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Game 5
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-4, 0-1) vs. MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (1-3, 1-1)
Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT • Bobcat Stadium (17,777), Bozeman, MT
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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TV: Root Sports • Play-by-play: Tom Glasgow • Analyst: Jason Stiles • Sidelines: Jen Mueller
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 9 a.m. PT • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BOBCATS
All-Time Series:Montana State leads 19-10 • The series is tied 7-7 in Portland • MSU leads in Bozeman 12-2 • PSU leads in Billings 1-0
Big Sky Series: Montana State leads 12-7 • PSU leads in Portland 5-4 • MSU leads in Bozeman 8-2
 
Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 26, 1996: MSU 24-6 @ Bozeman
Oct. 25, 1997: PSU 44-0 @ Portland
Oct. 17, 1998: PSU 34-31 @ Bozeman
Oct. 16, 1999: PSU 49-28 @ Portland
Nov. 4, 2000: PSU 31-24 @ Bozeman
Nov. 3, 2001: PSU 33-21 @ Portland
Nov. 16, 2002: MSU 28-26 @ Bozeman
Nov. 15, 2003: MSU 25-14 @ Portland
Oct. 16, 2004: MSU 31-24 @ Bozeman (ot)
Oct. 15, 2005: PSU 44-41 @ Portland
Oct. 7, 2006: MSU 14-0 @ Bozeman
Nov. 10, 2007: MSU 50-36 @ Portland
Nov. 15, 2008: MSU 49-32 @ Bozeman
Nov. 7, 2009: MSU 28-10 @ Portland
Oct. 9, 2010: MSU 44-31 @ Bozeman
Oct. 8, 2011: MSU 38-36 @ Portland
Nov. 10, 2012: MSU 65-30 @ Bozeman
Nov. 8, 2014: MSU 29-22 @ Bozeman
Oct. 17, 2015: PSU 59-42 @ Portland
 
VIKINGS AND BOBCATS MEET WITH SAME THING IN MIND
A pair of teams eager to turn their seasons around will meet this Saturday in the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week. Portland State (0-4, 0-1) and Montana State (1-3, 1-1) will clash for the first time in two seasons when they battle it out at Bobcat Stadium in an 11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT game on Root Sports Northwest.
           
Both programs have shown glimmers of greatness despite their slow starts, but one will be feeling much better about itself by Saturday evening. Both have also lost a pair of home games and whether that lessens the advantage for Montana State as host remains to be seen. PSU won the last time these teams met, but the Bobcats have beaten the Vikings in their last seven meetings in Bozeman.
           
Portland State dropped last Saturday's contest, 45-33, to Montana despite its strongest offensive showing of the season. Senior Josh Kraght took over at quarterback and produced 381 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. But three interceptions and a slew of poorly times penalties by the Vikings proved to be their undoing.
           
Now 0-4, the Vikings have lost six in a row dating to last season. Their most recent win came on the road, last Nov. 5, at UC Davis. 
           
Montana State dropped a home game as well on Saturday, losing to Weber State, 25-17. The numbers against the Wildcats were fairly even across the board, but Weber State managed a 2-to-1 time of possession advantage and converted four field goals by Trey Tuttle.
           
At 1-3, Montana State has lost both of its home games, but can claim an impressive 49-21 road win at North Dakota, last year's Big Sky Conference co-champion. Also, the four Bobcat opponents were nationally-ranked at the time of the game (Washington State (FBS), South Dakota State, North Dakota, Weber State).
           
In 2015, PSU beat Montana State, 59-42 at Providence Park. The Vikings rolled up 682 yards of total offense, including a school-record 465 rushing yards (since broken).
           
Saturday's game is available on Root Sports at 10 a.m. in the Pacific Time Zone. The game airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com with a pre-game show starting at 9 a.m. PT. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• Montana State has won the last seven meetings with Portland State in Bozeman. PSU's last win at Bobcat Stadium came in 2000 (31-24). 
• The Vikings have given up 345 points (43.1) and 3,682 yards (460.2) in the last eight meetings with the Bobcats. 
• Due to the expanded Big Sky Conference, Portland State and Montana State did not play last season.
• Montana State leads the Big Sky series 12-7 and the all-time series 19-10.
• This will be the first time MSU Head Coach Jeff Choate has faced the Vikings.
• Montana State safety Bryson McCabe was an All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2016.
 
