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Game 7
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-6, 0-3) vs. IDAHO STATE BENGALS (3-4, 1-3)
Saturday, October 21, 2:30 p.m. MT/1:30 PT • Holt Arena (12,000), Pocatello, ID
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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TV: None
RADIO: 103.7 FM The Legend, https://1037thelegend.iheart.com/ • Pregame Show: 12:30 p.m. PT • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: Pluto TV Channel 232 (www.pluto.tv) • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BENGALS
All-Time Series: Idaho State leads 24-17-1 • PSU leads 11-10 in Portland • ISU leads 14-6-1 in Pocatello
Big Sky Conference Series: PSU leads 12-9 • ISU leads 6-4 in Pocatello • PSU leads 8-3 in Portland
 
Big Sky Conference games
Nov. 16, 1996: ISU 31-12 @ Portland
Nov. 15, 1997: ISU 26-24 @ Pocatello
Sept. 26, 1998: ISU 43-41 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 1999: PSU 52-13 @ Pocatello
Oct. 14, 2000: PSU 59-21 @ Portland
Oct. 13, 2001: ISU 23-17 @ Pocatello
Nov. 2, 2002: PSU 27-24 @ Portland
Nov. 1, 2003: ISU 30-20 @ Pocatello
Nov. 6, 2004: PSU 42-21 @ Portland
Nov. 5, 2005: ISU 36-34 @ Pocatello
Oct. 14, 2006: PSU 34-13 @ Portland
Oct. 20, 2007: ISU 38-20 @ Pocatello
Oct. 25, 2008: PSU 36-13 @ Portland
Nov. 14, 2009: ISU 41-34 @ Pocatello
Oct. 2, 2010: PSU 38-3 @ Portland
Oct. 1, 2011: PSU 42-35 @ Pocatello
Oct. 6, 2012: PSU 77-10 @ Portland
Nov. 9, 2013: PSU 38-31 @ Pocatello
Nov. 1, 2014: ISU 31-13 @ Portland
Sept. 10, 2015: PSU 34-14 @ Pocatello
Oct. 1, 2016: PSU 45-20 @ Portland
 
Streak: PSU has won the last three games in Pocatello, and six of the last seven overall
Most Points, PSU: 77, 2012
Most Points, ISU: 59, 1980
 
Largest Margin of Victory
PSU: 67, 77-10 in 2012 • ISU: 45, 51-6 in 1972
 
PORTLAND STATE LOOKS TO THE ROAD FOR FIRST WIN
Can Idaho State be the one?
           
Based on recent history, the Vikings will go to Pocatello this Saturday with some optimism for their first win. Portland State (0-6, 0-3) meets the Bengals (3-4, 1-3) in a Big Sky Conference game in Holt Arena that kicks off at 2:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. PT.
           
PSU has won on its last three trips to Pocatello and beaten Idaho State in the six of the last seven meetings overall. But, the Vikings have yet to get in the win column this season. And ISU has racked up some impressive wins, scored a lot of points and been competitive week in and week out. Translation: this week's game will be as tough as any that have come before for the Vikings.
           
Portland State will attempt to end a losing streak that has extended to eight games dating to last season. The Vikings are 0-3 at home and 0-3 on the road this season. PSU has lost four straight on the road overall.
           
The Bengals, despite a 20-point loss to Sacramento State last Saturday, are looking much improved from last season. They have wins over FBS Nevada and Cal Poly, as well as close losses to Northern Colorado and Montana. Idaho State produces over 30 points per game.
           
Viking Coach Bruce Barnum has beaten Idaho State - a program he coached at as an assistant for nine seasons (1998-2006) - in both previous meetings. Barnum's team defeated the Bengals 34-14 on Sept. 10, 2015 in Pocatello, then 45-20 on Oct. 1, 2016 in Portland. 
           
Bengal Coach Rob Phenicie, a former Bengal assistant, is in his first season as head coach.
           
