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Game 7
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (0-6, 0-3) at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-4, 1-2)
Saturday, October 13, 2:05 p.m. • Providence Park (18,627), Portland, OR

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TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM, www.ripcityradio.com • Pregame Show: 1 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. BEARS
All-Time Series: Portland State leads 7-5 • PSU leads 4-3 in Portland • PSU leads 3-2 in Greeley
Big Sky Conference Series: Portland State leads 5-4 • UNC leads 3-2 in Portland • PSU leads 3-1 in Greeley
 
Big Sky Conference games
2006: PSU 45-3 @ Portland
2007: PSU 31-21 @ Greeley
2008: PSU 24-21 @ Portland
2009: PSU 23-18 @ Greeley
2010: UNC 35-30 @ Portland
2011: PSU 23-17 @ Greeley
2012: UNC 32-28 @ Portland
2015: UNC 35-32 @ Greeley
2016: UNC 56-49 at Portland (ot)
 
VIKINGS HOST BEARS ON HOMECOMING
Coming off the program's biggest win in three seasons, the Portland State Vikings return home this Saturday to host the Northern Colorado Bears in a Homecoming game. The Vikings and the Bears meet in a 2:05 p.m. game at Providence Park. The Homecoming game is presented by Les Schwab.
     
Portland State (2-4, 1-2) has reveled in a 22-20 win at 14th-ranked Montana last week. FR K Cody Williams kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal with four seconds left to back up a brilliant performance by the Viking defense. PSU must now must change gears and try to build a streak when it plays Northern Colorado.
     
The Vikings play three of their last five games at home starting with UNC, a team that has given it fits in recent years. Northern Colorado (0-6, 0-3) comes into the contest winless but has played a schedule just as rugged as the Vikings, already facing four nationally-ranked teams.
     
The Bears won the last matchup against the Vikings, also at Providence Park, in 2016. That game was a 56-49 overtime affair. It marked the third straight win in the series for the Bears though the Vikings still hold the all-time (7-5) and Big Sky (5-4) edge in games won. UNC has also won the last three times they have played in Portland - all by small margins of five, two and seven in overtime.
     
Saturday's game is not televised but 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 1 p.m. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• Portland State and Northern Colorado will meet for the first time in two seasons. The last meeting was a 56-49 overtime win by the Bears at Providence Park. Ironically, among UNC's five all-time wins in the series with the Vikings, the seven-point margin was the largest ever. Other wins have come by the margin of one, five, four and three.
• Northern Colorado has won three straight games in Portland and leads the Big Sky series in Portland (3-2). Meanwhile, Portland State leads the Big Sky series in Greeley (3-1).
• The last seven meetings between the teams have been decided by seven points or less.
• Wide receiver Alex Wesley was named Preseason All-Big Sky Conference.
• Former Viking quarterback Neil Lomax set Portland State records for pass completions (44) and attempts (77) in a 1979 21-20 loss to the Bears. Lomax passed for 499 yards.
 
LAST MEETING, Oct. 29, 2016: Northern Colorado 56, Portland State 49 (ot)
Portland State tied the game at 49-49 with 1:12 to play in regulation, but had its collective hearts broken in overtime when an apparent tying touchdown was overturned by review.
     
After Northern Colorado had opened overtime with a touchdown, the Vikings had appeared to match it on a third-down pass from Alex Kuresa to Josh Kraght on PSU's possession. The play went to review with everyone in the stadium expecting the question to be whether Kraght had crossed the goal line or was down at the one-yard line. When the review came back as an incompletion, saying Kraght did not possess the ball to the ground, the Vikings were down to a final play, which was an incompletion in the endzone. 
     
The teams had a remarkable offensive battle, with the Bears gaining 558 yards and the Vikings amassing 549.
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO
Northern Colorado comes to Portland looking for its initial win of the season. The Bears are 0-6, but have already played a challenging schedule with losses to nationally-ranked McNeese State, South Dakota, Weber State and UC Davis.
     
The Bears average 369.7 yards per game on offense, but have been troubled by 15 turnovers. The Bears running game gets just 90 yards per contest to rank last in the Big Sky. The passing game averages over 279 yards.
     
Three different quarterbacks have started for UNC, most recently Conor Regan. He started last Saturday against UC Davis and completed 28 of 48 passes for 387 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
     
Wide receiver Alex Wesley had nine catches for 178 yards and a touchdown in that game. He leads the Bears with 34 receptions for 743 yards and three touchdowns on the year.
     
