complete notes and stats in pdf
Game 3
#19 (FCS) PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-1) vs. #8 (FBS) WASHINGTON HUSKIES (2-0)
Saturday, September 17, 2016, 5 p.m • Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA
TV: Pac-12 Network • Play-by-play: Jim Watson • Analyst: Yogi Roth • Sidelines: Cindy Brunson
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 4 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None • Live stats: www.uw.statbroadcast.com
Portland State's three-week road jaunt reaches its mid-point this Saturday in Seattle, and it has already been a rough ride. The Vikings come off a 66-35 loss at San Jose State last week, but now look at a more formidable opponent in eighth-ranked University of Washington.
PSU and the Huskies will play in a 5 p.m. game at Husky Stadium that is televised on the Pac-12 Network. The game can also be heard in Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com.
The Vikings are now 1-1 following the loss to San Jose State and ranked 19th in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll. Washington comes into the game at 2-0, having beaten Rutgers (48-13) and Idaho (59-14).
The Huskies are PSU's second straight FBS-level opponent. Week three of the the Vikings' rugged September road will include a trip to defending Big Sky Conference Champion Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds, 1-1, have a week off to prepare for the Vikings.
PSU finally returns home for a Big Sky Conference game with Idaho State on Oct. 1. That begins a month in which the Vikings will play three of four games at home.
STORYLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Huskies Head Coach Chris Petersen was a one-time quarterbacks coach for Portland State under Tim Walsh (1993-94).
• Portland State is 4-33 all-time against teams at the FBS level, but won both of its games against FBS opponents last year (24-17 over Washington State, 66-7 over North Texas). The win over Washington State was the first over a Pac-12 opponent (1-14).
• Washington is the second of two FBS level opponents for the Vikings in 2016 (lost to San Jose State, 66-35). PSU has played two or more FBS teams in a season six times, including five of the last 10. This will be the third straight year PSU has played two FBS opponents.
• Washington closed out the 2015 season with a win at the Heart of Dallas Bowl over Southern Miss (44-31).
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
The Washington Huskies have become the feature team in the Pac-12 Conference in 2016 under the direction of Head Coach Chris Peterson. Washington is 2-0 and ranked eighth in the nation.
Peterson, a Portland State assistant coach early in his coaching career, has one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Jake Browning. The sophomore signal-caller has thrown for 581 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 74% of his passes in the first two games. John Ross has been the top target, catching 12 passes for 157 yards and four scores.
Washington averages 322.5 yards in the passing game, 108.5 in the run. The Huskies have outscored opponents 107-27 in two opening wins.
Victor Azeem leads the defense with 17 tackles. The Huskies are giving up 313.0 yards per game. They have forced six turnovers while giving up only two.
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS VS. HUSKIES
All-Time Series: Washington leads 1-0
Sept. 15, 2012: UW 52-13 @ Seattle (CenturyLink Field)
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. The Viking Pre-Game Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.
VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at a link on www.GoViks.com/Live... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.ViksLive.com.
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 and is open to the public and costs $12.
BRUCE BARNUM ON THE RADIO: Viking football Coach Bruce Barnum can be heard every Wednesday afternoon on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Barnum joins Travis Demers as he reviews and previews Viking football games.
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.
VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS
Portland State plays its first ranked opponent of the season in the University of Washington.
• PSU has played six nationally-ranked FBS opponents in its history and is 0-6 all-time against those teams. The Vikings' highest-ranked FBS opponent was Oregon in 2010 (#5).
• Portland State is 19-39 all-time (13-16 home, 6-23 road) against nationally-ranked FCS programs since moving to Division I in 1996.
• The Vikings are 11-8 all-time (7-6 home, 4-2 road) as a nationally-ranked program playing against other nationally-ranked programs.
• PSU was 5-1 against nationally-ranked teams last year (all FCS level).
QUICK SNAPS: SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State 1-1 on the season, 1-0 at home, 0-1 on the road.
• 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 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 124-135 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 105-121, 68-41 in home games, 37-80 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2016) 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 its previous 20 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Bruce Barnum (2015-16, 6-2 Big Sky, 10-4 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).
• It's early in his head coaching career, but Bruce Barnum has the best winning percentage of any coach in Portland State history (.714). Pokey Allen is second at .708.
• 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).
SPARTANS DYNAMIC OFFENSE + TOO MANY TURNOVERS = VIKING LOSS: San Jose State used a dynamic offense and took advantage of six Viking turnovers to come away with a resounding 66-35 win last Saturday in San Jose. It was the most points Portland State has allowed in six seasons, and the most turnovers since six in a loss to Idaho State on Nov. 1, 2014... the Spartans totaled 642 yards of offense, including 409 on the ground. A pair of long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter totaling 161 yards boosted that number late... despite the six turnovers, the Vikings were still able to produce a decent offensive output with 458 yards and 35 points. In fact, PSU turned it over twice in goal-to-go situations or it might have approached 50 points on the afternoon... a two-minute stretch at the end of the first half turned a 14-14 game into a 28-14 halftime lead for the Spartans. The Spartans extended that lead to 42-14 with two quick touchdowns in the third quarter. At that point, the Vikings faced their largest deficit in two seasons and were unable to come back... in all, the Spartans scored 17 points off the Vikings six turnovers.
