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Game 8
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-3, 2-1) at NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (1-6, 1-2)
Saturday, Oct. 19, 1:05 p.m. MT/Noon PT • Nottingham Field (8,533), Greeley, CO
TELEVISION: Eleven Sports (DirecTV Channel 623, AT&T Uverse Channel 1665, Verizon FiOS Channel 597, Google Fiber Channel 251) Play-by-play: Bill Doleman • Analyst: Justin Adams
LIVE VIDEO: Pluto TV Channel 541, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com
LIVE AUDIO: www.GoViks.com/watch • Pregame Show: 11:30 a.m. PT • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Mike Lund
LIVE STATS: https://uncbears.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
BRUCE BARNUM ON THE RADIO AND TV: Viking football Coach Bruce Barnum can be heard and seen every Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM and NBC Sports Northwest on Comcast Cable Systems. Barnum joins Chad Doing and Travis Demers on the Rip City Drive... on Thursdays Coach Barnum can be heard on John Canzano's Bald-Faced Truth Show, 750 The Game, at 1 p.m.
 
EVERY WEDNESDAY: Vikings Football With Bruce Barnum. Barny reviews and previews Viking football games with Mike Lund. The video is available at www.GoViks.com and on Vikings Social Media.
 
VIKING FOOTBALL LUNCHEONS: Portland State Athletics football luncheons take place on Friday's before home games at the Old Spaghetti Factory, located at 0715 SW Bancroft. Coach Barnum and Viking players will speak and be available for questions. The luncheon starts at noon and is open to the public. Cost is $15

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VIKINGS GET THE JOB DONE AT HOME, NOW MUST PROVE SELVES ON THE ROAD
The Portland State will try to carry their recent success with them as they play away from home for the next two weeks. The Vikings, 4-3 overall, 2-1 in the Big Sky Conference, have won their last two and three of four overall. They are 4-0 at home including a 24-0 whitewashing of Idaho last Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium.
     
This week, the Vikings will look for their first road win of the season (0-3) as they play at Northern Colorado for the first time since 2015. The Bears are just 1-6 on the season, but their most recent home game was a victory over Idaho as well, 27-24. They have played five of seven games on the road so far.
     
Portland State beat Northern Colorado last year, 35-14, in the Vikings' final home game ever at Providence Park. A solid defensive performance in that one set the tone, however current Bears' quarterback Jacob Knipp was unable to play in the game due to injury. Knipp led a win over the Vikings as a freshman in 2015.
     
At 4-3, Portland State has already matched last year's win total (4-7). A win this week would get the Vikings to the most victories since the 2015 playoff season (9-3).
     
While Portland State's offense has proven to be balanced and highly productive, the defense has been grabbing a lot of headlines. The shutout over Idaho last Saturday was the first for PSU in a Big Sky Conference game since 2006 - a span of exactly 100 league games. The Vikings lead the Big Sky in total defense (324.4) and are fourth in scoring defense (23.3). Meanwhile, Northern Colorado ranks last in the Big Sky in scoring (16.0) and 12th in total offense (320.3).
     
PSU is currently tied for fourth in the 13-team Big Sky Conference at 2-1. Montana, Sacramento Staet and Weber State all sit at 2-0. Montana travels to Sacramento State this week. Although not ranked, Portland State received voting points in both the coaches and media national Top 25 polls this week.
     
Saturday's game at Northern Colorado kicks off at 1 p.m. MT/Noon PT. The game is televised on Eleven Sports (DirecTV Channel 623, AT&T Uverse Channel 1665, Verizon FiOS Channel 597, Google Fiber Channel 251) and Pluto TV Channel 541. Portland State live audio of the game can be found at www.GoViks.com/Watch.
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BEARS
All-Time Series: PSU leads 8-5 • PSU leads 5-3 in Portland • PSU leads 3-2 in Greeley
Big Sky Conference Series: PSU leads 6-4 • The series is tied 3-3 in Portland • PSU leads 3-1 in Greeley
 
STORYLINES
• Each team has had success at the opponents' home in this series. Among Big Sky Conference games, the series is tied 3-3 in Portland. The Vikings lead 3-1 in Greeley, although their last trip (2015) was a 35-32 loss.
• Prior to PSU's 35-14 win last year, the previous seven meetings between the teams have been decided by seven points or less.
• Northern Colorado has five all-time wins in the series with the Vikings, but has never won by more than seven points. Other wins have come by a margin of one, five, four and three.
• 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. 13, 2018: Portland State 35, Northern Colorado 14
Davis Alexander scored on three touchdowns runs in just over 16 minutes and by halftime the Vikings led the Bears, 28-0, in PSU's final appearance at Providence Park.
     
