complete notes and stats in pdf
Game 1
CENTRAL WASHINGTON WILDCATS (5-5) vs. #17/#12 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (9-3)
Saturday, September 3, 2016, 2:30 p.m • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR
TV: None
RADIO: 1190 AM (KEX), www.1190kex.iheart.com • Pregame Show: 1:30 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst:
Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: www.GoViks.com/Live, www.eversport.tv/big-sky • Live stats:
www.ViksLive.com
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKING FOOTBALL LUNCHEONS: Every Friday of a home football week (Sept. 2, Sept. 30, Oct. 14, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 17), Portland State Athletics will host a football luncheon at the Old Spaghetti Factory, located at 0715 SW Bancroft. Coach Barnum and Viking players will speak and be available for questions. The luncheon starts at noon, is open to the public and costs $12.
RSVP here.
VIKING PLAYER DIARY: Look for SR CB
Xavier Coleman's player diary each week on OregonLive.com and in the Oregonian. For the second year in a row, Coleman will give weekly updates on the Viking team's progress throughout the 2016 season. His diary should appear each Monday at OregonLive.com.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets range from $20 to $30. Student tickets are $10 each. Kids 14 and under are $5. Portland State Students tickets are FREE with valid ID. Visit www.GoViks.com of call 1-888-VIK-TIKS for all details and pricing.
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS VS. WILDCATS
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 8-3 • PSU leads 4-2 in Portland • PSU leads 4-1 in Ellensburg
1956: CWU 23-6 at Portland
Oct. 29, 1966: PSU 36-27 at Ellensburg
Oct. 28, 1967: PSU 13-6 at Portland
Oct. 18, 1969: PSU 28-16 at Ellensburg
Oct. 17, 1970: PSU 38-31 at Portland
Sept. 25, 1971: PSU 24-17 at Ellensburg
Nov. 23, 1972: CWU 32-17 at Portland
Oct. 13, 1973: CWU 30-12 at Ellensburg
Nov. 16, 1974: PSU 49-0 at Portland
Sept. 20, 1975: PSU 37-3 at Ellensburg
Oct. 8, 1977: PSU 53-6 at Portland
VIKINGS OPEN SEASON HOSTING CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Portland State football opens its most-anticipated season in many years this Saturday when it hosts Central Washington in a non-conference game. The 2016 lid-lifter for the Vikings and Wildcats kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Providence Park.
PSU comes off a 9-3 season that included landmark wins over Washington State, North Texas, Montana, Montana State and others. The Vikings reached the NCAA FCS I playoffs for just the second time in history and registered the most successful season in their Division I history.
Now comes the task of backing up all that success.
Portland State enters the 2016 campaign ranked 12th in the FCS Coaches Poll and 17th in the STATS FCS Poll. The Vikings were tabbed to place second in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches poll and see one of their main goals as winning a first-ever Big Sky title in their 21st season as a member (PSU has placed second five times, including 2015).
2015 FCS National Coach of the Year
Bruce Barnum leads the Vikings for his second season (after five years as offensive coordinator). He has 45 returning letterwinners and 14 returning starters.
On the other side of the field this Saturday is Central Washington, an NCAA II member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wildcats were 5-5 in 2015, 3-3 in GNAC play. They return 46 letterwinners and 18 starters.
On paper, Portland State would be the prohibitive favorite in Saturday's matchup. However, the Vikings need look no further than last year's season opener for motivation to bring their best performance to Providence Park. PSU knocked off massively favored Washington State of the Pac-12, 24-17, at Martin Stadium. In this year's scenario, Portland State would be "Washington State" to the underdog Central Washington Wildcats. The Vikings will do their best to not allow that type of upset to occur.
This Saturday's game is not televised, however there will be a live stream available at www.GoViks.com/Live. The game airs on 1190 AM KEX in the Portland area and www.1190kex.com. This is a change from Portland State's normal radio signal at Rip City Radio 620 AM, due to a conflict with Hillsboro Hops baseball. Live stats will be available at www.ViksLive.com.
Following Saturday's game, the Vikings hit a very challenging stretch of three straight road games at San Jose State (Sept. 10), Washington (Sept. 17) and defending Big Sky Champion Southern Utah (Sept. 24).
PSU hosts Big Sky Conference home games against Idaho State (Oct. 1), Cal Poly (Oct. 15), Northern Colorado (Oct. 29) and Eastern Washington (Nov. 18).
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Portland State begins its 70th season of football in 2016. The first year was 1947, when Vanport Extension Center played such programs as Pacific, the University of Portland junior varsity, Lower Columbia JC, OCE (now Western Oregon), Northern Idaho, Oregon State freshmen, Everett JC, St. Martin's and Sand Point Naval Air Station (the Vikings only win in a 1-8 season).
• PSU is 35-21-1 in home openers dating to 1958 (complete home/away schedules not available prior to '58). The Vikings are 16-4 in home openers in the Big Sky era.
• Portland State is a perfect 14-0 against lower division schools since moving to the NCAA I FCS level in 1996.
• PSU has won three in a row in the series with Central Washington, but the teams have not met in 39 years.
• Former Viking Head Coach Mouse Davis was involved in the last three meetings between PSU and CWU in 1974 (offensive coordinator), 1975 and 1977 (head coach). The Vikings won all three games, outscoring the Wildcats 139-9.
• Portland State defensive coordinator
Malik Roberson was the defensive coordinator at Central Washington in 2012-13. PSU special teams coordinator and running backs coach
Nick Whitworth held the same roles at CWU from 2011-14. Cornerbacks coach
Vernon Smith Jr. was a graduate assistant at Central Washington from 2008-10.