This week's game is not televised, but will air on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. The pre-game show begins at 12:30 p.m. PT. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• Portland State has won six of the last seven meetings with Idaho State. Included in that span are four of the top eight rushing games in school history. The Vikings went for a school-record 531 yards on the ground last season. They also have 437 (3rd, 2012), 436 (4th, 2011) and 395 (8th, 2013). 
• Rob Phenicie took over as the Bengals new Head Coach in March after Mike Kramer retired.
• The teams have met 42 times in the last 52 years.
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 1, 2016: Portland State 45, Idaho State 20 
Portland State rushed for a school-record 531 yards and came away with a commanding victory over Idaho State. In fact, the Vikings did not complete a pass in the game (0-5) and ran it 58 times. 
           
Nate Tago rushed for 199 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. Paris Penn carried 16 times for 184 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Alex Kuresa had 12 rushes for 92 yards and one TD.
           
Meanwhile the Viking defense was solid, holding the Bengals to 370 yards on 78 plays and forcing two turnovers. Sam Bodine made 11 tackles and Mosa Likio had 10.
 
SCOUTING THE BENGALS
Idaho State has had some entertaining and wild contests this season in compiling a 3-4 record. The Bengals have already improved on last year's 2-9 season. 
           
ISU averages 440.7 yards of total offense and 30.3 points per game. The Bengals give up 497.3 yards and 34.6 points per game. They rank second to last in total defense and last in pass defense efficiency.
           
Quarterback Tanner Gueller is having a big year with 1,948 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. But his offensive line has allowed 29 sacks, most in the Big Sky.
           
Running back James Madison is third in the Big Sky in rushing with 106 carries for 566 yards and three touchdowns. Nearly matching him in output is wide receiver Michael Dean with 35 catches for 564 yards and six scores. He ranks fourth in the Big Sky in yards.
           
Senior linebacker Mario Jenkins has 82 tackles, the most in the Big Sky.
 
ON THIS DATE: October 14
Despite meeting 42 times previously, Portland State has never faced Idaho State on Oct. 21. The Vikings are 4-4 all-time on the date including a pair of impressive shutouts (34-0 over Eastern Washington in 2006, and 61-0 over British Columbia in 1967).
 
GET ON THE BUS: THE AMERICANA TOUR CONTINUES
Portland State Football Coach Bruce Barnum is renowned for taking his team on the bus to as many road games as possible. He calls it "The Americana Tour." It has made for some long bus rides, but Barnum often lets his team out to see the sights. He also feels it promotes team unity (and saves a few dollars in the budget). In the past two years, PSU has logged 9,300 bus miles.
           
Alas, this season's bus trips will be limited to just three, with drives to Oregon State, Idaho State and Eastern Washington. There is also a bus portion from San Jose, CA to Cal Poly. Portland State's trip to Corvallis was a mere 168 miles round trip. 
           
The Americana Tour continues this week with a bus trip to Pocatello, ID. The Vikings will leave on Thursday, staying overnight in Boise, then arriving on Friday. In all it is 660 miles one way, 1,320 miles round trip. That increases the bus total to 1,488 miles this year.
 
• Coach Barnum led his first "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. 
• The 2016 Americana Tour included round trips to San Jose, Seattle and Sacramento (twice). There was also a return bus ride from Ogden, UT and a shorter trip from Las Vegas to Cedar City... the trip to San Jose was a total of 1,340 miles. It included a stop off at Oregon Wildlife Safari and the obligatory In-and-Out Burger visitation in Medford... on the trip to Southern Utah, PSU flew into Las Vegas, took in the Criss Angel Show at the Luxor Hotel and made another midnight In-and-Out run... while traveling to Weber State, PSU visited Temple Square and the Hogle Zoo... after a pair round trips to Sacramento (UC Davis and Sacramento State), PSU had accumulated 4,906 bus miles for the season.
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
SOME NUMBERS THAT NEED ERASING: Portland State went 9-2 in the regular season in 2015. Since that time it has been a rough road as the Vikings are 3-15. 
• Included in the last 18 games are an NCAA playoff loss, four losses to FBS opponents, an overtime loss, and five losses by a touchdown or less.
• The Vikings have lost eight in a row dating to last season, the most since 2010. They have lost six straight home games and four straight road games.
• PSU's last 0-6 start was in 1982.
 
