---

Game 5
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-3, 0-1) at IDAHO VANDALS (1-2, 0-1)
Saturday, September 29, 2 p.m. • ASUI Kibbie Dome (16,000), Moscow, ID

---

TELEVISION: None, SWX in Idaho
RADIO: 103.7 FM The Legend, www.1037TheLegend.com • Pregame Show: 1 p.m. • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: Pluto TV, www.pluto.tv (channel 242) • Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. VANDALS
All-Time Series: Idaho leads 11-1 • UI leads 7-0 in Moscow • UI leads 4-1 in Portland
Big Sky Conference Series: 1st meeting
 
VIKINGS MEET IDAHO FOR FIRST TIME IN BIG SKY PLAY
A pair of teams seeking their first Big Sky Conference win in a long time will meet this Saturday in Moscow, ID as the Portland State Vikings take on the Idaho Vandals at the Kibbie Dome. PSU goes after its first league win since 2016, while Idaho - a member of the Big Sky from 1963 to 1995 and eight-time league champion - has made its return this season.
     
The Vikings (1-3, 0-1) and Vandals (1-2, 0-1) have not played one another since 1997 - a 46-0 Idaho victory in Moscow. Prior to that, the last meeting was 1989 when a Division II PSU program beat Division 1-AA Idaho, 29-20, in Portland. PSU trails the all-time series with Idaho, a program that has always played at a higher NCAA level until now, 11-1. The Vikings are 0-7 all-time in Moscow.
     
Both programs go into this week's game off a Big Sky-opening loss last Saturday by similar scores. The Vikings dropped their Big Sky home opener to Montana State, 43-23. Idaho lost at 21st-ranked UC Davis, 44-21.
     
Portland State has a lot to play for against the Vandals, having lost nine straight road games and 11 straight Big Sky Conference games.
     
The Vikings have averaged a respectable 412.5 yards and 29.8 points per game on offense. The numbers are a bit skewed on defense after playing a pair of FBS teams, but PSU allows just over 47 points and 480 yards per game.
     
Idaho has averaged 375 yards per game and 30.0 points per game on offense, but have given up over 43 points and 435 yards per game on defense. The Vandals' big handicap has been a -9 turnover margin in just three games.
     
Saturday's game is not televised in the Portland area, but will be on SWX in Idaho. A live video stream on Pluto TV (www.pluto.tv, channel 242) and WatchBigSky.com is available. The radio broadcast is available at 103.7 FM The Legend in the Portland area, and www.1037thelegend.com, with the pregame show at 1 p.m. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• Idaho returns to the Big Sky Conference in football this season after leaving the league in 1996. Idaho becomes the first NCAA Division I program to move from the FBS level to the FCS level. The Vandals other athletic programs returned to the Big Sky two years ago.
• The Vandals lead the all-time series 11-1. The teams played for 10 straight seasons from 1980 to 1989. Portland State's only victory was a 29-20 home win in 1989. The most recent meeting was in 1997 - a 46-0 Vandal win.
• Idaho was an original member of the Big Sky Conference when it formed in 1963. The Vandals won eight league titles in their 33 seasons, and made 11 appearances in the NCAA playoffs.
• Idaho has a winning series record against every member of the Big Sky Conference it has faced throughout its history.
 
SCOUTING IDAHO
Idaho's return to the FCS level this season has been a bit bumpy. The Vandals opened with a 79-12 loss at Fresno State. They bounced back to beat Western New Mexico, 56-10, before losing at 21st-ranked UC Davis last week, 44-21.
     
Idaho has used two quarterbacks just like the Vikings, however junior Mason Petrino, son of Head Coach Paul Petrino, has taken the majority of the snaps. Petrino the younger has completed 47-75 passes this season for 529 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. David Ungerer, the team's top returning receiver, leads the way again with 19 receptions for 225 yards and two scoring grabs. He also has a 65-yard punt return for touchdown as the Vandals have the nation's top punt return average (34.7).
     
Running back Isaiah Saunders has been a one-man ground game for Idaho, totaling 238 yards and two touchdowns.
     
Idaho's drawback has been nine turnovers through three games. Petrino and backup QB Colton Richardson have each thrown three picks. The six interceptions are the most in the Big Sky Conference.
     
