Boxscore – HTM | PDF

Portland, OR – Early in the third quarter at Providence Park, Portland State appeared to be on the right path for its first win of 2017. But it quickly came undone as 24^th-ranked Northern Arizona took advantage of two Viking turnovers on their way to a 42-20 victory.
 
PSU led 14-13 midway through the third and had gotten a key defensive stop taking possession. But quarterback Josh Kraght was picked off on the next play by NAU cornerback Maurice Davison, who returned it for a touchdown. A few moments later another interception led to another score.
 
Soon the Lumberjacks had scored four touchdowns in a row and were on their way to a fourth victory in a row.
 
"Two turnovers swung it their way. We tried to get it back our way, but NAU is a good football team and we couldn't get it back," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "It was a good game until those two turnovers and you could see some air come out of us."
 
Portland State remains winless at 0-6 on the season, 0-3 in the Big Sky Conference. NAU is 4-2, 3-0.
 
The game couldn't have started much better for the Vikings. Defensively, PSU forced two incompletions by NAU quarterback Case Cookus and got a three-and-out. Then on the Vikings third play from scrimmage, Za'Quan Summers burst through the line on a 65-yard touchdown run.
 
Cookus came back to direct two scoring drives and give the Lumberjacks the lead before the end of the quarter. Cookus tossed short TD strikes to Justis Stokes and Jonathan Baldwin for a 14-7 Lumberjacks lead.
 
That was the only scoring for the half. Portland State rolled up 220 total yards but was unable to complete a drive, punting four times. NAU had 200 yards, but was stopped on three straight drives, resulting in punts.
 
Portland State added two early third-quarter field goals from Graycen Kennedy, from 29 and 28 yards. That made it 14-13 NAU with 7:34 left in the quarter.
 
Then disaster struck for the Vikings. NAU, which came into the contest with nine interceptions in five games, made interceptions on consecutive Portland State series. The first was returned 25 yards for a touchdown by Maurice Davison. The second, made at midfield by Cole Sterns, was soon a touchdown. The 'Jacks needed only three plays, the last one 10-yard scoring run by Cory Young. That had NAU up 28-13 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Cookus added another TD on the first play of the fourth quarter, hitting Marks on a 22-yard pass. Northern Arizona led 35-13 and it was too much for Portland State to overcome.
 
For the game Cookus completed 23-39 passes for 347 yards and four scores. Elijah Marks caught six passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. NAU had 484 yards of total offense.
 
The Vikings totaled an impressive 457 yards, including 305 yards rushing. Unfortunately, Summers went down with an injury on the first play of the third quarter and did not return. That slowed the offensive output.
 
"It affected our run game," said Barnum of Summers' injury. "We knew they were susceptible to some things we wanted to do, but when we lost him that changed."
 
Summers had 10 carries for 104 yards in little more than a half. Quarterback Josh Kraght rushed 15 times for 94 yards. He was 20-35 for 152 yards and two interceptions passing.
 
Tyler Foreman made seven tackles for the Viking defense. Kasun Jackett had six tackles, a sack and a pass breakup.
 
GAME NOTES: Northern Arizona was Portland State's first nationally-ranked opponent of the season… the 'Jacks have won seven of the last eight games in the series with PSU… Viking running back Chase Morrison scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard run… Trent Riley led the Vikings with seven receptions for 47 yards.