The Bears defense has forced eight turnovers. Defensive back Sherand Boyd has three of those with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Luke Nelson is the team's top tackler with 48 stops. Keifer Glaus has 47 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and four pass breakups.
     
Northern Colorado has recorded the fewest sacks in the Big Sky (4) and allowed the most (29). The Bears also commit the most penalties (73 yards per game).
 
WILLIAMS NAMED NATIONAL AND BIG SKY SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman kicker Cody Williams drilled a 52-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to lead the Vikings to a 22-20 victory over 14th-ranked Montana in Missoula on Saturday. That dramatic play has earned him STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
     
Williams was 3-3 on field goals in the game, also making kicks from 22 and 43 yards, and converted both extra points. He also averaged 59 yards on kickoffs with two touchbacks.
     
"I've been practicing for so many years, I knew I had it in me. I'm just glad the team got me there. I couldn't have done it without them," said Williams of his game-winning kick. "It's great being able to have these opportunities. Thanks to Coach Barnum for putting me out there and having the trust in me."
     
It was not just an upset for the Vikings, but it also marked the first time that PSU has won a Big Sky Conference game in Missoula (0-9 previously) and was the first win at Washington-Grizzly Stadium by a Viking team since 1988.
     
Williams is one of five kickers in the Big Sky Conference to be perfect on extra points (17-17) this season. He is now 7-8 on field goals this season with his only miss from 49 yards. The 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.
 
ON THIS DATE: Oct. 13, 1962
The Vikings had their most unusual win and lowest scoring game in school history with a 2-0 victory over Eastern Oregon.
     
Portland State is 3-4 all-time on Oct. 13, having played a Big Sky game only once previously on this date, a 23-17 loss to Idaho State, in 2001.
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
A LANDMARK WIN ON THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION: Given one last chance to pull off a monumental upset, Portland State Head Coach Bruce Barnum left it all on the right foot of his kicker Cody Williams last Saturday in Missoula. And Williams delivered. The true freshman split the uprights from 52 yards out with four seconds remaining giving the Vikings a 22-20 victory over 14th-ranked Montana on Homecoming at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. It was the longest kick of Williams career, high school or college, and it went through the left center of the sticks with plenty of room to spare. After that, the celebration was on for the Vikings. The win was big for a number of reasons in what the Vikings hope is a redemption season. Consider:
• Portland State had never won a Big Sky Conference game in Missoula (0-9) before Saturday, and won for the first time since 1988 and only the fourth time in 21 tries overall in Missoula.
• The Vikings wiped out a 10-game road losing streak and a 12-game Big Sky losing streak.
• It was the first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since the final regular season game of 2015.
      While Williams made the big kick, it was the defense that set the stage with fine play all afternoon. The Vikings gave up only 289 yards of total offense to the Griz and, more importantly, recovered four fumbles. The biggest came in Montana's last drive when Sam Bodine recovered a Grizzlies fumble at the PSU 23 with 4:04 left in the game. The Vikings trailed 20-19 and desperately needed a winning score.  From there, the Vikings moved 42 yards on 13 plays. On third-down-and-10 with nine seconds left, and following a Montana timeout, Williams split the uprights for the win... in the first half PSU's defense stopped all nine Montana possessions with seven punts and two fumbles. One of the punt plays was blocked by Houston Barnes leading to a Viking field goal... the Vikings led 13-0 at halftime as Williams also made a pair of kicks in the first half... Montana scored twice in the third quarter to finally lead, 14-13. After a PSU TD and missed two-point conversion, the Griz answered back on a 75-yard scoring drive. But a failed two-point conversion proved to be a pivotal play. The Vikings snuffed out a sweep that would have given Montana a three-point lead... in the end, the Vikings won the turnover battle, four to three. The Vikings scored 19 points off those turnovers, while the Grizzlies scored only seven off turnovers... Portland State had 390 yards of total offense and dominated time of possession 39:03 to 20:57. But the biggest stars were the defense and Williams. The Vikings had three sacks, five pass breakups and four fumble recoveries. And they held a Big Sky opponent under 300 yards for the second straight game.
 
