Game 8
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-4, 2-2) at
SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (2-5, 0-4)
Saturday, October 27, 6 p.m. • Hornet Stadium (21,195), Sacramento, CA 

TELEVISION: None, CW31 in Sacramento
RADIO: 103.7 FM The Legend, www.1037thelegend.com • Pregame Show: 5 p.m. • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: Pluto TV, www.pluto.tv, WatchBigSky.com • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf 

THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. HORNETS
All-Time Series: PSU leads 22-12 • PSU leads 12-4 at Portland • PSU leads 10-8 at Sacramento
Big Sky Series: PSU leads 12-7 • PSU leads 7-2 in Portland • The series is tied 5-5 in Sacramento

Big Sky Conference games
Nov. 2, 1996: PSU 38-31 at Portland
Nov. 1, 1997: PSU 27-13 at Sacramento
Oct. 10, 1998: PSU 58-31 at Portland
Oct. 9, 1999: SAC 41-14 at Sacramento
Sept. 16, 2000: PSU 35-23 at Sacramento
Nov. 24, 2001: PSU 52-33 at Portland
Oct. 19, 2002: PSU 34-20 at Sacramento
Oct. 18, 2003: PSU 20-7 at Portland
Oct. 9, 2004: PSU 31-0 at Sacramento
Sept. 17, 2005: PSU 28-12 at Portland
Nov. 11, 2006: PSU 13-7 at Sacramento
Sept. 15, 2007: PSU 35-24 at Portland
Sept. 27, 2008: SAC 41-31 at Sacramento
Oct. 3, 2009: SAC 31-14 at Portland
Nov. 6, 2010: SAC 28-15 at Sacramento
Nov. 5, 2011: PSU 29-20 at Portland
Nov. 16, 2013: SAC 43-42 at Portland
Nov. 15, 2014: SAC 48-41 at Sacramento
Nov. 12, 2016: SAC 42-35 at Sacramento

VIKINGS LOOKING FOR THREE IN A ROW AT SACRAMENTO STATE
Portland State will try to do something it hasn't accomplished since the 2015 season - win three games in a row - when it faces Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference game this Saturday at 6 p.m. at Hornet Stadium.     

The Vikings (3-4, 2-2) have won their last two games - on the road at Montana and at home against Northern Colorado - and come off a bye last Saturday. Perhaps it was bad timing for the Vikings to take a week off as their play has been improving, particularly on defense. PSU has allowed only 18 points per game over its last three contests, two of which are wins. In Big Sky games, PSU ranks second in total defense (359.0) and third in scoring defense (24.2). That is a dramatic turnaround for a team that ranked last in the league in both categories last year. In addition, the Vikings are forcing turnovers with seven takeaways in their past two wins. The defensive performance has been particularly valuable as the offense was without its top threat, JR TE Charlie Taumoepeau, the past two weeks.     

Sacramento State (2-5, 0-4) has had a highly productive offense this season, but has given up 43 points per game in four straight conference losses. Among common opponents, the Hornets have beaten Northern Colorado (28-25 in a non-conference meeting) and lost to Montana (48-41).     

This will be the first meeting between the schools in two seasons and oddly, the third straight game between the teams in Sacramento. The Hornets have a three-game winning streak over the Vikings in three high-scoring affairs (43-42 in 2013, 48-41 in 2014 and 42-35 in 2016).     

PSU takes a 1-3 road record to Hornet Stadium while Sacramento State is 1-2 at home.     

Saturday's game is not televised in Portland, but is available on CW31 in the Sacramento area. There is also a live video stream on Pluto TV (www.pluto.tv) and WatchBigSky.com. The radio broadcast is available on 103.7 FM The Legend and www.1037TheLegend.com, with the pregame show at 5 p.m. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.

STORYLINES
• Portland State and Sacramento State have met 31 times in the last 35 years.
• PSU holds the all-time series (22-12) and Big Sky series advantage (12-7), but Sacramento State has won six of the last seven meetings and four straight at home. Prior to that, the Vikings had won eight in a row in the series (2000-07) and 13 of 14 (1994-2007).
• In one of many Big Sky Conference scheduling quirks, the Vikings play at Sacramento State for the third straight time. The last time the Hornets played in Portland was 2011.
• Wide receiver Andre Lindsey averaged a remarkable 30.2 yards per reception last season. He, along with defensive end George Obinna, were named Preseason All-Big Sky Conference.

LAST MEETING, Nov. 12, 2016: Sacramento State 42, Portland State 35
An apparent tying touchdown with 15 seconds left  was wiped away by a referees flag as the Vikings lost at Sacramento State.     

PSU forced three turnovers and outgained the Sacramento State 522 to 519. However, a late holding penalty proved to be key as the Vikings would have had a chance to tie or go ahead with an ensuing conversion play.              

That strange ending did not diminish a brilliant performance by Hornets' running back Jordan Robinson who rushed 23 times for 262 yards and four touchdowns.

