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Game 8
NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS (2-6, 1-4) vs.
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-7, 0-4)
Saturday, October 28, 4 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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TV: Eleven Sports (DirecTV channel 623) • Play-by-play: Bill Doleman • Analyst: Darius Walker 
RADIO: 103.7 FM The Legend, www.1037thelegend.com • Pregame Show: 3 p.m. • 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. FIGHTING HAWKS
All-Time Series: North Dakota leads the series, 4-2 • PSU leads 2-1 in Portland • UND leads 3-0 in Grand Forks
Big Sky Series: North Dakota leads the series 2-1• The series is tied 1-1 in Portland • UND leads 1-0 in Grand Forks
 
Sept. 6, 1980: PSU 28-14 @ Portland
Sept. 5, 1981: UND 17-10 @ Grand Forks
Sept. 8, 2012: UND 45-37 @ Grand Forks (NC)
 
Big Sky Conference games
Oct. 26, 2013: PSU 14-10 @ Portland
Oct. 11, 2014: UND 24-16 @ Grand Forks
Oct. 3, 2015: UND 19-17 @ Portland (HS)
 
PORTLAND STATE, NORTH DAKOTA SEEK WINNING FEELING
A pair of teams that have been reeling will meet this Saturday in a Big Sky Conference game as they seek a return to that winning feeling. Portland State goes into the contest still looking for its first win of 2017, while North Dakota goes after its first road win of the year in five attempts.
           
The Vikings are 0-7 on the season, 0-4 in the Big Sky. The Fighting Hawks are 2-6, 1-4, and have lost their last two games. That doesn't sound too bad until you consider UND was a perfect 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference last season.
           
The game will kick off at 4 p.m. and be televised on the Eleven Sports Network. Eleven Sports Network is available on DirecTV channel 623. It is also available on AT&T Uverse (Channel 1665), Verizon FiOS (Channel 597) and Google Fiber (Channel 251). The game will air on 103.7 FM The Legend in Portland, a move from its usual Rip City Radio due to a conflict with Portland Trail Blazers basketball. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
           
The last time the Vikings and Fighting Hawks met it was a defensive struggle ending in a 19-17 win for UND. That doesn't figure to be the case this time. Portland State is allowing 469.3 yards and 38.3 points per game (13th in the Big Sky). North Dakota is giving up 478.0 yards and 36.5 points per game (t10th in the Big Sky). Whatever the case, one team will get well and is likely to do so by scoring a lot of points.
           
In addition to wanting its first win, the Vikings went to end a pair of ugly streaks. They have lost nine straight dating to last season and lost six straight at home going back to 2016.
 
STORYLINES
• Five of the six games in the all-time series have been decided by one score.
• North Dakota has been a member of the NCAA I FCS level since 2007. Previously, UND was a member of the Great West Football Conference. The Fighting Hawks are in their final season in the Big Sky and will move to the Missouri Valley Conference.
• North Dakota won its first Big Sky Conference title last season, sharing the honor with Eastern Washington at 8-0. 
• The Fighting Hawks led the Big Sky in scoring defense (21.5 points allowed per game), rush defense (91.5 yards per game) and turnover margin (+1.50 per game). 
• North Dakota returns a pair of All-Big Sky Conference running backs in John Santiago and Brady Oliveira.
• Head Coach Bubba Schweigert was the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 2016.
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 3, 2015: North Dakota 19, ^#16 Portland State 17
In a battle of the Big Sky's top two defenses, North Dakota won out, getting a key fourth quarter stop then running out the clock on the Vikings.
           
The Fighting Hawks controlled time of possession, allowing the Vikings to run only 47 plays for 247 yards. PSU was 2-11 on third down.
           
UND also turned both Viking turnovers into points, scoring 10 of their 19 after PSU mistakes.
           
John Santiago ran for 111 yards on 22 carries for the Fighting Hawks. Quarterback Keaton Studsrud threw for 136 yards and rushed for 107 and UNDs only touchdown.
 
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING HAWKS
North Dakota's season has been surprising in the same way it has for Portland State - a lack of victories for both. 
           
The Fighting Hawks come off a year in which they went 9-3 overall, 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference and reached the FCS playoffs. But 2017 hasn't gone as well with just two wins - over Missouri State and Northern Colorado. 
           
Injuries have played a role as the UND defense has not been stifling like it was in 2016. The Fighting Hawks are allowing 36.5 points per game. In the last six games, they have allowed 42.5 points. 
           
On the offensive side, UND averages 381.9 yards and 24.2 points per game. The Fighting Hawks have committed 14 turnovers in eight games.
           
A pair of running backs key the North Dakota offense. John Santiago has 92 carries for 524 yards and three touchdowns. Brady Oliveira has 83 carries for 519 yards and two scores. Quarterback Keaton Studsrud has started seven of eight games, throwing for 1,213 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.
           
North Dakota's top defensive back, All-American Cole Reyes has been injured after playing in only four games. Linebacker Jake Rastas leads the team with 59 tackles. Chuck Flowers has 55 tackles and two interceptions.
           
Reid Taubenheim has proven to be one of the top kickers in the Big Sky, making 13-17 field goals, but has had two blocked this season.
 
PLAYOFF OPPONENTS THE REST OF THE WAY
Portland State's schedule gets no easier over the final month of the season as the Vikings play four straight opponents that played in the 2016 FCS Playoffs - North Dakota, Cal Poly, Weber State and Eastern Washington. While North Dakota (2-6) and Cal Poly (0-7) haven't had the same success in 2017, Weber State (5-2) and Eastern Washington (5-3) are on pace for another post-season appearance.
 
