---

Game 6
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-4,0-2) at #14 MONTANA GRIZZLIES (4-1, 2-0)
Saturday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. PT • Washington-Grizzly Stadum (25,217), Missoula, MT

---

TELEVISION: None, SWX in Montana
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: Noon PT • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: Pluto TV, www.pluto.tv • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete game notes in pdf
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. GRIZZLIES
All-Time Series: Montana leads 30-12 • UM leads 13-9 in Portland • UM leads 17-3 in Missoula
Big Sky Conference Series: Montana leads 16-3 • UM leads 9-0 in Missoula • UM leads 7-3 in Portland
 
IT GETS NO EASIER FOR VIKS AS THEY TRAVEL TO #14 GRIZ
The Big Sky Conference schedule-maker has no sympathy for the Vikings. After tough losses to quality opponents to open the league schedule, Portland State must now move on to face #14-ranked University of Montana in Missoula. Kickoff is 2 p.m. MT, 1 p.m. PT on Saturday.
     
PSU (1-4, 0-2) carries a lengthy Big Sky Conference losing streak to a locale where it has never won a league game (0-9) in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Meanwhile, the Griz (4-1, 2-0) appear to be in contention for another Big Sky title and a post-season berth.
     
Portland State has beaten Montana three times in 19 previous Big Sky matchups with all three coming in Portland. PSU's last trip to Missoula came in 2013 - a 55-27 loss. The Vikings beat Montana 35-16 in a Hallowe'en game in 2015 in Portland, but lost to the Griz last year at home, 45-33.
     
Portland State will be challenged to end a pair of long losing streaks - 10 straight road games and 12 straight Big Sky Conference games. A defensive effort like the one the Vikings had against Idaho (289 yards and 13 defensive points allowed) would go a long way toward solving those streaks. An improved performance on the offensive side (261 yards, 7 points) will also be needed.
     
Saturday's game is not televised in the Portland area, but will be on SWX in Montana. A live video stream on Pluto TV (www.pluto.tv) and WatchBigSky.com is available. The radio broadcast is available on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com, with the pregame show at Noon. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• Bobby Hauck returns to coach the Grizzlies after a tenure at UNLV. He coached the Griz from 2003-09, compiling an 80-17 record, including 6-1 against the Vikings
• PSU has beaten Montana three times in its 19 Big Sky meetings. All three wins have come at Providence Park (1999, 2004, 2015). PSU has never won at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Big Sky play (0-9).
• Last season marked the first time the Grizzlies were not nationally-ranked when the Vikings have played them in Big Sky competition. The Vikings were nationally-ranked five times.
• Linebacker Josh Buss was named Big Sky Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He is the top returning tackler (94 in 2017) in the Big Sky.
• Defensive line coach Barry Sacks was an assistant coach for the Vikings in the late 1980s and early 1990s under Head Coach Pokey Allen.
 
SCOUTING MONTANA
The University of Montana has done almost everything right in Bobby Hauck's return as head coach. The Grizzlies are 4-1 and just four points away from a perfect record.
     
Montana is averaging 38 points per game behind high-powered freshman quarterback Dalton Sneed. Sneed has thrown for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns in five games. He also leads the team in rushing with 63 carries for 397 yards and five TDs. Sneed leads the Big Sky with 334 yards of total offense per game.
     
The Grizzlies' short-passing game has been efficient, completing 65% of its attempts for 261 yards per game. Jerry Louis McGee has 28 catches for 307 yards and a score. Samuel Akem has 24 catches for 302 yards and four touchdowns.
     
Adam Eastwood complements Sneed in the running game with 311 yards and four TDs.
     
Montana gives up 412 yards per game on defense but has made a lot of big plays, forcing nine turnovers and making a league-leading 16 sacks. Dante Olson has a nation-leading 79 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He has also intercepted two passes. Josh Buss has added 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown.
     
