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Game 6
NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS (3-2, 2-0) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-5, 0-2)
Saturday, October 14, 2 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR
Complete game notes in pdf

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TV: None
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 1 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. LUMBERJACKS
All-Time Series: Northern Arizona leads 16-5 • NAU leads at Portland 8-3 • NAU leads at Flagstaff 8-2
Big Sky Conference Series: Northern Arizona leads 13-5 • NAU leads 7-2 in Flagstaff • NAU leads 6-3 in Portland
 
Sept. 9, 1978: NAU 42-14 @ Flagstaff
Sept. 8, 1979: NAU 22-21 @ Portland
Oct. 17, 1981: NAU 34-10 @ Portland
 
Big Sky Conference games
Sept. 21, 1996: NAU 38-24 @ Portland
Sept. 27, 1997: NAU 56-21 @ Flagstaff
Nov. 14, 1998: NAU 23-13 @ Portland
Nov. 13, 1999: NAU 40-24 @ Flagstaff
Sept. 30, 2000: PSU 42-10 @ Flagstaff
Sept. 29, 2001: PSU 33-30 @ Portland
Sept. 28, 2002: NAU 14-10 @ Flagstaff
Sept. 20, 2003: NAU 23-0 @ Portland
Oct. 23, 2004: NAU 21-20 @ Flagstaff
Oct. 22, 2005: PSU 45-0 @ Portland
Nov. 4, 2006: PSU 34-26 @ Flagstaff
Oct. 6, 2007: NAU 44-43 @ Portland
Oct. 11, 2008: NAU 37-17 @ Flagstaff
Oct. 17, 2009: NAU 44-23 @ Portland
Nov. 20, 2010: NAU 62-14 @ Flagstaff
Sept. 17, 2011: PSU 31-29 @ Portland
Sept. 29, 2012: NAU 24-10 @ Flagstaff
Oct. 18, 2014: NAU 21-17 @ Portland
 
Streak: NAU has won six of seven and nine of 12
Most Points, PSU: 45, 2005
Most Points, NAU: 62, 2010
 
Largest Margin of Victory
PSU: 45, 45-0 in 2005
NAU: 48, 62-14 in 2010
 
VIKINGS BACK HOME LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN
Portland State plays Northern Arizona for the first time in three seasons as the Vikings return to Providence Park this week. PSU is still looking for its first win of the 2017 season. PSU and NAU will meet in a 2 p.m. game this Saturday.
           
The Vikings (0-5, 0-2) have had a hard-luck season thus far, failing to pick up a win despite showing great promise early on, and having glimmers of greatness. PSU out-gained their third opponent in four weeks last Saturday at Montana State, but again failed once again to outscore their opponent, losing 30-22. 
           
Northern Arizona (3-2, 2-0) comes to Portland on a completely different path. The Lumberjacks lost their first two games of the season, but have turned it on with three straight wins. Most recently, they knocked off 11th-ranked Illinois State, 37-16, in Flagstaff. The 'Jacks are 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play and an early contender for a league title.
           
The two teams have missed one another the past two seasons due to the unbalanced Big Sky Conference schedule. NAU won the last meeting, 21-17, in Portland on Oct. 18, 2014. The Lumberjacks have won six of the last seven meetings between the schools. PSU's last win in the series was a 31-29 decision in Providence Park on Sept. 17, 2011. 
           
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 1 p.m. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• The Vikings and Lumberjacks have played only once in the last four years due to the expanded Big Sky Conference. 
• Northern Arizona has owned this series in recent years, with the exception of a narrow 31-29 Portland State win in 2011 at Providence Park. NAU has won six of seven meetings.
• NAU quarterback Case Cookus was the NCAA I FCS Freshman of the Year in 2015. He played in only four games in 2016 due to injury.
• Northern Arizona has five returning All-Big Sky Conference selections including wide receivers Emmanuel Butler and Elijah Marks. Butler is the top returning receiver in the league (69-1,003-9).
• Now in his 20th season, NAU Coach Jerome Souers is the dean of Big Sky Conference coaches and holds an 11-5 series advantage over the Vikings (5-4 vs. Tim Walsh, 3-0 vs. Jerry Glanville, 3-1 vs. Nigel Burton). He has not faced Bruce Barnum.
• Former Viking cornerbacks coach Vernon Smith Jr. is now the secondary coach for NAU.
 
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
Head Coach Jerome Souers is in his 20th and final season with Northern Arizona. He has won 115 games in his career with the Lumberjacks. Souers has won 11 of 16 meetings all-time with the Vikings.
           
Quarterback Case Cookus leads a pass-heavy offense that has produced 31.4 points per game. The Lumberjacks throw for 335 yards per contest but run for only 99, which ranks last in the Big Sky. Cookus has thrown 12 touchdowns against just three interceptions. 
           