LOOKING FOR BETTER STARTS: The Vikings have been outscored 55-20 in the first quarter and 96-40 in the first half of games so far this season. PSU has played third quarters close (47-54), and trailed in fourth quarters (40-59).
 
OUTGAINING OPPONENTS, BUT GETTING OUTSCORED: Portland State has out-gained three of its six opponents offensively. However, the Vikings have been outscored in all six. Part of the Vikings problem has been giving up five touchdowns not allowed by the defense (three interception returns, one punt block and one fumble recovery). The Vikings have allowed 54 points off turnovers (11) while getting only 21 points (5).
 
KRAGHT STEPS TO THE FRONT: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght has started at quarterback the past three games, his first start behind center since his freshman season (2014). 
• Kraght accounted for 381 yards of total offense and two touchdowns against Montana. He rushed 12 times for a career-high 132 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown. Kraght completed 18-42 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown. He had three balls intercepted, two coming on tipped passes at the line. The Viking offense totaled season-highs of 544 yards and 33 points.
• Against Montana State Kraght had a career-high 317 passing yards and two touchdowns. He had 335 yards of total offense.
• Kraght rushed 15 times for 94 yards and completed 20-36 passes for 152 yards against Northern Arizona.
• In three starts he has 962 yards of total offense, 718 passing yards, career-highs in rushing and passing, and accounted for four TDs.
For his career, Kraght has been a quadruple threat:
• He has completed 124-247 passes for 1,439 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 100 times for 585 yards and five touchdowns. 
• Kraght has 57 career receptions for 851 yards and four touchdowns.
• He has 28 punt returns for 153 yards.
• In total, he has accounted for 3,028 yards and 15 touchdowns.
 
OLD MAN RIVER KEEPS ON FLOWING: Head Coach Bruce Barnum likes to call SR WR Darnell Adams "Old Man River." Why? Well, Adams is in his sixth season at Portland State, and will turn 24 years old on Nov. 15. In the off-season Adams was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA due to losing two seasons to injury (2013 - knee; 2016 - foot). Healthy this season, Adams has produced:
• Adams has teams highs of 27 receptions, 337 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks eighth in the Big Sky in receptions.
• In consecutive weeks against Montana and Montana State he tied his career high for receptions (9) twice, and set new career highs for yards - 115, then 118. 
• Among current players, Adams is PSU's career leader in receiving with 82 catches for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in 40 career games played.
 
THE COMMITTEE: Portland State's running game under Bruce Barnum has eclipsed 2,000 yards in all eight seasons and averaged over 200 yards per game in all eight seasons. It has usually been done without a "big" back, but rather "by committee." This year, the committee is in session again.
• Portland State is averaging 220.8 rushing yards per game, ranking third in the Big Sky.
• Four Vikings are averaging between 46 and 64 rushing yards per game: SR RB Za'Quan Summers, 64.3; FR QB Jalani Eason, 55.3; SR QB Josh Kraght, 51.2; FR RB Josh Talley, 46.7.
• The Vikings had a season-high 305 rushing yards against Northern Arizona.
 
AWESOME DAWSON: SR WR/KR Kahlil Dawson had a big day against Montana, returning a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. He had 162 yards on kick returns and also caught two passes for 33 yards. 
• Dawson has three kick returns for touchdown in his career - one in each of the last three seasons. 
• With 1,550 kick return yards in his career, Dawson ranks fourth all-time at PSU. He has a career average of 23.8 yards.
• Dawson ranks 8th in the Big Sky in all-purpose yards (105.3) with positive yards in rushing, receiving, punt returns and kick returns.
 
