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Game 2
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-1) vs. OREGON STATE BEAVERS (0-1)
Saturday, September 2, 11 a.m. • Reser Stadium (43,363), Corvallis, OR
complete notes and stats in pdf

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TV: Pac-12 Network • Play-by-play: Jim Watson • Analyst: Jeremy Bloom • Sidelines: Camryn Irwin
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 10 a.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: None • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BEAVERS
All-Time Series: Oregon State leads 4-0 • OSU leads 1-0 in Portland • OSU leads 3-0 in Corvallis
 
Sept. 10, 1983: OSU 51-14 @ Portland          
Sept. 3, 2005: OSU 41-14 @ Corvallis
Sept. 5, 2009: OSU 34-7 @ Corvallis
Aug. 30, 2014: OSU 29-14 @ Corvallis
 
LAST MEETING, Aug. 13, 2014: Oregon State 29, Portland State 14
Hope was alive for a long time in the valley as Portland State took a 14-13 lead into halftime. But a gruesome third quarter for the Vikings turned the tide. PSU committed four turnovers in the period. Still, PSU's defense prevented the Beavers from running away with the game as Oregon State managed only 13 points off five second-half miscues by the Vikings.
     
Oregon State took the win 29-14 to keep its all-time record a spotless 4-0 against PSU. The Beavers totaled 505 yards of offense on 82 plays. Sean Mannion passed for 328 yards, throwing for one touchdown and running for another. Garrett Owens converted five field goals for the Beavers.
     
Paris Penn had a dynamic performance for the Vikings with 112 yards on nine running plays, including touchdown runs of 58 and 11 yards.
     
Due to turnovers, the Vikings ran only 51 plays for 215 yards and held the ball just over 20 minutes in the game.
 
VIKINGS MEET SECOND FBS FOE IN OREGON STATE
The game gets no easier for Portland State in week two of the 2017 season as the Vikings make the trek down Interstate 5 to meet Oregon State of the Pac-12 Conference. Saturday's game is the second straight against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent for PSU. The Vikings opened the season with a 20-6 loss last Saturday at BYU.
     
The Vikings and Beavers will meet in a Pac-12 Network televised game at 11 a.m. in Corvallis. It will be the fifth all-time meeting between the schools. This will also be the home opener for the Beavers.
     
Oregon State is also 0-1 on the season as the Beavers lost at Colorado State last Saturday, 58-27.
     
OSU leads the all-time series with the Vikings, 4-0, including a 29-14 win in their most recent matchup, Aug. 30, 2014. The series dates back as far as Sept. 10, 1983 when Portland State actually hosted Oregon State at Civic Stadium (now Providence Park) in Portland. A PSU-record 26,102 fans turned out to see a 51-14 OSU win.
     
This Saturday's game continues a season of challenges for Portland State as the Vikings will try to climb back up the Big Sky Conference standings. Following BYU and OSU, the Vikings will take on nine straight Big Sky Conference opponents among the other 12 teams in the league. One analysis has the Vikings with what may be the most difficult Big Sky Conference schedule among all teams in the league.
 
STORYLINES
• Portland State and Oregon State will meet for the fifth time in history and first time since 2014. The Beavers have won the previous four matchups.
• Oregon State is in the third year of the Gary Andersen era. He faces the Vikings for the first time. PSU Head Coach Bruce Barnum faces the Beavers for the second time - the first being as offensive coordinator in 2014.
• This is the second of two FBS opponents for the Vikings in 2017. Portland State opened the season (Aug. 26) at BYU. This is the fourth straight year that PSU will play two FBS teams in the same season and the eighth time overall (three in 2006).
• Portland State is 4-35 all-time against NCAA I FBS programs. The Vikings last beat an FBS opponent in 2015 when they knocked off both Washington State (24-17) and North Texas (66-7). In 2016, PSU lost to San Jose State (66-35) and Washington (41-3).
• Oregon State was 4-3 at home last year, including a 37-7 win over a Big Sky Conference team, Idaho State.
 
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS
Oregon State had a disappointing 58-27 loss at Colorado State to open its season. The Beavers are coming off a 4-8 campaign in 2016. Third-year Head Coach Gary Andersen is now 6-19 in his career at OSU.
     
New quarterback Jack Luton leads the Beaver offense. He threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns at CSU, but also had three interceptions. The Beavers commited five turnovers overall.
     
Running back Ryan Nall had 115 yards rushing with one touchdown on 15 carries. He will be a handful for the Vikings to stop.
     
Jordan Villamin and Noah Togiai each had seven receptions for the Beavers.
     
Oregon State had 464 yards of total offense against Colorado State, but gave up 525 total yards. Jalen Moore had nine tackles to lead the Beaver defense.
 
ON THIS DATE: Sept. 2
Scoring 17 straight points in the second half, Portland State came back to defeat New Mexico, 17-6, in Albuquerque on Sept. 2, 2006. It was the Vikings' second win ever over an FBS program (4-34 all-time entering 2017). The Vikings are 5-0 all-time in games played on Sept. 2.
 