Although the Northern Colorado offense passed for 351 yards, the Viking defense made three interceptions, two of which led to eventual PSU touchdowns. The Vikings also had 10 tackles for loss and five sacks in the game.
     
Portland State's big first-half lead led to a conservative approach the rest of the way and Northern Colorado out-gained the Vikings, 367-282. Alex Wesley caught 11 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown to lead the Bears. Montre Brown led the Vikings with eight tackles and had one of PSU's three picks.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Northern Colorado is led by eighth-year Head Coach Earnest Collins, Jr. Collins is 27-68 all-time with the Bears, but holds a 3-2 advantage in games against Portland State.
     
This season Northern Colorado is 1-6 overall, 1-2 in the Big Sky, with the lone win over Idaho. A challenging slate has included five of seven on the road with games at San Jose State, Washington State, Sacramento State and Eastern Washington.
     
UNC averages 320.3 yards and 16.0 points per game on offense. While the running game has produced less than 100 yards per contest, quarterback Jacob Knipp has been effective, completing 59% of his passes for 1,447 yards, five touchdowns and only three interceptions.
     
Senior wideout Willie Fairman has led the receiving corps with 31 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Senior tailback Milo Hall has 540 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He ranks fifth in the Big Sky in yards.
     
On defense, the Bears are giving up 39.6 points and 521.1 yards per game, both of which rank last in the Big Sky Conference. What Northern Colorado has done well is force turnovers, gathering seven interceptions and three fumbles from their opponents.
 
ON THIS DATE: OCTOBER 19
• Portland State is 4-3 all-time on Oct. 19, including 2-1 at home.
• The Vikings are 1-1 in Big Sky Conference games on Oct. 19.
• PSU and Northern Colorado never met on Oct. 19.
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
VIKING DEFENSE PITCHES A SHUTOUT AGAINST VANDALS
With the major league baseball playoffs in full swing, Portland State decided to join the fun and pitch a shutout – except on the football field. The Vikings used dominant defense to whitewash the Idaho Vandals, 24-0, last Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. PSU shut out a Big Sky Conference team for the first time since Oct. 21, 2006, when PSU throttled Eastern Washington, 34-0. It was a span of exactly 100 Big Sky games since PSU's last shutout over a league opponent (Portland State has shut out two lower division teams since that time in 2011 and 2015). Idaho's defense was good as well and remarkably, the game was scoreless at halftime. But the Vikings took advantage of an early third-quarter turnover by the Vandals to get on the board. PSU's Cody Williams kicked a 38-yard field for a 3-0 lead. PSU's defense followed with a three-and-out stop of Idaho on the next series. That led to the first touchdown drive of the game on the longest offensive series of the day. The Vikings went 91 yards on eight plays, highlighted by a 29-yard run by quarterback Davis Alexander. Two plays later, the Viking QB dropped back to pass, saw nobody open, and took off. He weaved his way through the Vandal defense for a 21-yard scoring run and a 10-0 lead.Later, Alexander took the Vikings on a decisive 10-play, 80-yard march. The clincher was a 28-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Davis Koetter. PSU led 17-0 with 10:51 to play and the Vandals couldn't respond. PSU tacked on a late touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Alexander to Emmanuel Daigbe. This one was all about the defense. Portland State, which leads the Big Sky in total defense, held Idaho to 236 yards of total offense and intercepted four passes. The Vikings had 10 tackles for loss, six sacks and broke up four passes. Sophomore safety Anthony Adams had a big day with five tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups. Also getting picks were safety Sam Inos and cornerback Deon Crayon. Joseph, who got the start at rover in place of the injured Romeo Gunt, had a big day with a team-high six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and was in on two sacks.
 