JUST CALL HIM MR. FIRST DOWN: SO TE Charlie Taumoepeau is the Vikings' second-leading receiver this season with 24 catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Taumoepeau had career-highs of six receptions for 73 yards at BYU. He then went for a career-high 92 yards and two touchdowns at Montana State.
• All 13 of his receptions in the first three games went for first downs. In all, 21 of his 24 catches are first downs.
 
DEFENSE IS MAKING STRIDES: Portland State's youthful defense is allowing 432.3 yards and 34.8 points per game through six contests. That is an improvement over last year when PSU gave up 39.5 points and 478 yards per game.
• SR LB Beau Duronslet has 42 tackles this season. Duronslet is the Vikings' active career leader in tackles with 227 With an interception and a fumble recovery (both leading to Viking scores) against OSU, Duronslet now has five takeaways in his career. He was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 2.
• SR CB Chris Seisay intercepted two passes against Montana. He had a third pick taken away after the Vikings were flagged for a penalty. He now has four interceptions in the 13 games he has played cornerback for the Vikings.
• JR S Artuz Manning has a team-high 45 tackles this season, an interception, four tackles for loss and five pass breakups. His 6.3 solo tackles per game ranks 10th in the nation... Manning has 104 career tackles in 27 games.
• SR DE Davond Dade made four tackles, with two for losses, including a sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry against BYU, earning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• The Vikings have 21 pass breakups, including five by SR CB Donovan Olumba, SR CB Chris Seisay and JR S Artuz Manning.
• FR LB Nicolas Ah Sam became the second true freshman (QB Jalani Eason) to earn a start, when he lined up against Northern Arizona. Ah Sam made four tackles, two for losses and a sack.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES: 
• Portland State started three freshmen on special teams with P Hayden Cowden, PK Noah Brosio and KO Thomas Ciobanasiu in the first game. FR K Graycen Kennedy played at Oregon State, attempting a 46-yard game-tying field goal with three seconds left. It was wide right by only a few feet. 
• Kennedy has become the starting kicker since game three. He converted his first two field goals - 28 and 29 yards - against Northern Arizona. 
• Cowden has averaged 38.8 yards on punts. He had a 70-yarder against BYU and was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Cowden boomed a 76-yarder at Montana State.
• SR RB Mitch Thompson was a second team All-Big Sky Conference selection on special teams last season making 12 tackles. He has three special teams tackles this year and 24 over the past three years. Thompson missed last week's game due to injury.
 
VETERANS: Among Portland State's returning players, here are the most experienced:
• Most games played: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 41; SR FS Beau Duronslet, 41; SR WR Darnell Adams, 40; SR DE Davond Dade, 36, SR DT William Dawson, 34; SR WR Kahlil Dawson, 34.
• Most career starts: SR FS Beau Duronslet, 29; SR LT Randin Crecelius, 26; SR OL Chad Bach, 19; SR WR Darnell Adams, 19; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 18; SR WR Trent Riley, 18.
• Consecutive starts: SR LT Randin Crecelius, 21; SO LS Riley Shackelford, 17; Artuz Manning, 13
 
TRUE FRESHMEN FEATURED ON 2017 VIKINGS: A total of 11 true freshmen have been a part of the active roster so far this season. Included are QB Jalani Eason, RB Antwone Williams, LB Dylan Hanley, S Anthony Adams, S Ryan Swanson, TE AJ Ruffin, RB Jason Talley, K Noah Brosio, P Hayden Cowden, DT Semise Kofe and LB Nicolas Ah Sam... Eason, Williams, Ruffin, Talley, Brosio, Hanley, Cowden, Kofe and Ah Sam have all played.
• In all, PSU has played 29 underclassmen (true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, sophomores).
• Last season, Portland State played six true freshman on defense, in part due to numerous injuries, and a total of eight overall.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: On Portland State's current 94-player roster, there are 23 seniors, 15 juniors, 13 sophomores and 43 freshmen (30 true, 13 redshirt)... Portland State has 41 players on the roster from the state of Oregon.