On defense, the Vandals have yet to force a turnover and rank last in the nation in turnover margin (-3.0 per game).
     
Idaho gives up 206 rushing yards and 229 passing yards per game. The Vandals have allowed 44.3 points per game.
     
Linebacker Ed Hall is the team's top tackler with 26 through three games. Christian Elliss has 21 tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
     
Cade Coffey ranks as the top punter in the Big Sky at 47.3 yards per boot. He also ranks third in the nation. Coffey is 0-2 on field goals this season.

QUICK SNAPS
 
VIKINGS GET OUTRUN: Montana State had a little too much ground game for Portland State in a 43-23 win at Hillsboro Stadium last Saturday. Quarterback Troy Anderson had a big day, rushing for 211 yards and two touchdowns and passing for another 107 yards and a score. In all, the Bobcats had 323 of their 491 yards on the ground. After an initial stop by the Vikings, the Bobcats scored on their next seven possessions... PSU had a good offensive performance but was halted twice on long drives in the first half  (52 and 65 yards) and forced to kick field goals. A third long drive (53 yards) ran out of time at halftime, forcing the Vikings to kick another field goal. Not getting more Vikings in the endzone allowed the Bobcats to build a 26-16 halftime lead that they would not relinquish. SO QB Davis Alexander had 212 passing yards along with 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns to lead the Viking offense... FR K Cody Williams was 3-3 on field goals (44, 26, 42) - the best performance by a Viking kicker in a couple of seasons.
 
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 11-game Big Sky losing streak and a nine-game road losing streak at Idaho.
 
TOUCHDOWN CHARLIE: Montana State did a good job on Viking star Charlie Taumoepeau on Saturday, limiting him to three catches for 50 yards. 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.
• Through four games, Touchdown Charlie has five scores, which ranks fourth in the nation. He has caught 12 passes for 376 yards. The 31.3 yard per catch average ranks second 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 26-game career, Taumoepeau has 65 receptions for 1,198 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 eight touchdowns and only two interceptions in four games. In all, PSU has passed for 924 yards (231.0 per game) and ranks fifth in the nation in yards per completion (18.9)... individually, Eason leads the Big Sky in pass efficiency with a 199.9 rating.
• The tandem has also rushed for 276 yards on 56 carries. Not counting sack yardage, they have 330 positive yards.
• Alexander has completed 34-71 passes for 609 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He also leads the team with 168 rushing yards and three rushing TDs, and has one reception for 17 yards.
• In six career starts, Alexander is 116-216 (.537) for 1,774 (295.7 per game), 10 touchdowns and four interceptions... he passed for 409 yards at Cal Poly last season in his starting debut.
• This season, Eason has completed 13-22 passes for 251 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 108 yards.
 
YOUNG PUPS CHASING THAT FRISBEE: Portland State's has a youthful wide receiving corps. Through four games, they have started to emerge. FR Mataio Talalemotu (11-139-1), SO Emmanuel Daigbe (6-100-1) and FR Beau Kelly (5-95-0) 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... all but Trakel are playing their first season at Portland State.
 
THE COMMITTEE: Through four 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 (32-168-3) leads the team in rushing, followed by SR RB Darian Green (31-124-1), JR RB Sirgeo Hoffman (35-117-0), SO QB Jalani Eason (24-108-0), JR RB Carlos Martin (29-103-1) and SO RB Antwone Williams (15-96-1).
• Martin (48), Green (44) and Hoffman (41) all had PSU career-high rushing yards against Montana State.
• The Vikings rushed for 203 yards against Montana State... in the last two games, they have 553 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
 
FRESHMAN PERFECTION: FR K Cody Williams has yet to miss a kick through four games this season... Williams is one of five kickers in the Big Sky Conference to be perfect on extra points (15-15)... he is also one of four to not miss a field goal (4-4).
• 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).
 