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Montana State is 1-3 on the season, but has had the misfortune of facing four powerhouse opponents to start the season - all nationally ranked. The Bobcats are 0-2 at home.
           
Head Coach Jeff Choate is in his second season and will face the Vikings and Bruce Barnum for the first time.
           
Montana State is averaging 378 yards and 23.2 points per game on offense. The bulk of the production comes on the ground at 212.3 yards per game. Sophomore quarterback Chris Murray has been a dynamic double threat for the Bobcats, averaging 104 yards rushing and 159 yards passing per game. He has thrown eight touchdowns on just 51 completions.
           
Senior receiver Mitch Herbert has a team-high 19 receptions for 202 yards and two scores. Jabarri Johnson has 12 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
           
On defense, Montana State has given up 390 yards and 27.0 points per game. Those numbers are very reasonable in the Big Sky Conference, ranking third in total defense and third in scoring defense. MSU's downfall has been allowing opponents a 53% conversion rate on third downs and 5-5 on fourth downs - both ranking last in the Big Sky.
           
All-Conference defensive back Bryson McCabe leads the Bobcats with 33 tackles this season.
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 17, 2015: #17 Portland State 59, #16 Montana State 42
Portland State put on an offensive showcase, scoring touchdowns on its first eight possessions and going on to total 682 yards of offense. 
           
The Vikings rushed for a then-school record 465 yards, including 285 yards and three touchdowns from David Jones. 
           
Patrick Onwuasor had seven tackles and an interception to lead PSU's defense.
           
Dakota Prukop had 313 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns for the Bobcats.
           
The win for the Vikings ended an eight-game losing streak to the Bobcats.
 
ON THIS DATE: Oct. 7, 2006
Portland State's last game on Oct. 7 came in 2006 and it was also at Bobcat Stadium against Montana State. MSU shut down the Vikings in a rainy, windy, muddy 14-0 win. PSU had only 132 yards on 51 plays from scrimmage. The Vikings are 4-4 on Oct. 7, dating back to 1957 (previous game dates not available).
 
THE VIKINGS ON TELEVISION
PSU is scheduled to have six games televised this season (ESPN, Pac-12 Network, Root (2), Eleven Sports (2)). That ranks as the second-most games available locally in school history (there were nine in 2012). PSU is 22-44 all-time on television since joining Division I (1996). The Vikings are 14-16 at home and 8-28 on the road.  
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 0-4 this season, 0-2 at home, 0-2 on the road.
• Portland State is playing its 25th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1978-80 (1-AA), 1996-2017). PSU is 126-146 in all games at the FCS/1-AA level. 
• Now in its 22nd season since moving back to FCS and the Big Sky Conference (1996-2017), PSU is 107-132, 69-46 in home games, 38-86 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2017) PSU is 70-94 all-time in league games, 42-41 at home, 28-53 on the road.
• The Vikings have nine winning records in 21 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Bruce Barnum (2015-16, 8-9 Big Sky, 12-15 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).
• The Vikings have never won a Big Sky title, but have tied for second five times (four times under Walsh and in 2015 under Barnum). PSU has made two NCAA FCS playoff appearances (2000, 2015).
• PSU's best record ever at the FCS level was 9-3 in 2015 (4-2 at home, 5-1 on the road). 
 
IT'S ABOUT THE WINS: Portland State went 9-2 in the regular season in 2015. Since that time it has been a rough road as the Vikings are 3-13. 
• Included in the last 16 games are an NCAA playoff loss, four losses to FBS opponents, an overtime loss, and four losses by a touchdown or less.
• The Vikings have lost six in a row dating to last season. They have lost five straight home games.
• PSU's last 0-4 start was in 1997.
 
LOOKING FOR BETTER STARTS: The Vikings have been outscored 34-13 in the first quarter and 72-26 in the first half of games so far this season. PSU has come back to win third quarters 34-27, and has lost fourth quarters 38-25.
 