Special teams have also been a strength with kicker Tim Semenza going 10-10 on field goals, making two in each of the Grizzlies five games. He leads the nation in field goals made and field goal percentage.
     
Malik Flowers averages 27.1 yards on kick returns to lead the Big Sky while Louie-McGee is averaging over 10 yards on punt returns.
 
ON THIS DATE: Oct. 6, 2012
Portland State had its biggest Big Sky Conference win on Oct. 6, 2012, when it defeated Idaho State, 77-10, at Providence Park. The Vikings totaled 758 yards of offense, including a (then) school-record 437 rushing yards. Quarterback Kieran McDonagh accounted for six touchdowns in the game - three rushing, two passing and one receiving.

QUICK SNAPS
 
A RARE DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE: Portland State's defense played well, but so did Idaho's, and the Vikings simply couldn't catch up after falling behind early last Saturday in Moscow. The Vandals had two long drives that consumed most of the first quarter and a chunk of the second, but got only two field goals out of them. After a third drive resulted in a touchdown and a 13-0 lead at the 8:36 mark of the first half, the Viking D buckled down, holding the Vandals to 126 yards on 30 plays the rest of the game. However, a blocked punt return allowed Idaho to push the advantage to 20-0 by halftime. PSU came out with a scoring drive at the start of the second half. After a defensive three-and-out, the Vikings appeared to be on their way to score again. Jalani Eason led a rushing attack that moved the ball to the Idaho 18. But three straight losses in the rushing game forced the Vikings to attempt a 49-yard field goal. It was wide right and PSU's last realistic scoring chance had gone by the wayside. Idaho had 289 yards of offense to 261 for the Vikings. PSU actually had a better yard-per-play average, but ran only 58 plays from scrimmage. The Vikings 7 points scored were the fewest since losing at BYU, 20-6, to open the 2017 season. The 20 points allowed were the fewest to a Division I team since that game as well (14 allowed College of Idaho).
 
ENDING AN UGLY STREAK: Portland State stopped a 15-game losing streak with its 63-14 win over College of Idaho. The Vikings also ended an eight-game home losing streak. PSU will try to end an 12-game Big Sky losing streak and a 10-game road losing streak when it plays at Montana.
 
TOUCHDOWN CHARLIE: Viking star Charlie Taumoepeau has only six catches for 94 yards over the past two weeks, but still has great numbers as the Vikings' leading receiver. The JR TE was a Preseason All-American and All-Big Sky Conference selection and came out of the gates red-hot this season. He posted a pair of 100-yard games against Oregon and Nevada, scoring four touchdowns, two of which were 70+ yards. He saw limited time against College of Idaho, but still racked up a 71-yard TD catch. It marked the third straight game he caught a 70+yard TD.
• So far, Touchdown Charlie has five scores, which ranks seventh in the nation. He has caught 15 passes for 420 yards. The 28.0 yard per catch average ranks first in the nation. Taumoepeau has five catches of more than 40 yards, and remarkably, one of minus-3 yards.
• Taumoepeau scored on a 48-yard touchdown reception in the Vikings' first series at Nevada, then had a 75-yard TD scamper in the second quarter (3-130-2 total). Each time he broke at least two tackles then outraced the Wolfpack to the endzone.
• Charlie had a 71-yard TD, a 47-yard reception and a four-yard TD among five catches at Oregon (5-125-2).
• In his 27-game career, Taumoepeau has 68 receptions for 1,242 yards and nine touchdowns.
• He has three career 100-yard games: Career highs of nine receptions for 145 yards and a TD in last year's season finale at Eastern Washington; 3-130-2 to open the season at Nevada, then 5-125-2 against the Ducks. That means 21 receptions, 521 yards and six TDs in his last five games with a 24.8 average per catch.
• Named second team All-Big Sky Conference last season with 45 receptions for 673 yards and 3 TDs. It was the most receptions by a Viking tight end since PSU Hall of Famer Barry Naone had 48 in 1988.
• Named to the STATS Preseason 1st team All-America list, as well as preseason All-Big Sky Conference. Taumoepeau was a second-team All-Big Sky Conference performer last season. Phil Steele and College Sports Madness each named Taumoepeau second team All-American and second team All-Big Sky behind Wes Preece of UC Davis on both teams.
 
QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: SO QBs Davis Alexander and Jalani Eason have been very effective this season, combining for nine touchdowns and only two interceptions in five games. In all, PSU has passed for 1,057 yards (211.4 per game) and ranks sixth in the nation in yards per completion (17.3).
• The tandem has also rushed for 332 yards on 69 carries. Not counting sack yardage, they have 411 positive yards (82.2 yards per game).
• Alexander has completed 46-92 passes for 742 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also leads the team with 179 rushing yards and three rushing TDs, and has one reception for 17 yards.
• In seven career starts, Alexander is 128-237 (.540) for 1,907 (272.4 per game), 11 touchdowns and four interceptions... he passed for 409 yards at Cal Poly last season in his starting debut.
• This season, Eason has completed 13-23 passes for 251 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 153 yards.
 
YOUNG PUPS CHASING THAT FRISBEE: Portland State has a youthful wide receiving corps. Through five games, they have started to emerge.
• FR Mataio Talalemotu (13-161-1), SO Emmanuel Daigbe (6-100-1) and FR Beau Kelly (7-107-0) have all been starters. SO Easton Trakel, the only returning wide receiver with a reception coming into the season, started the first game, had one catch for eight yards but has since been out with injury.
• Against College of Idaho, FR Davis Koetter (2-105-1) had a 100-yard game while JR Isaiah Woods (1-14) made his first catch. Koetter added a 10-yard TD reception at Idaho.
• All but Trakel are playing their first season at Portland State.
 
THE COMMITTEE: Through five games, the Vikings backfield has been a "by committee" effort. Five players have already rushed for more than 100 yards, with a sixth at 96 yards.
•  SO QB Davis Alexander (39-179-3) leads the team in rushing, followed by SO QB Jalani Eason (30-153-0), SR RB Darian Green (37-136-1), JR RB Sirgeo Hoffman (43-126-0), JR RB Carlos Martin (34-110-1) and SO RB Antwone Williams (15-96-1).
• The Vikings rushed for 203 yards against Montana State after putting up 350 against College of Idaho.
 
FRESHMAN FOOTWORK: FR K Cody Williams missed his first field goal of the season at Idaho, albeit a 49-yarder (wide right)... Williams is one of five kickers in the Big Sky Conference to be perfect on extra points (16-16)... he is now 4-5 on field goals.
• Williams was 3-3 on field goals against Montana State. He is the first Viking kicker to make three in one game since Jonathan Gonzales did so in 2016 (17 games ago). His three field goals also matched PSU's season total from last year.
• Williams 44-yard field goal in the first quarter against Montana State was the longest by a Viking kicker since Gonzales made a 46-yarder in 2015 (33 games ago).
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES: After a rough 2017 season, and a rocky start to 2018, the Viking defense turned in one of its best defensive efforts in a long time in the loss to Idaho. PSU allowed only 289 yards of offense (fewer than 100 after halftime) and 13 points on defense (the other seven came on a blocked punt return). The Vikings made eight tackles for loss, three sacks and had an interception.
• Portland State missed SR LB Houston Barnes, who sat out with an ankle sprain, for the second straight game. Starting in his place was SR LB Kasun Jackett, who has led the Vikings with 25 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup the past two weeks. Jackett leads the team with 36 tackles this season.
• Also having big games against Idaho were JR ROV Romeo Gunt (eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, a sack and a forced fumble), SR LB Sam Bodine (nine tackles, one for loss) and SR CB Artuz Manning (three tackles  and an interception).
• Against College of Idaho, Portland State had its best defensive performance by score (14 points allowed) in two seasons (19 games). The 231 yards allowed were the fewest by a Viking team in three years (32 games). Portland State had a hefty total of 12 tackles for loss against C of I. SR DE Larry Ross and SR DT Dallas House had two each.
• SR S Artuz Manning is PSU's active career leader in tackles with 129. Manning also has the most career tackles for loss (9.5), pass breakups (12) and interceptions (2, along with Maxwell Howell). Both SR LB Kasun Jackett (127) and SR LB Sam Bodine (128) have also passed the century mark in their careers.
 