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 38.9 yards per punt with a career-long of 56 and has twice backed his opponents up to the one-yard line.
• The Vikings have already blocked three kicks, which ranks third in the nation and is one more than they had all of last season. 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.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES:
• Portland State missed SR LB Houston Barnes against Montana State, who sat out with an ankle sprain. Starting in his place was SR LB Kasun Jackett, who led the Vikings with 13 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
• 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 Houston Barnes still leads the team in tackles (25), followed by Jackett (24). SR LB Sam Bodine has 20 tackles.
• SO DT Semise Kofe tackled Nevada's Kelton Moore in the endzone for a safety in game one. It was the first safety by the Viking defense since 2014.
• SR S Artuz Manning is PSU's active career leader in tackles with 126. Manning also has the most career tackles for loss (9.5) and pass breakups (12). Both SR LB Kasun Jackett (115) and SR LB Sam Bodine (119) have also passed the century mark in their careers.
 
TAKEAWAY TOTE:  Portland State had a big deficiency in turnover margin last season, committing 21 turnovers while making only 12 takeaways. Although they did not force a turnover against Montana State, the Vikings still have a +2 turnover margin this season (5/3)... 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 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%).
 
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.
• 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.
 
GET ON THE BUS: THE AMERICANA TOUR CONTINUES THIS WEEK
Portland State Football Coach Bruce Barnum is renowned for taking his team on the bus to as many road games as possible. He calls it "The Americana Tour." It has made for some long bus rides, but Barnum often lets his team out to see the sights. Barnum also feels it promotes team unity (and saves a few dollars in the budget). In the past three years, PSU has logged 11,934 bus miles with a "program record" of 4,906 in 2016.
     
The Americana Tour continues in 2018 as the Vikings plan some extended bus trips once again. PSU will bus round trip to Nevada (1,156 miles round trip), Oregon (218 miles), Idaho (718 miles), Montana (1,098 miles) and Sacramento State (1,158 miles). Only the game at North Dakota (charter) will include air travel. That will be a total of 4,348 bus miles for the Vikings in 2018 which, remarkably, ranks only third-most in four seasons.
     
Here is a quick log of the Americana Tour in past seasons:
• Coach Barnum led his first "Americana Tour" in 2015, which included bus rides to Pullman, WA, Pocatello, ID, San Luis Obispo, CA, and Cheney, WA. In all, the Vikings logged 4,394 bus miles and approximately 80 hours round trip to those four destinations (PSU also flew on two road trips). The Americana Tour included such things as dozens of on-bus movies, a stop to buy a lottery ticket on the way home from beating Washington State, a practice on Boise State's blue turf, a sight-seeing trip to Alcatraz (in which equipment manager Mike Haluska was left on the island… but soon retrieved), and a midnight McDonald's run at a lonely truck stop in eastern Oregon. In addition to the economy of the bus trips, Barnum contends the time together draws the Viking team closer.
• The 2016 Americana Tour included round trips to San Jose, Seattle and Sacramento (twice). There was also a return bus ride from Ogden, UT and a shorter trip from Las Vegas to Cedar City... the trip to San Jose was a total of 1,340 miles. It included a stop off at Oregon Wildlife Safari and the obligatory In-and-Out Burger visitation in Medford... on the trip to Southern Utah, PSU flew into Las Vegas, took in the Criss Angel Show at the Luxor Hotel and made another midnight In-and-Out run... while traveling to Weber State, PSU visited Temple Square and the Hogle Zoo... after a pair round trips to Sacramento (UC Davis and Sacramento State), PSU had accumulated 4,906 bus miles for the season.
• The 2017 season was limited to just three bus trips: Oregon State, Idaho State and Eastern Washington. There was also a bus portion from San Jose, CA to Cal Poly. And, Portland State's trip to Corvallis was a mere 168 miles round trip. The Americana Tour bus trip to Pocatello, ID was 660 miles one way, 1,320 miles round trip. The Vikings made a stop in Pendleton and toured the Pendleton Rodeo Museum and Hall of Fame, as well as a stop along the Snake River... the Vikings had bus travel from San Jose Airport to San Luis Obispo for the game at Cal Poly. It was 376 miles round trip and included a stop over on the Monterey Peninsula on the way down. No golf was played... the final week's bus trip from PSU to Eastern Washington was 339 miles one way, 678 round trip. That made the Vikings' Americana Tour for 2017 a total of 2,542 miles.