Wide receiver Elijah Marks has been one of the top pass catchers in the Big Sky this season, with 39 grabs for 598 yards and four touchdowns. Marks leads the Big Sky in all-purpose yards at more than 160 per game.
           
Defensively, NAU has allowed 399.8 yards and 29.2 points per game. The 'Jacks have made nine interceptions and forced 12 turnovers so far. They have also made 12 quarterback sacks in five games.
           
DJ Arnson is the top punter in the league with a 43.6 average.
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 18, 2014: Northern Arizona 21, Portland State 17
Northern Arizona scored with 4:04 remaining in the game on a four-yard run by Chase Cartwright to pull out the win at Providence Park.
           
It was a defensive struggle for much of the game. A 67-yard interception return for touchdown by NAU's Marcus Alford was a big play in the game.
           
Viking running back Steven Long rushed for a career-high 253 yards, including three runs of more than 60 yards. However, the Vikings ran only 50 plays to 80 for the Lumberjacks as they controlled time of possession.
 
ON THIS DATE: October 14
Portland State has only played on Oct. 14 twice in 22 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference. Both times were wins over Idaho State (34-13 in 2006 and 59-21 in 2000). The Vikings are 4-3 on Oct. 14, dating back to 1957 (previous game dates not available).
 
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: Portland State Athletics will host five football luncheons at the Old Spaghetti Factory this season (Sept. 1, Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 27 and Nov. 10), 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 $14. 
 
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 and Chad Doing as he reviews and previews Viking football games.
 
TICKETS: Single-game tickets range from $15 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.
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
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 3-14. 
• Included in the last 17 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 seven in a row dating to last season, the most since 2010. They have lost five straight home games.
• PSU's last 0-5 start was in 1982.
 
LOOKING FOR BETTER STARTS: The Vikings have been outscored 41-13 in the first quarter and 82-33 in the first half of games so far this season. PSU has come back to win third quarters 41-40, and trailed in fourth quarters 45-33.
 
OUTGAINING OPPONENTS, BUT GETTING OUTSCORED: Portland State has out-gained three of its five opponents offensively. However, the Vikings have been outscored in all five. Part of the Vikings problem has been giving up four touchdowns not allowed by the defense (two interception returns, one punt block and one fumble recovery).
 
KRAGHT STEPS TO THE FRONT: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght has started at quarterback the past two games, his first start behind center since his freshman season (2014), producing impressive numbers. 
• Against Montana State Kraght had a career-high 317 passing yards and two touchdowns. He totaled 335 yards of total offense.
• 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.
• In two starts he has 716 yards of total offense, 566 passing yards, career-highs in rushing and passing, and accounted for four TDs.
 
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, 32 rushing plays for 213 yards and two touchdowns, and 51-107 passing for 641 yards and three touchdowns. That is a total of 960 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 104-211 passes for 1,287 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 85 times for 491 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 2,782 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 26 receptions, 332 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks sixth in the Big Sky in receptions and 10th in receiving yards.
• In the past two weeks he has 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 81 catches for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in 39 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 204.0 rushing yards per game.
• Four Vikings are averaging between 42 and 56 rushing yards per game: Summers, 56.4; FR QB Jalani Eason, 55.3; SR QB Josh Kraght, 42.6; FR RB Josh Talley, 45.6.
• The Vikings had a season-high 295 rushing yards against Montana.
 
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 1,461 kick return yards in his career, Dawson ranks fourth all-time at PSU. He has a 25.0 career average.
• Dawson ranks 9th in the Big Sky in all-purpose yards (108.4) 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 20 catches for 260 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, 17 of his 20 catches are first downs.
 
DEFENSE IS MAKING STRIDES: Portland State's youthful defense is allowing 422.0 yards and 33.4 points per game through five 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 team-high 38 tackles this season. Duronslet is the Vikings' active career leader in tackles with 223.  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 12 games he has played cornerback for the Vikings.
• JR S Artuz Manning has a team-high 39 tackles this season, an interception, three tackles for loss and four pass breakups. His 6.8 solo tackles per game ranks eighth in the nation... Manning has 98 career tackles in 26 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 16 pass breakups, including five by SR CB Donovan Olumba.
• Portland State has not allowed a fourth down conversion this season (0-4).
 
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 three games.
• Cowden has averaged 39.1 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.
 
VETERANS: Among Portland State's returning players, here are the most experienced:
• Most games played: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 40; SR FS Beau Duronslet, 40; SR WR Darnell Adams, 39; SR DE Davond Dade, 35, SR DT William Dawson, 33; SR WR Kahlil Dawson, 33.
• Most career starts: SR FS Beau Duronslet, 28; SR LT Randin Crecelius, 25; SR OL Chad Bach, 18; SR WR Darnell Adams, 18; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 17; SR WR Trent Riley, 17.
• Consecutive starts: SR LT Randin Crecelius, 20; SO LS Riley Shackelford, 16; Artuz Manning, 12
 
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, and a total of eight overall.