FLY SWATTER
SO S Anthony Adams had a game defensive backs dream about against Idaho. Adams intercepted two passes, batted a third into a teammate's hands for another pick, added a second pass breakup and made five tackles as the Vikings shut out the Vandals. That performance further enhanced Adams' 2019 resume.
• Adams has 11 pass breakups and three interceptions this season, both of which lead the Big Sky Conference. His 14 passes defended LEADS THE NATION.
• The 11 pass breakups already ranks sixth on the Portland State all-time season list. The record for a season is 15.
• Adams has 18 career pass breakups in 18 games. He is already seventh all-time at PSU (record, 33).
• The Newberg native now has four career interceptions and five career takeaways.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Portland State's defense accomplished a feat none had been able to over the past 13 seasons when it shut out Idaho, 24-0. It had been exactly 100 games since the last shutout of a Big Sky opponent (34-0 over Eastern Washington, Oct. 21, 2006 - PSU has shutouts of two lower division teams since that time in 2011 and 2015). The Vikings held Idaho to 236 total yards, had 10 tackles for loss, six sacks, four interceptions and broke up four passes. SO ROV David Joseph led the Vikings with six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
• The Vikings continue to lead the Big Sky Conference in fewest yards allowed (324.4) and rank fourth in points allowed (23.3). PSU is first in rushing defense (97.1), which also ranks 15th in the nation.
• PSU has 12 takeaways this season and a +5 turnover margin. The Vikings have 38 points off turnovers while opponents have just 14.
• In a win over Southern Utah on Oct. 5, PSU had a decisive four-TD stretch in the second quarter against the T-Birds. In that time, the defense limited the Thunderbirds to 10 plays, 29 yards and no first downs. In all, the defense had four three-and-outs and three forced turnovers in the game. SO DE Jake Porter made a career-high eight tackles against Southern Utah. JR LB Dylan Hanley had a career-high seven stops.
• The Vikings have held 10 of the last 16 opponents to 20 points or less. The have held four of seven opponents to 20 or less this season. Seven of the last 12 Division I opponents have scored 20 points or less.
• The Vikings have 52 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, 30 pass breakups and 12 takeaways in seven games this season.
• SR DE Shawn Richard (3.5) and SR DTs Anthony Del Toro (3) and Kenton Bartlett (3) lead the Vikings in sacks this season.
• SR ROV Romeo Gunt had a career-high 15 tackles - fourth-most tackles in the nation for the weekend - in the game against Arkansas. Gunt was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week... despite missing the Idaho game, he and JR S Sam Inos lead the Vikings with 34 tackles this season.
• Portland State set two new school records against Simon Fraser. The -65 rushing yards allowed broke the previous mark of -21 by Western Washington in 1981; the 20 tackles for loss broke a mark of 18 set against Humboldt State in 2013. Fifteen different players were involved in the TFLs. PSU made eight sacks, led by three from SR DT Kenton Bartlett, nine pass breakups and forced two fumbles. SO S Anthony Adams broke up four passes and blocked a field goal for good measure. The defense even scored a touchdown when FR LB David Joseph pounced on a fumble in the end zone. The ball had been knocked loose on a quarterback sack by SO LB Robert Holt.
• The Vikings held Simon Fraser to -23 total yards over the last three quarters of the game. The seven points allowed were the fewest since a 66-7 win over North Texas on Oct. 10, 2015 – 42 games prior.
• Eastern Oregon was allowed only 133 yards of total offense.
 
ALEXANDER STARTS TO ROLL UP THE NUMBERS
JR QB Davis Alexander is putting up pretty good numbers this season considering he didn't play more than three quarters in any of the first four games. Alexander has gone almost the entire way in the last three games.
• For the season, Alexander is 115-192 passing for 1,569 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Alexander already has a career-high 14 touchdown passes and is completing a career-best 60% of his passes. 
• He leads the team with 68 rushes for 341 yards (456 positive yards) and three touchdowns.
• Alexander is on a strong four-game run, three of which have been Viking wins. He has accounted for 1,333 total yards (358.3) and 13 TDs over those four games... Alexander had 258 yards of total offense (167 passing, career-high 91 rushing), passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third in the win over Idaho... he was brilliant against Southern Utah, compiling 314 yards of total offense and accounting for three touchdowns. He completed 18-30 passes for 234 yards and two scores, and he rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown on seven carries... He had 340 yards of total offense (296 pass, 44 rush) and accounted for two touchdowns against Idaho State... Alexander passed for 366 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Eastern Oregon. The 366 yards were the most since his freshman season. The five TDs were the most by a Viking QB since Drew Hubel had five in a win over Eastern Washington in 2008.
• In 20 career starts, Alexander is 323-574 for 4,520 yards, 30 TDs and 12 interceptions... for his career (23 games), he is 331-587-13-4,588-30TD.
• Alexander has 224 career rushes for 885 yards and 17 TDs. He has 1,211 positive rushing yards.
• In all, Alexander is responsible for 47 career TDs.
 