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 25 underclassmen (true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, sophomores).
• Last season, Portland State played six true freshman on defense, in part due to numerous injuries. DE Kenton Bartlett, DT Anthony Del Toro, DT Sione Taumoe'anga, CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson and DE Mason Vega all played... the Vikings also played true freshmen TE Charlie Taumoepeau and LS Riley Shackelford (who handled every special teams snap).
 
KRAGHT STEPS TO THE FRONT: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght started at quarterback against Montana, his first start behind center since his freshman season (2014). The move was a success as Kraght accounted for 381 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. 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.
 
MORE ON KRAGHT: In his Portland State career, Josh Kraght has been the epitome of the do-it-all player for the Vikings. He began as a quarterback, earning three starts at the position as a freshman. The last two seasons he played slot receiver and punt returner while remaining a backup QB. Kraght has played slot receiver again this year as well as quarterback. On Sept. 2 against Oregon State Kraght nearly led the Vikings to a win in the fourth quarter, scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 2:43 remaining on a five-yard run. For the game, he had three receptions for 82 yards and touchdowns of 42 and 37 yards. He added eight carries for 50 yards and a TD. And, he completed 4-9 passes for 59 yards. That's a total of 191 yards and three TDs.
• His line for 2017 includes five receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns, 21 rushing plays for 195 yards and two touchdowns, and 23-55 passing for 324 yards and a touchdown. That is a total of 625 yards and five touchdowns.
• In 2016, Kraght led the team with 36 receptions for 518 yards and a touchdown. He had eight rushing plays for 47 yards and a touchdown, 11 punt returns for 64 yards, and completed 3-5 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
For his career, Kraght has been a quadruple threat:
• He has completed 76-159 passes for 970 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 74 times for 473 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 2,447 yards and 13 touchdowns.
 
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 1,453 kick return yards in his career, Dawson ranks fourth all-time at PSU. He has a 25.1 career average.
 
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 17 receptions, 214 yards and three touchdowns. 
• Adams is PSU's career leader in receiving with 72 catches for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns in 38 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 229.5 rushing yards per game which ranks second in the Big Sky.
• Four Vikings are averaging between 47 and 62 rushing yards per game: Summers, 62.5; FR QB Jalani Eason, 55.3; SR QB Josh Kraght, 48.8; FR RB Josh Talley, 47.2.
• The Vikings had a season-high 295 rushing yards against Montana.
 
JUST CALL HIM MR. FIRST DOWN: SO TE Charlie Taumoepeau is the Vikings' second-leading receiver this season with 15 catches for 181 yards. 
• Taumoepeau had career-highs of six receptions for 73 yards at BYU. 
• All 13 of his receptions in the first three games went for first downs. Four of those were third-down plays, and one was a fourth-down play.
 
DEFENSE IS MAKING STRIDES: Portland State's youthful defense is allowing 424.5 yards and 34.2 points per game through four 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 a team-high 32 tackles this season. Duronslet is the Vikings' active career leader in tackles with 217.  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 11 games he has played cornerback for the Vikings.
• JR S Artuz Manning has 31 tackles this season, two tackles for loss and four pass breakups this season. His 6.8 solo tackles per game ranks eighth in the nation. 
• 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 16 pass breakups, including five by SR CB Donovan Olumba.
 
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. He has started at kicker the last two games.
• Cowden has averaged 41.1 yards on 20 punts. He had a 70-yarder against BYU and was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
• 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.
 
VETERANS: Among Portland State's returning players, here are the most experienced:
• Most games played: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 39; SR FS Beau Duronslet, 39; SR WR Darnell Adams, 38; SR DE Davond Dade, 34, SR DT William Dawson, 32; SR WR Kahlil Dawson, 32.
• Most career starts: SR FS Beau Duronslet, 27; SR LT Randin Crecelius, 24; SR OL Chad Bach, 17; SR WR Darnell Adams, 17; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 16; SR WR Trent Riley, 16.
• Consecutive starts: SR LT Randin Crecelius, 19; SO DT Anthony Del Toro, 15; SO LS Riley Shackelford, 15; SR S Tyler Foreman, 14
 
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.