-4 in the Big Sky Conference. It also marked the fifth straight win over UC Davis since 2010.
Portland State scored on its first eight possessions of the game amassing a 44-16 lead midway through the third quarter and were able to cruise to an easy victory from there. PSU led 51-16 with 8:35 left before the Aggies tacked on two late touchdowns.
"We were due for one of those (wins). I am happy that all the hard work and the attitude in the locker room paid off," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "What I liked was they scored late in the first half, but we came right back and scored before half, and then out of the locker room to start the second half. I love how they played. I'm proud of my team right now."
Quarterback Alex Kuresa led a dynamic offensive attack that totaled 602 yards and a season-high 51 points. He completed 16-20 passes for 384 yards - a career high - and coupled with Josh Kraght the Vikings had 425 total yards through the air. The combination completed six passes of 34 yards or longer in the game.
"We were missing some big plays. We had kind of become a grind-it-out team and it didn't pay off a lot. I was glad to see the amount of big plays and some of the gadgetry work," said Barnum.
On defense, PSU got three-and-out stops against the Aggies on each of their starting series in the first and second halves, setting the tone for the offense. The Vikings also forced a fumble and an interception while playing error-free ball.
It started as well as it could for the Vikings. After a quick three-and-out by the defense, the offense wasted no time in scoring on its first series. A seven-play, 54-yard drive culminated in a 10-yard touchdown run by Josh Kraght. The Vikings had six different players with positive yards in the series.
Following a touchdown and missed extra point by the Aggies, Viking kicker Jonathan Gonzales added a 22-yard field goal. PSU led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Another three-and-and-out by the defense set up another Viking score. And again, Kraght played a primary role. On a second-and-22 play, Kraght took a lateral pass from Kuresa and threw a 41-yard completion to Stevie Coury down to the UC Davis 2. Paris Penn scored on a run up the middle the very next play.
Portland State extended the lead to 24-6 just a few moments later. Savali Talalemotu recovered an Aggie fumble at the UCD 33-yard line. The Vikings then went six plays before Penn pounded in his second TD of the day from the one-yard line.
Gonzales added field goals of 37 and 34 yards before halftime and the Vikings led 30-16 at the break. PSU scored on all six first-half possessions with three touchdowns and three field goals, totaling 359 yards.
The Vikings remained perfect early in the second half scoring touchdowns on drives of 72 and 73 yards. Penn and Nate Tago each scored on short TD runs. Those drives were sandwiched around another three-and-out by the defense.
Tago added another short TD run with 8:35 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Vikings had a 51-16 lead.
For the game, Kraght led Viking receivers with four catches for 104 yards. Maximo Espitia had four catches for 100 yards, and Austin Holman made three receptions for 108 yards. Tago, Penn and Za'Quan Summers all had 50+ rushing yards each.
GAME NOTES: Jonathan Gonzales has now kicked three field goals in a game five times in his career… Sam Bodine, Mosa Likio, Dallas House and Michael Doman all had five tackles to lead the Vikings… in addition to his fumble recovery, Talalemotu had a sack in the game. Tyler Foreman made an interception in the second half… UC Davis in now 2-7, 1-5 in the Big Sky Conference... Portland State returns to the Sacramento area next Saturday as the Vikings will take on Sacramento State. That game kicks off at 6 p.m. at Hornet Stadium.