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State started its season well, winning two of its first three games, but has since lost four straight Big Sky Conference games. Despite strong offensive output, the Hornets have allowed 43 points per game in those contests.
     
The Hornets feature running back Elijah Dotson, who has 875 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through seven games. He averages a Big Sky-best 168 yards in league games.     

Sacramento State has a balanced offense with 196.9 yards rushing and 257.1 yards passing per game and only five turnovers - the fewest in the Big Sky.     

Backup quarterback Wyatt Clapper has taken charge of the offense the past two games completing 27-55 passes for 365 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.     

Jaelin Ratliff is the top receiver with 21 catches for 438 yards and one touchdown. He averages almost 21 yards per catch for a team that averages 17.0 yards per completed pass.     

On defense, the Hornets are allowing 468.0 yards and 33.0 points per game for the season. Opponents also convert 53% of their third downs. Sacramento State has been particularly susceptible to the run, giving up 278.1 yards per game on the ground, ranking last in the Big Sky Conference. Last week, North Dakota rushed for 480 yards and totaled 604 yards of offense in a 41-15 win over Sacramento State.     

Defensive back Caelin Barnes is the team leader with 52 tackles. Mister Harriel, also a defensive back, has 39 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Defensive lineman Elijah Chambers has 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

ON THIS DATE: Oct. 27
Portland State has not had much success on this date, going just 2-5 dating back to the 1957 season. PSU is 1-1 in Big Sky games played on Oct. 27 but has never played Sacramento State.

QUICK SNAPS

ANOTHER FINE DEFENSIVE EFFORT MEANS ANOTHER VIKING WIN: Portland State's defense continues to play well and the Vikings now have a winning streak. The Viking "D" had another good day in a 35-14 win over Northern Colorado on Oct. 13. The defense had three interceptions, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks, setting the stage for a relatively easy day for the offense. PSU scored on its first four possessions of the game, led 35-0 midway through the third quarter and cruised to the win. A FR S Anthony Adams interception on the Bears first possession led to the Vikings first score. It came at the one-yard line, but SO QB Davis Alexander led a 13-play, 99-yard drive and scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns. JR CB Montre Brown had a pick on UNC's next possession. That made for a short field as the Vikings had to go only 17 yards for an Alexander TD. SR CB Artuz Manning added a second-half interception and SO QB Jalani Eason and JR RB Carlos Martin each scored rushing touchdowns as the Vikings won on Homecoming.

A BIG CHANGE ON DEFENSE: Defensive Coordinator Payam Saadat's flex defense has been making a big impact on the Viking team as the season progresses. Portland State needed big improvement on that side of the ball when Head Coach Bruce Barnum brought Saadat in during the off-season. And improvement has come as a young group is maturing.
• In four Big Sky Conference games, the Vikings are allowing 24.2 points (3rd in the Big Sky) and 359.0 yards (2nd in the Big Sky) per game. Over the past three weeks, PSU has allowed 18.0 points, 315 yards per game and forced eight turnovers. Perhaps where the numbers are most dramatic are in comparison to last year.

Defensive Production   Yards Allowed   Pts Allowed     TOs Forced  TO Margin
2017 Big Sky Games (8)      522.8                   47.6                    10                 -6
2018 Big Sky Games (4)      359.0                   24.2                     8                 +4      

• PSU allowed 289 yards to Idaho (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.
• The Vikings gave up 289 to Montana (-5 in the first quarter as they jumped to a 10-0 lead) and 20 points as well. PSU has six tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups and four big fumble recoveries, leading to 19 points. The defense also recorded six three-and-outs... moreover, Montana QB Dalton Sneed went into the game averaging 334 yards of total offense per game to lead the Big Sky. The Vikings held him to 159 yards.
• PSU had three more turnovers forced, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks against Northern Colorado, allowing 367 total yards. Of UNC's 10 possessions, there were three turnovers, three three-and-outs, and two fourth-down stops.

DEFENSIVE NOTES:
• Portland State's seven interceptions are more than the six the Vikings had all of last season... the six fumble recoveries matches last year's full season total... the 15 sacks are more than last year's 11-game total of seven.
• SR CB Artuz Manning, FR S Anthony Adams and JR CB Montre Brown all had interceptions against Northern Colorado. For Manning, it was his second of the season and third of his career... Brown also had a team-high eight tackles against the Bears... 10 different players had tackles for loss against Northern Colorado.
• SR LB Kasun Jackett leads the team with 48 tackles this season... JR S ROV Romeo Gunt is the team leader with 6.5 tackles for loss... SO DE Noah Yunker and SR DE Larry Ross lead the team with three sacks each.
• Against College of Idaho, Portland State had its best defensive performance by score (14 points allowed) in two seasons (19 games). The 14 points allowed to Northern Colorado were the fewest by a Big Sky opponent since Weber State scored 14 against the Vikings in 2016 (18 games).
• SR LB Kasun Jackett (139) and SR LB Sam Bodine (139) are Portland State's active career leaders in tackles, followed closely by SR CB Artuz Manning (130). Bodine also has the most career tackles for loss (10). Manning has the most pass breakups (13) and interceptions (3) in his career. 