ON THIS DATE: October 28
Portland State has only played one Big Sky Conference game previously on this date, a 33-21 loss to Montana in 2001. The Vikings are 3-5 on the date (dating back to 1957), including losses to FBS programs Oregon (2006) and Boise State (1995).
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
LOOKING FOR BETTER STARTS: The Vikings have been outscored 65-29 in the first quarter and 62-27 in the second quarter of games this season. The second halves have been much closer, but the Vikings have spent most of the season playing uphill.
 
OUTGAINING OPPONENTS, BUT GETTING OUTSCORED: Portland State has out-gained three of its seven opponents offensively. However, the Vikings have been outscored in all seven. 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 64 points off turnovers (13) while getting only 21 points (6).
 
TRUE FRESHMEN FEATURED ON 2017 VIKINGS: A total of nine true freshmen have played this season. Included are QB Jalani Eason, RB Antwone Williams, LB Dylan Hanley, TE AJ Ruffin, RB Jason Talley, K Noah Brosio, P Hayden Cowden, DT Semise Kofe and LB Nicolas Ah Sam.
• In all, PSU has played 30 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.
 
EASON BACK BEHIND CENTER: FR QB Jalani Eason made a return to the starting lineup at Idaho State and performed well. He completed 19-38 passes for a career-high 256 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. And despite two sacks, he had 34 rushing yards for a total of 290 yards. It was Eason's fourth start of the season. 
• In his four starts, Eason has completed 57 of 119 passes for 653 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
• The dual-threat quarterback has also rushed for 200 yards on 38 carries, with two touchdowns. He has 240 positive rushing yards.  
• This is not the first time that Head Coach Bruce Barnum has started a true freshman at quarterback. In 2012, Kieran McDonough became the starter at PSU. He went on to have a solid season, completing 171-314 passes for 2,187 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. McDonough also rushed 89 times for 406 yards and nine touchdowns. 
 
KRAGHT-Y PERFORMER: 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.
• Kraght started the next three games at QB but has since moved back to receiver. In his three starts he had 962 yards of total offense, 718 passing yards, career-highs in rushing and passing, and accounted for four TDs.
• His line for 2017 includes eight receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns, 47 rushing plays for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and 71-143 passing for 793 yards and three touchdowns. That is a total of 1,236 yards and seven 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 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 60 career receptions for 881 yards and four touchdowns.
• He has 28 punt returns for 153 yards.
• In total, he has accounted for 3,058 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 29 receptions and four touchdowns as well as 372 yards. 
• 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 84 catches for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns in 41 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 220.9 rushing yards per game, ranking third in the Big Sky and 15th in the nation.
• The loss of SR RB Za'Quan Summers (knee) will have an impact on the running game, but PSU still ground out 221 yards at Idaho State. Key was a 77-yard touchdown run by JR RB Andre Petties-Wilson who has made the switch from wide receiver. It was the longest play from scrimmage for the Vikings this season.
• Also getting his first career rushing TD was SO RB Carlos Martin. He carried six times for 27 yards including a 13-yard score in the fourth quarter at ISU.
• Four Vikings are averaging between 43 and 64 rushing yards per game: SR RB Za'Quan Summers, 64.3; FR QB Jalani Eason, 50.0; SR QB Josh Kraght, 43.9; FR RB Josh Talley, 42.9.
• 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. 
• Dawson totaled 248 return yards at Idaho State with nine kick returns for 217 yards and one punt return for 31 yards.
• With 1,767 kick return yards in his career, Dawson ranks third all-time at PSU. He has a career average of 23.9 yards.
• Dawson ranks 4th in the Big Sky and 23rd in the nation in all-purpose yards (125.7) 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 27 catches for a team-high 377 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, 22 of his 27 catches have been first downs.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES: 
• With 12 tackles at Idaho State, JR LB Kasun Jackett has taken over the team lead with 56 total tackles this season.
• JR S Braxton Winterton (14) and SO DT Kenton Bartlett (13) each posted career highs for tackles against the Bengals.
• SR LB Beau Duronslet has 44 tackles this season. Duronslet is the Vikings' active career leader in tackles with 229 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 14 games he has played cornerback for the Vikings.
• JR S Artuz Manning has 49 tackles this season, an interception, four tackles for loss and a team-high six pass breakups. His 5.4 solo tackles per game ranks 24th in the nation... Manning has 108 career tackles in 28 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 26 pass breakups, including six by SR CB Donovan Olumba and Manning, and five by SR CB Chris Seisay.
• 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. He also started at Idaho State.
• FR LB Avery Jones played in his first game at Idaho State making six tackles and recovering a fumble.
 
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 38.9 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 four special teams tackles this year and 25 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, 42; SR FS Beau Duronslet, 42; SR WR Darnell Adams, 41; SR DE Davond Dade, 37, SR DT William Dawson, 35; SR WR Kahlil Dawson, 35.
• Most career starts: SR FS Beau Duronslet, 30; SR LT Randin Crecelius, 26; SR OL Chad Bach, 20; SR WR Darnell Adams, 20; SR WR Trent Riley, 19; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 18.
• Consecutive starts: SO LS Riley Shackelford, 18; JR S Artuz Manning, 14; SR CB Chris Seisay, 11
 
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.
 
INJURED AND OUT: As the season has progressed, Portland State has lost a few players due to injury that will not return.
• SR LT Randin Crecelius saw his streak of 21 straight starts end when he couldn't go against Idaho State. It was the longest streak on the Viking team. Crecelius is questionable for this week's game with North Dakota.
• JR C Garret Stauffer played only one game before his season ended due to a knee injury. Stauffer had started the previous five games dating to the 2016 season.
• SR RB Za'Quan Summers was lost for the season with an ACL injury in the game against Northern Arizona. At the time he was Portland State's leading rusher (72-386-2).
• A spring football knee injury prevented SO DE Mason Vega from playing this season.