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 22-42 all-time on television since joining Division I (1996). The Vikings are 14-15 at home and 8-27 on the road. This week's game is televised on the Pac-12 Network.
 
DADE, COWDEN EARN BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Defensive end Davond Dade and Punter Hayden Cowden each earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors for their performance against BYU last Saturday.
     
Dade, a senior from Los Angeles, proved to be a harassing force on the Viking line all afternoon. He registered four tackles, two for losses and a sack, and a quarterback hurry. The sack produced a fumble, though the Vikings were unable to recover. PSU held BYU to 365 yards and 20 points, a vast improvement from last year's defense.
     
Cowden, a true freshman from Twin Falls, ID, was playing in his first game as a Viking. He averaged 47.9 yards per punt on seven attempts, with a long of 70 yards. His punts were effective as BYU had -5 return yards on the day.
     
This is the first Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honor for each player.
     
Also in the Big Sky, senior fullback Joe Protheroe of Cal Poly was named the Offensive Player of the Week.
     
Portland State and Cal Poly were the only teams in action on Zero Week.
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
WINS, LOSSES, AND THE BIG SKY
• Portland State is 0-1 this season, 0-0 at home, 0-1 on the road.
• Portland State is playing its 25th season at the NCAA I FCS level (1978-80 (1-AA), 1996-2017). PSU is 126-143 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 107-129, 69-44 in home games, 38-85 on the road.
• As a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996-2017) PSU is 70-93 all-time in league games, 42-40 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, 8-8 Big Sky, 12-12 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).
 
18 IS THE NEW 28: Portland State Head Coach Bruce Barnum named true freshman Jalani Eason his starting quarterback on Aug. 18. He is the second true freshman to earn the starting nod under Barnum (the other was Kieran McDonough in 2012 when Barnum was offensive coordinator). Barnum pointed to the poise and maturity his 18-year old signal caller had shown throughout camp. That proved out against a formidable defense in BYU in an opening game televised on ESPN. Though Eason's numbers were modest - 16-36 passing for 134 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT - he showed the maturity and poise of a... let's say, 28-year old. And the Vikings trailed only 14-6 entering the fourth quarter.  His lone interception came late in the game on a ball tipped by a Viking receiver that probably should have been caught.
 
TRUE FRESHMEN FEATURED ON 2017 VIKINGS: A total of 11 true freshmen made the travel squad to BYU. Included were QB Jalani Eason, RB Antwone Williams, LB Dylan Hanley, LB Tanner Sallee, S Anthony Adams, S Ryan Swanson, TE AJ Ruffin, RB Jason Talley, K Noah Brosio, P Hayden Cowden and K Thomas Ciobanasiu... Eason, Williams, Hanley, Ruffin, Talley, Brosio, Cowden and Ciobanasiu all played against BYU... another true freshman who may play this week is DT Semise Kofe.
• 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).
 
DEFENSE HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES: Portland State's opening game defense was impressive. The Vikings allowed only 20 points and 365 yards to an FBS-level program. This came after giving up 39.5 points and 478 yards per game last season. In 39 all-time games against FBS opponents, PSU has held the opponent to less than 20 points only three times.
• SR LB Beau Duronslet had a game-high 11 tackles. Duronslet is the Vikings' active career leader in tackles with 196.
• SR DE Davond Dade made four tackles, with two for losses, including a sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.
• The Vikings had six pass breakups, including three by SR CB Chris Seisay.
 
JUST CALL HIM MR. FIRST DOWN: SO TE Charlie Taumoepeau was impressive at BYU, making career-highs of six receptions for 73 yards. All six of his receptions were good first downs. Three of those were third-down plays, and one was a fourth-down play.
 
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). Adams caught a four-yard touchdown pass in the opener at BYU. It was the eighth receiving TD of his career. Adams has 57 receptions and 874 yards in 35 career games played.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES:
• Portland State started three true freshmen on special teams with P Hayden Cowden, PK Noah Brosio and KO Thomas Ciobanasiu.
• Cowden averaged 47.9 yards on seven punts against BYU, including a 70-yarder.
 
QUADRUPLE THREAT: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght began his Portland State career as a quarterback, earning three starts at the position as a freshman. However, the past two seasons he has played slot receiver and punt returner while remaining a backup QB. 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 53-104 passes for 646 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 53 times for 278 yards and three touchdowns.
• Kraght has 54 career receptions for 769 yards and two touchdowns.
• He has 28 punt returns for 153 yards.
• In total, he has accounted for 1,846 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
VIKINGS NAME FOUR TEAM CAPTAINS: In a vote by the Viking players last week, four seniors were selected to be team captains for the 2017 season. They are: WR/QB Josh Kraght, WR Darnell Adams, DE Davond Dade, LB Beau Duronslet.
 