TURNOVER TURNAROUND:  Portland State had a big deficiency in turnover margin last season, committing 21 turnovers while making only 12 takeaways. This season the Vikings have a +3 turnover margin (6/3)... PSU has 21 points off turnovers while opponent have scored 12.
 
THIRD-DOWN THEORY: Nobody expected it to be easy - and it wasn't - but PSU's two-game run through the FBS proved two things: You have to be able to convert third downs to score points, and you have to stop third downs to prevent points. PSU converted only 7-33 third-down tries (21%) and allowed 11-20 conversions (55%) to their FBS opponents in those games.
• Those numbers took a dramatic turn against College of Idaho as PSU was 7-11 on third (64%) and held C of I to 5-14 (36%).
• PSU was 8-16 against Montana State (50%), but allowed 6-11 conversions (55%).
• A 3-12 (25%) third-down tally against Idaho was a big factor in a sluggish performance by the offense. The Vandals were 6-16 (38%), but converted all three fourth downs.
• For the season, the Vikings are 25-72 (35%) on third down, while opponents are 28-61 (41%).
 
MORE BRIGHT SPOTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS: The Vikings struggled mightily with their special teams play in 2017. They made only 3-9 field goals, missed four extra points, had a punting average of 36.3 and allowed three kick/punt returns for touchdowns. Early returns on the Vikings STs show the specialists are trending in the right direction.
• Opponents average 17.0 yards per kick return (after averaging 20.8 last season).
• SO P Ben Niesner has averaged 38.6 yards per punt with a career-long of 56 and has twice backed his opponents up to the one-yard line.
• The Vikings have blocked three kicks - one more than they had all of last season - which ranks seventh in the nation. JR DT Anthony Del Toro blocked an extra point and JR DT Kenton Bartlett blocked a field goal attempt at Nevada, while FR DE Jake Porter got a blocked extra point at Oregon.
 
YOUTH SHALL SERVE:  
• Portland State's first game two-deep included six freshmen, seven sophomores, five juniors and four seniors on offense; three freshmen, five sophomores, seven juniors and seven seniors on defense. Special teams (K, P, LS, PR, KOR) included three freshmen, six sophomores and one junior.
• The Vikings had 12 players start their first game for Portland State at Nevada: FR OL Brady Brick, JR OL Carlos Barraza, FR WR Mataio Talalemotu, SO WR Emmanuel Daigbe, SO WR Easton Trakel, SO DT Semise Kofe, SR LB Houston Barnes, FR S Jared Reed, SO S Sam Inos, FR CB Anthony Adams, JR CB Montre Brown and FR K Cody Williams. Four more players started for the first time at Oregon: SR OL Peter Fisherkeller, FR WR Beau Kelly, JR RB Sirgeo Hoffman and JR S Romeo Gunt. Against Idaho, the Vikings had first-time starters in SO ROV Steffen Jacobsen and JR FS Ryan Lesch.
• 29 of the 55 players that saw field time at Nevada were true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores. 26 of 52 that played at Oregon were TR FR, RS FR and SO. In all, PSU has played 65 players this season and 34 are either freshmen (16) or sophomores (18).
• Portland State features 56 true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores on the 92-man roster. There are 24 juniors and 12 seniors.
• At wide receiver, the Vikings played only freshmen and sophomores (eight of them) through the first two games. Against College of Idaho, JR WRs Isaiah Woods and Jacob Bystry became the first upperclassmen to play at the position, with each playing his first game at Portland State.
• All three Viking quarterbacks on the active roster are sophomores.