FRESHMAN FOOTWORK: FR K Cody Williams went 3-3 on field goals at Montana including a 52-yarder with four seconds left to win the game, 22-20... Williams is one of five kickers in the Big Sky Conference to be perfect on extra points (22-22)... he is now 7-8 on field goals with his only miss from 49 yards.
• For his performance at Montana, Williams was named the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week
• Williams was 3-3 on field goals against Montana State. He was 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' 52-yard field goal was the longest by a Viking since Jonathan Gonzales made a 53-yarder in 2014. It was the 14th 50+ yard field goal in Portland State school history and ranks in a tie for sixth longest made. The record is 55 yards by Pat Moore in 1975. 

QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: SO QBs Davis Alexander and Jalani Eason each scored touchdowns in the Vikings won over Northern Colorado, and both continue to be contributors each game. Alexander rushed 10 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 6-9 passes for 90 yards. Eason had only five yards on four carries, but scored on a one-yard TD run.
• The QB combo has been very effective this season, combining to pass for nine touchdowns and only two interceptions in seven games. In all, PSU has passed for 1,358 yards (194.0 per game) and averages 16.2 yards per completion.
• The tandem has also rushed for 414 yards on 97 carries with eight touchdowns. Not counting sack yardage, they have 507 positive yards (72.4 yards per game).
• Alexander has completed 67-129 passes for 1,002 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has seven rushing TDs, and has one reception for 17 yards.
• In nine career starts, Alexander is 149-273 (.546) for 2,167 yards (240.8 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 15-28 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown.

TRYING TO GET CHARLIE ON THE GOOD FOOT: Part of what has made the Viking wins the past two games has been the fact they have done so without their most dangerous offensive weapon. Viking star Charlie Taumoepeau has missed two games due to an ankle sprain. It is hoped he will return this week against Sacramento State.
• 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.
• Touchdown Charlie has five scores. 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.

MORE GOOD WORK BY THE COMMITTEE: Portland State's "by committee" running game continues to share the wealth. JR RB Sirgeo Hoffman is the leader with 258 rushing yards on the strength of an 80-yard, one-touchdown game at Montana. But six players have seen plenty of action toting the pigskin.
• Against Northern Colorado, SO QB Davis Alexander rushed 10 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns. Hoffman had 12 carries for 52 yards, SR RB Darian Green rushed nine times for 42 yards, and JR RB Carlos Martin added nine carries for 28 yards and a touchdown.
• Six players have rushed for more than 100 yards this season as the Vikings are averaging 175.0 rushing yards per game. They include Hoffman (75-258-1), SO QB Davis Alexander (58-242-7), SR RB Darian Green (54-234-1), SO QB Jalani Eason (39-172-1), JR RB Carlos Martin (47-153-2) and SO RB Antwone Williams (24-122-1).
• The Vikings rushed for 203 yards against Montana State after putting up 350 against College of Idaho. They had a hard-earned 179 yards at Montana, followed by 192 and five TDs against Northern Colorado.

YOUNG PUPS CHASING THAT FRISBEE: Portland State has a youthful wide receiving corps. Through seven games, they have started to emerge.
• FR Mataio Talalemotu (16-188-1), SO Emmanuel Daigbe (12-202-1) and FR Beau Kelly (10-150-0) 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.

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 +7 turnover margin (13/6). After averaging 1.9 turnovers per game last year, they are averaging 0.9 this season.
• PSU has 54 points off turnovers while opponents have scored 19.
• 10 different players have takeaways for the Vikings.

THIRD-DOWN THEORY: Success or lack of it on third down is proving to be a defining statistic for the Vikings this season.
• In two losses to FBS opponents at the start of the season, 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 in a win 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.
• PSU was a very respectable 9-20 on third down at Montana (and 1-1 on fourth) while holding the Grizzlies to just 2-12 conversions.. The result of course was a win.
• For the season, the Vikings are 37-100 (37%) on third down, while opponents are 39-91 (43%).

BRIGHT SPOTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
• FR K Cody Williams is 7-8 on field goals and 22-22 on extra points. The Viking team was 3-9 on field goals and 25-29 on PATs last year.
• Opponents average 16.0 yards per kick return (after averaging 20.8 last season), which is eighth in the nation.
• 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.
• JR LS Riley Shackelford had been spotless on all his snaps this season. But a knee injury at Idaho ended his year. SO TE/LS Daniel Giannosa stepped into the role at Montana and was solid on every snap including the game-winning field goal by FR K Cody Williams.
• The Vikings have blocked four kicks - twice as many as they had all of last season - which ranks seventh in the nation. SR LB Houston Barnes blocked a punt at Montana leading to an eventual field goal for the Vikings... 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... FR OL Tyson Pauling, SO TE AJ Ruffin and FR Davis Koetter became first-time starters at Montana.
• 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 67 players this season and 35 are either freshmen (17) 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.
• PSU has two sophomore quarterbacks and one redshirt freshman.