VETERANS: Among Portland State's returning players, here are the most experienced:
• Most games played: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 36; SR FS Beau Duronslet, 36; SR WR Darnell Adams, 35; SR DE Davond Dade 31
• Most career starts: SR FS Beau Duronslet, 24; SR LT Randin Crecelius, 21; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 15; Five tied with 13
• Consecutive starts: SR LT Randin Crecelius, 16; SO DT Anthony Del Toro, 12; SR S Tyler Foreman, 12; SO LS Riley Shackelford, 12
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: On Portland State's current 92-player roster, there are 23 seniors, 14 juniors, 12 sophomores and 43 freshmen (30 true, 13 redshirt)... Portland State has 40 players on the roster from the state of Oregon.
 
A FAMILY AFFAIR
• SR WR Darnell Adams and FR S Anthony Adams are brothers who prepped at Newberg (OR) HS. Darnell is playing in his sixth season after being granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA. Adams missed two seasons with injuries (2013 and 2016). That will allow the brothers to play on the same team for the first time ever. They will also face one another across the line of scrimmage in practice.
• SR QB/WR Josh Kraght was married in 2015 (Jessie).
• JR S Braxton Winterton was married earlier this year (Madeline).
• JR OL Josh Brown and RS FR LB Cody Brown are brothers who prepped at Sunset (OR) HS.
• FR QB Davis Koetter is the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter.
• FR LB Markus Sullivan's uncle is Pat Sullivan, who won the Heisman Trophy at Auburn in 1971.
• FR WR Mataio Talalemotu is the son of Ina Talalemotu, who played in 1987-88 on Portland State's two NCAA II National finalist teams.
• FR RB Jason Talley is the son of Wendell Talley, who played basketball at Portland State from 1978-80.
• JR S Nate Salu's father, Ace, played at Portland State in 1988-89. Ace was a member of the Viking team that played for the NCAA II National Championship in '88.
• FR DE Jake Porter's father, Jason, was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at Portland State (1991-94).
• SR LT Randin Crecelius' sister, Chelsie, also played high school football through her sophomore season.
• FR K Graycen Kennedy is the son of Viking women's basketball coach Lynn Kennedy.
 
TIDBITS OF VIKING TRIVIA
• Portland State has 40 players on the roster from the state of Oregon, plus three others from just across the river and the Vancouver, WA area.
• SR RB Mitch Thompson, originally a walk-on at PSU in 2013, was surprised by Coach Bruce Barnum with a scholarship at the team's first meeting on the eve of 2016's first football practice. He has the Arthur Dickson Memorial Scholarship.
• After walking on at Portland State last winter, SO TE Cameron Loos (New Mexico State transfer) and FR RB Jason Talley (Jesuit HS) were given scholarships after the completion of spring football.
• SR WRs Darnell Adams and De'Sean Parsons have already completed their degrees and graduated but have one year of eligibility remaining.
• SR WR Darnell Adams was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA due to multiple season-ending injuries (2013 and 2016) that ended his seasons prematurely.
• Walk-on SR WR De'Sean Parsons played the past two seasons on the Viking basketball team. He was named third team All-Big Sky Conference in 2016-17 after leading the Vikings in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (6.2). The 6-7, 200-pounder will take a shot at the wide receiver position.
• Portland State has 10 players on the roster that were formerly members of FBS programs.
• SR DT Will Dawson cut his hair a week before he began practice at Portland... as a freshman in 2013. He has not cut it since.
• Portland State had a pair of former players meet in the Super Bowl for the first time in history in February 2014. TE Julius Thomas ('10, Denver) and DB DeShawn Shead ('11, Seattle) both played in Super Bowl XLVIII. Shead returned to the Super Bowl in 2015 with the Seahawks. He joins Clint Didier and Ted Popson as former Vikings with Super Bowl rings. Thomas was named a Pro Bowl tight end in 2013 and 2014. In the 2014 off-season, he signed the richest tight end contract in the NFL to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas is now with Miami. Shead, a starting corner with the Seahawks in 2016, is currently recovering from an ACL injury.
• Other Vikings currently on NFL rosters are LB Patrick Onwuasor (Baltimore Ravens), CB Xavier Coleman (NY Jets), OL Cornelius Edison (Atlanta Falcons), and LS Kameron Canaday (Pittsburgh Steelers).
• Offensive coordinator Steve Cooper, who played at Portland State (2007-08), has now been an assistant under three head coaches - Jerry Glanville, Nigel Burton and Bruce Barnum. He has a degree in Philosophy - somewhat uncommon in the football world. Cooper has been known to take pre-camp excursions to Central and South America including Costa Rica and Peru (2017).
• TE Coach Matt Leunen (2005-09) and OL Coach Adam Kleffner (2008-11) are also PSU alums who competed for the Vikings.
• Special Teams Coordinator and running backs coach Nick Whitworth was Bruce Barnum's first recruit when Barnum was working at Idaho State.
• Assistant coach AC Patterson's father, Andre, is a long-time NFL coach currently working with the Minnesota Vikings.