THESE RECEIVERS ARE GROWING UP
An extraordinarily young receiving corps last season has grown up a lot in one year.
• SO WR Davis Koetter has 26 career receptions (team-high 22 this season) for 532 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 20.5 yards per catch... this season, he has 22 receptions for 411 yards and five scores... he grabbed a career-high seven passes against Eastern Oregon... Koetter went for a career-high 108 receiving yards and a TD against Southern Utah and had a key fumble recovery on the punt coverage team.
• JR WR Emmanuel Daigbe ranks second on the team with 20 receptions for 268 yards and three TDs. He posted a career-high 109 yards against Eastern Oregon, totaling three catches, with touchdowns of 57 and 44 yards... in his 18-game career, Daigbe has 43 catches for 641 yards and seven TDs.
• SO WR Beau Kelly has 15 catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly caught a career-long 61-yard touchdown at Idaho State... he also has a team-best 52-yard running play on a fly sweep and 50 return yards on five punts.
• SO WR Mataio Talalemotu missed two games with a hamstring issue. But, he still has 13 receptions for 224 yards and two TDs... Talalemotu led the Vikings with five receptions for 78 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown reception, at Boise State... for his career, he has 36 receptions for 626 yards and four TDs and two 100-yard games.
 
CHARTING CHARLIE
After missing two games with hamstring tightness, All-American tight end Charlie Taumoepeau put up his first 100-yard game of the season at Idaho State. Taumoepeau had seven receptions for 104 yards.
• In five games played Taumoepeau has 20 receptions for 239 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown at Arkansas.
• For his career, Taumoepeau now has 101 receptions for 1,641 yards (16.2) and 10 touchdowns.
• In his last 26 games played, Taumoepeau has 95 catches for 1,563 yards and nine scores.
• A consensus second team All-American last year, Taumoepeau was named preseason All-American by no less than four news outlets and is on the Walter Payton Award Watch list for the top offensive player in all of NCAA I FCS football.
 
A LOOK AT THE OFFENSE
Portland State's offense has averaged 443.3 yards and 36.0 points this season. The Vikings rank sixth in total offense and fifth in scoring offense in the Big Sky.
• The 52 points scored against Southern Utah were the most against a Division I opponent since a 59-42 win over 16th-ranked Montana State on Oct. 17, 2015. (PSU has scored more against lower division opponents three times since then).
• Portland State has run a "by committee" backfield with five players over 100 rushing yards, but SR RB Sirgeo Hoffman is starting to become Chairman of the Board. Hoffman leads the way with 78 carries for 336 yards (4.3) and five touchdowns. Hoffman had 24 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns against Southern Utah... he had a career-high 88 rushing yards and a score at Idaho State. Hoffman would have had more but a 76-yard touchdown run was wiped off the board due to an illegal formation penalty... in the last four games, the Gresham native has 65 rushes for 282 yards and four touchdowns.
• Twelve different Vikings have rushed for positive yards and PSU averages 195.1 yards rushing per game. 
• The Vikings' ball control offense possessed the pigskin for more than 34 minutes against Idaho. PSU leads the Big Sky in time of possession (ranking fifth in the nation) at 34:14.
• Portland State is converting third-downs at a 45% rate, and 4th downs at a 56% rate. The Vikings are 25-29 in the redzone (21 TDs, 4 FG).
• After having six turnovers in the first two games, the Vikings have only one in the last five.
• The Vikings' 70 points against Simon Fraser were the most since a 77-10 win over Idaho State in 2012. The Vikings amassed 646 yards of total offense (300 rushing/346 passing). Seven different players contributed 10 total touchdowns.
• Six different players had positive rushing yards and 10 made receptions in the win over Eastern Oregon. The Vikings totaled a season-high 657 yards.
 
KICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
SO K Cody Williams has picked up where he left off last season. At Arkansas the second-year kicker was 2-2 on field goals, hitting from 50 and 47 yards... with another field goal against Idaho, he is now 7-11 on the season.
• For his career, Williams is 18-25 on field goals, 66-66 on extra points... the PSU record for consecutive PATs is 77.
• Williams' 50-yarder at Arkansas was his second from 50+ in his career in two attempts. His long was a 52-yard game-winner at Montana in 2018 with four seconds left in the game (22-20).
• Williams has two of the 15 50+ yard field goals in school history. Only five players have two or more in their careers.
 
VERY SPECIAL TEAMS
Portland State special teams are performing well in 2019. Some notes:
• JR P Seth Vernon, in his first season as a Viking, is averaging 42.8 yards with five in excess of 50 yards. Vernon's average is the best by a Viking since 2014 when All-American Kyle Loomis averaged 46.0... Vernon ranks fifth in the Big Sky Conference and 18th in the nation.
• The Vikings are 7-11 on field goals and 33-33 on extra points this season.
• SO WR Beau Kelly is averaging 10.0 yards per punt return.
• BLOCK PARTY: SR CB Montre Brown blocked a field goal at Idaho State. It was PSU's second blocked kick of the season. SO S Anthony Adams blocked a field goal against Simon Fraser... PSU had five blocked kicks/punts last season.
• The Vikings have recovered one opponent fumble on punt returns (Davis Koetter).
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
 
20 OR LESS
      Portland State didn't win at Arkansas (8/31), but the defensive effort was worth noting. PSU held the Razorbacks under 400 yards, allowed only 20 points and allowed the Razorbacks to convert only 5-15 third downs. It was the seventh time in the last 10 games the Vikings held their opponent to 20 points or less. SR ROV Romeo Gunt had a career-high 15 tackles in the game to lead both teams. and was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the week. He recorded the fourth-most tackles in the nation for the week. SO LB Robert Holt had a career-high seven tackles and the first takeaway of his career with an interception late in the first half. Holt was honored as the College Sports Madness Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
 
A RECORD DAY IN VIKINGS FIRST WIN
      Both offense and defense had big days in Portland State's 70-7 win over Simon Fraser (9/7). The Vikings rolled up 646 yards of total offense on its way to the most points scored in seven seasons and seventh-most in school history. However, the defense had the most notable performance. The Vikings held Simon Fraser to 113 yards of total offense and the seven points scored were the fewest allowed since 2015 - a stretch of 42 games. It was the eighth time in 11 games that Portland State had allowed 20 points or less. The Vikings had a school-record 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks. That contributed to another school record of -65 rushing yards allowed. The Viks also made nine pass breakups and forced two turnovers.
 
BIG DAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
      Portland State left little doubt from the first quarter on in a 59-9 win over Eastern Oregon (9/21).Heavy favorites against the NAIA Mountaineers, the Vikings validated that notion on both sides of the football. Portland State gained 657 yards of total offense and allowed just 133 yards to the Mountaineers. Quarterback Davis Alexander finished his day midway through the third quarter with 366 passing yards and five touchdowns. On defense, the Vikings forced six three-and-outs, seven punts and recovered one fumble against the Mountaineers. With only nine points allowed, PSU held the ninth of the last 13 opponents under 20 points.
 
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED
      Portland State took advantage of every opportunity in a 52-31 win over Southern Utah (10/5). The Vikings forced three turnovers and often had good field position and didn't miss the chance to convert. PSU scored 28 points during a 7:31 stretch of the second quarter, twice turning takeaways into touchdowns. That had the Vikings up 38-10 at halftime and led to an easy win. The 52 points were the most against a Division I opponent in four seasons. JR QB Davis Alexander had 314 yards of total offense and accounted for three touchdowns. Meanwhile the defense had a stretch of five stops, including three three-and-outs and two turnovers during the second quarter rally.
 
A RARE SHUTOUT
      PSU's defense put the hammer down on Idaho's offense and the result was something the Vikings had not had since 2006 – A SPAN OF 100 LEAGUE GAMES – a shut out of a Big Sky opponent in 24-0 win over the Vandals (10/12). Defensive coordinator Payam Saadat's group led the Big Sky in total defense going into the contest and the Viking D improved on those numbers. The Vikings allowed just 236 total yards, picked off four passes, broke up four more, made 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in the victory. Sophomore safety Anthony Adams had another highlight game for the Vikings, intercepting two passes and breaking up two other passes to go with five tackles. Remarkably, one of his pass breakups was deflected into the waiting hands of junior free safety Sam Inos, giving him involvement in a third pick.