PUTTING SOME UGLY STREAKS BEHIND THEM: The win over Montana allowed the Vikings to end a 12-game Big Sky Conference losing streak and a 10-game road losing streak. PSU also picked up a first-ever win in a Big Sky game in Missoula (losing nine previously). And, the Vikings put a seven-game losing streak to nationally-ranked teams behind them as well.. 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.
 
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 (17-17)... he is now 7-8 on field goals with his only miss from 49 yards.
• 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.
 
289/20x2: For the second straight week, Portland State allowed 289 yards of total offense and 20 points to its opponent. This time the Vikings came away with a win over Montana.
• 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.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES: After a rough 2017 season and start of 2018 against two FBS opponents, the Viking defense is rounding into form. In the last four games, PSU has allowed only 24.3 points and 325 yards per game while forcing nine turnovers... in three Big Sky Conference games, Portland State ranks first in total defense (356.3) and second in scoring defense (27.7).
• Portland State's six fumble recoveries already matches last year's full season total... the nine sacks are more than last year's 11-game total of seven.
• SR LB Kasun Jackett has led the Vikings over the last three weeks with 33 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Jackett leads the team with 44 tackles this season.
• Also having big games at Montana were FR S Anthony Adams (8 tackles, tackle for loss, PBU), SR LB Sam Bodine (6 tackles, TFL, fumble recovery, PBU), SO DE Noah Yunker (5 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery) and SR DT Dallas House (2 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, PBU).
• 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 LB Kasun Jackett (135) and SR LB Sam Bodine (134) are Portland State's active career leaders in tackles, followed closely by SR CB Artuz Manning (129). Manning also has the most career tackles for loss (9.5), pass breakups (12) and interceptions (2, along with Maxwell Howell).
 
QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: Once again, SO QBs Davis Alexander and Jalani Eason each played a major role as the Vikings won at Montana on Saturday. Alexander completed 15-28 passes for 170 yards and engineered the final winning drive. Eason was 2-5 passing for 41 yards and rushed five times for 14 yards.
• The QB combo has been very effective this season, combining for nine touchdowns and only two interceptions in six games. In all, PSU has passed for 1,268 yards (211.3 per game) and averages 16.3 yards per completion.
• The tandem has also rushed for 337 yards on 83 carries. Not counting sack yardage, they have 442 positive yards (73.7 yards per game).
• Alexander has completed 61-120 passes for 912 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has four rushing TDs, and has one reception for 17 yards.
• In eight career starts, Alexander is 143-264 (.540) for 2,077 yards (259.1 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 167 yards.
 
TOUCHDOWN CHARLIE: Viking star Charlie Taumoepeau missed last week's game at Montana due to an ankle sprain. It is hoped he will return this week against Northern Colorado.
• 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.
 
AJ IS A NICE UNDERSTUDY: Portland State played without star JR TE Charlie Taumoepeau at Montana, but SO TE AJ Ruffin filled in nicely. Ruffin led the team with five receptions for 70 yards in the game.
 
SIRGEO STEPS UP TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE: Portland State's "by committee" running game may have found its leader. JR RB Sirgeo Hoffman got the start and had his best game of the season at Montana, rushing 20 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. He also caught five passes for 50 yards for 130 total yards... Hoffman now leads the team with 206 rushing yards.
• Six players have rushed for more than 100 yards this season as the Vikings are averaging just over 170 rushing yards per game. They include Hoffman (63-206-1), SR RB Darian Green (45-192-1), SO QB Davis Alexander (48-170-4), SO QB Jalani Eason (35-167-0), JR RB Carlos Martin (38-125-1) and SO RB Antwone Williams (23-119-1).
• 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.
 
YOUNG PUPS CHASING THAT FRISBEE: Portland State has a youthful wide receiving corps. Through six games, they have started to emerge.
• FR Mataio Talalemotu (15-180-1), SO Emmanuel Daigbe (10-170-1) and FR Beau Kelly (8-109-0) 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 +4 turnover margin (10/6).
• PSU has 40 points off turnovers while opponents have scored 19.
• Nine 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. 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.
• 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.
• For the season, the Vikings are 34-92 (37%) on third down, while opponents are 30-73 (41%).
 
BRIGHT SPOTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
• FR K Cody Williams is 7-8 on field goals and 17-17 on extra points. The Viking team was 3-9 on field goals and 25-29 on PATs last year.
• Opponents average 17.7 yards per kick return (after averaging 20.8 last season).
• SO P Ben Niesner has averaged 38.4 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.