STRENGTHS OF 2015, WEAKNESSES SO FAR IN 2016: Three areas that Portland State was strong in during 2015 have not proven to be strengths so far in 2016. PSU ranked second in the Big Sky Conference in fewest points (22.3) and fewest yards allowed per game (384.0) in 2015. After two games this season, PSU averages 46.0 points and 543.5 yards allowed per game... last year, PSU ranked fifth in the nation in turnover margin, forcing 28 turnovers while committing just 15 (+1.08). So far this season, PSU has not forced a turnover while committing seven... in 2015, PSU cut its penalties way down, averaging only 5.5-49.0 yards per game. Through two games, PSU has averaged 8.5-83.0 yards.
TRICKY: Portland State ran two trick plays very successfully against San Jose State. One was a pass back to SR QB Alex Kuresa from JR WR Josh Kraght. Kraght had initially taken a lateral pass from Kuresa on the play. After the catch, Kuresa scrambled 78 yards for the first receiving TD of his career... the second trick play was a fake punt in which SR RB Nate Tago completed a 43-yard pass to SR TE Maximo Espitia for a first down... one other trick play, a flea flicker, fell incomplete.
AMONG THE MISSING: Portland State was not helped at San Jose State by the loss of two key players early. SR S Walter Santiago went down on the defense's first play (knee). SR WR Darnell Adams was injured on the offense's first play (foot). Both are doubtful for this week.
TRIPLE-THREAT TAGO: SR RB Nate Tago managed only 23 rushing yards on 11 carries at San Jose State. However, he did complete a 43-yard pass on a fake punt play, made three receptions for 52, and had 31 kick return yards. That gave him 149 yards overall.
WE SAY SEISAY: JR WR Chris Seisay, a transfer from Oregon, saw his first game action at San Jose State. Seisay caught two passes for 56 yards, returned one kickoff 34 yards and ran the ball once for one yard. That gave him 91 all-purpose yards on four touches.
OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• SR RB Paris Penn rushed for a career-high 137 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries at San Jose State. He also caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. Penn's previous career-high was 112 yards (2 TDs) at Oregon State in 2014.
• SR RB Nate Tago rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries against Central Washington (9/3). All were career highs.
• SR QB Alex Kuresa rushed for 123 yards and had 345 yards of total offense against Central Washington (9/3). Both of those were career highs.
• PSU has rushed for 200+ yards in each of the first two games. 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.
• Despite the turnovers, the Vikings are averaging 483.0 yards and 39.0 points per game. The 35 points against San Jose State were the third-most ever against an FBS team (North Texas, 2015, 66; Hawai'i, 2000, 45 - both wins).
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• SR LB Anthony McNichols had a career-high 10 tackles and a sack against Central Washington. He followed that with a team-high eight tackles and a sack at San Jose State. He has a team-best 18 tackles this season.
• SR LB Austin Wolff had a career-high eight tackles and a sack in his first career start against Central Washington.
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.
MILESTONES
• SR RB Nate Tago passed 1,000 career rushing yards in the game with Central Washington. He now has 1,150 career yards and 15 career touchdowns on 250 carries. Tago has played in 34 games with six starts.
• SR QB Alex Kuresa passed 2,000 career passing yards in the game with Central Washington. He has 2,332 passing yards in 14 games as a Viking. Kuresa has completed 149-274 passes with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
• SR RB Nate Tago has passed 1,000 career kickoff return yards (1,028) and ranks eighth all-time at PSU.
AREAS TO IMPROVE
• Portland State has not forced a turnover in two games. Last season the Vikings were one of the best teams in the nation in forcing mistakes (28) and had a +13 turnover margin.
• PSU had 96 penalty yards against Central Washington, more than in any game last season, and now has 166 in two games.
• The defense has allowed 543.5 yards per game.
• Portland State's 66 points allowed were the most since giving up 69 to Oregon in 2010.
GET ON THE BUS: AMERICANA TOUR, PART TWO: This season PSU anticipates bus trips to San Jose, CA, Seattle, Davis, CA and Sacramento. There will also be a bus ride home from Ogden, UT. Last week's round trip to San Jose was a total of 1,340 miles. The ride including a stop off at Oregon Wildlife Safari and the obligatory In-and-Out Burger stop in Medford... this week's bus ride will be the shortest in two seasons for the Vikings, a 358-mile round trip to Husky Stadium. That will make 1,698 bus miles so far for the Vikings... 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.
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 OL Cam Keizur, 36; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 36; SR DT Savali Talalemotu, 35; SR RB Nate Tago, 34; SR WR Darnell Adams, 34; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 30
• Most career starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 33; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 26; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 26; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 26; JR NICK Beau Duronslet, 16; SR TE Cam Sommer, 15; SR DE Michael Doman, 15
• Consecutive starts: SR OL Cam Keizur, 26; SR K Jonathan Gonzales, 26; SR P Marcus Kinsella, 26; SR CB Xavier Coleman, 19; SR QB Alex Kuresa, 14; SR S Walter Santiago, 13
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.
• At this point in the schedule, Portland State figures to play three nationally-ranked teams in 2016 (Washington, Southern Utah, Eastern Washington). The Vikings were 5-1 against ranked teams in 2015.
• 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).
• Despite this being PSU's 70th season of football, the Vikings faced San Jose State for just the first time in history.
• 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.
• 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.