• Portland State is 11-9 in Big Sky Conference home opening games.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Central Washington Wildcats are members of the NCAA II Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wildcats come off a 5-5 season in 2015, 3-3 in GNAC play. Head Coach Ian Shoemaker begins his third season and has a 12-9 record overall. The team has 46 returning letterwinners and 18 returning starters.
Last season, the Wildcats averaged 391 yards and 28.8 points per game while giving up 376 yards and 31.1 points per game.
Central Washington averaged 251 yards per game passing and starting quarterback Justin Lane returns. Lane passed for 2,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. The top of his receiving corps remains intact from last season. Jesse Zalk, Christian Gasca, Kyle Self and Justin Peterson all return after combining for 127 receptions, 1,840 yards and 13 TDs last season.
Linebacker Kevin Haynes returns to the lead defense. Haynes led the team with 73 tackles and three sacks last season. Defensive end Winslow Kouassi had 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, while defensive back Myles Carelock made five interceptions.
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• 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.
• PSU is going after back-to-back winning seasons in 2016 for the first time since 2005 and 2006 (6-5, 7-4).
• Portland State has played 23 seasons at the NCAA I FCS level (1978-80 (1-AA), 1996-2015). PSU is 123-134 in all games at the FCS level.
• In 20 seasons since moving back to FCS and the Big Sky Conference (1996-2015), PSU is 104-120, 67-41 in home games, 37-79 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2015) PSU is 68-87 all-time in league games, 41-37 at home, 27-50 on the road.
• The Vikings have nine winning records in 20 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
•
Bruce Barnum 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).
PRESEASON POLLS
Portland State was picked second in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vikings were picked fifth in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Media Poll.
Portland State Preseason Top 25 Polls
FCS Coaches: 12th
STATS: 17th
Sporting News: 17th
Athlon: 21st
College Sports Madness: 24th
Lindy's: NR
PRESEASON PLAYER KUDOS
Preseason All-Big Sky Conference
SR CB
Xavier Coleman
SR K
Jonathan Gonzales
JR DE
Davond Dade
Preseason All-American
SR CB
Xavier Coleman
1st team, College Sports Madness
2nd team, FootballGameplan.com
3rd team, STATS
1st team, HERO Sports
College Sports Madness Preseason All-Big Sky
SR CB
Xavier Coleman, 1st team, Defensive Player of the Year
SR OL
Cam Keizur, 1st team
SR K
Jonathan Gonzales, 1st team
SR DE
Davond Dade, 1st team
SR WR
Darnell Adams, 2nd team
JR OL
Randin Crecelius, 2nd team
SR S
Walter Santiago, 2nd team
SR QB
Alex Kuresa, 3rd team
JR OL
Desmoun Thompson, 3rd team
College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Performer of the Year Watch List
SR QB
Alex Kuresa (among 40 players, four from the Big Sky Conference)
VIKING TOP STATISTICAL RETURNERS
Rushing Yards:
Alex Kuresa 755,
Nate Tago 421
Rushing Touchdowns:
Alex Kuresa 7,
Nate Tago 6
Passing:
Alex Kuresa 126-226-7, 1,975 yards, 17 touchdowns
Receptions:
Darnell Adams 22,
Josh Kraght 16
Receiving Yards:
Darnell Adams 478,
Josh Kraght 227,
Trent Riley 223
Receiving Touchdowns:
Darnell Adams 6,
Trent Riley 2
Scoring:
Jonathan Gonzales, 13 FG, 50 PAT, 89 pts
Field Goals:
Jonathan Gonzales 13-16
Total Offense:
Alex Kuresa, 2,730 yards
All-Purpose Yards:
Alex Kuresa 780;
Kahlil Dawson 777,
Nate Tago 529
Punting:
Marcus Kinsella, 64-40.9
Punt Returns:
Josh Kraght, 17-89
Kick Returns:
Kahlil Dawson 31-777
Tackles:
Beau Duronslet 64,
Xavier Coleman 52
Tackles For Loss:
Michael Doman 9.0,
Davond Dade 6.5
Sacks:
Davond Dade 6,
Michael Doman 4.5
Interceptions:
Xavier Coleman 5
Pass Breakups:
Xavier Coleman 13,
Walter Santiago 8
2nd team All-Big Sky Conference:
Davond Dade, DE;
Xavier Coleman, CB
3rd team All-Big Sky Conference:
Cam Keizur, OG;
Jonathan Gonzales, K
Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Conference:
Darnell Adams, WR;
Randin Crecelius, OG;
Alex Kuresa, QB;
Kahlil Dawson, RS;
Michael Doman, DE;
Walter Santiago, S
SCHEDULE NOTES
• PSU faces only five teams in 2016 that were on the schedule in 2015. The Vikings went 4-1 against those teams.
• Due to the 13-team Big Sky Conference, Portland State plays three league teams it did not see in 2015: Weber State, UC Davis and Sacramento State. The Vikings see three other opponents cycle off its schedule in 2016: Montana, Montana State and North Dakota. The Vikings do not play Northern Arizona for the second year in a row.
• Remarkably, Portland State plays five Big Sky opponents who have bye weeks prior to their game with the Vikings.
• This is the seventh time that Portland State has played at least two FBS level programs in the same season (the Vikings played three in 2006).
• The 2016 NCAA I FCS playoffs, which includes 24 teams, begin on Nov. 26.
• 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 will remember
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 will also remember Carder Doman, son of senior defensive end
Michael Doman. Carder died in a tragic accident in June at the age of two. Viking players will wear a number-31, number-67 and "C"decal on their helmets to remember AJ, Kyle and Carder.
