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Game 11
UC DAVIS AGGIES (4-5, 2-3) at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (5-5, 3-3)
Saturday, November 9, 2:05 p.m. • Hillsboro Stadium (7,200), Hillsboro, OR
TELEVISION: None
LIVE VIDEO AND AUDIO: Pluto TV Channel 532, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com • Pregame Show: 1:45 p.m. • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Mike Lund
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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VIKINGS LOOK FOR 6th VICTORY AND SENIOR DAY WIN
It has been a tough two weeks for the Portland State football team with a last-second loss at Northern Arizona, then the first loss at home this season against nationally-ranked Montana. Those two losses have dropped the Vikings from third to sixth in the Big Sky Conference's 13-team standings.
     
Portland State hopes to wipe away those images as the Vikings face UC Davis in the 2019 home finale this Saturday. PSU will honor its 16 seniors and at the same time look for a fifth home victory for the first time sinnce 2005.
     
The Vikings are 5-5 on the season, 3-3 in Big Sky Conference games. PSU lost its first home game of the season last week when the Griz overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Vikings, 38-23. Portland State is now 4-1 at home this season. The last time PSU won five home games in a season was the 2005 season (6-5 overall, 5-0 at home). The Viking program has won four games at home in four different seasons since that time. In addition, a sixth win on the season would assure a non-losing record for the first time since 2015.
     
Standing in Portland State's way are the UC Davis Aggies (4-5, 2-3). The teams did not meet last season, but the Aggies won the last matchup in 2017. PSU had won five straight in the series prior to that loss.
     
For a third straight week, the Vikings face a potent passing offense averaging over 300 yards per game. UCD is led by Jake Maier, who ranks seventh in the nation in passing yards.
     
The Aggies are 2-3 on the road this season. They have the luxury of having a bye week last Saturday to prepare for the Vikings.
     
Portland State gets next week off, then plays the always-potent Eastern Washington Eagles on Nov. 23 in a season finale in Cheney.
     
This week's game kicks off at 2:05 p.m. in Hillsboro Stadium. Portland State's live stream can be found on Pluto TV Channel 532, www.WatchBigSky.com and www.pluto.tv. Live stats are available at www.GoViks.com.
 
STORYLINES
• UC Davis is a football-only member of the Big Sky Conference.
• Portland State and UC Davis have played five times since the Aggies joined the Big Sky Conference, but only three of those counted as league games.
• Portland State had won five straight games in the series, but the Aggies took the last matchup, a 37-14 win in 2017.
• PSU is 6-3 all-time at home against UC Davis, 1-0 in Big Sky games.
 
LAST MEETING, Sept. 16, 2017: UC Davis 37, Portland State 14
Portland State was a victim of its own mistakes, allowing two blocked punts, a fumble, missing blocking assignments and committing a critical personal foul that kept a UCD drive alive.
     
UC Davis rolled up 295 yards of offense in the first half on the way to a 17-0 lead. PSU would not recover from that.
     
The Aggies finished with 490 total yards  as quarterback Jake Maier wound up hitting 24 of 32 pass for 316 yards. The Vikings ran for 246 yards, but were only 12-31 passing for 115 yards.
     
Third down was critical as UC Davis converted 8-16 tries, while the Vikings were only 4-16.
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. AGGIES
All-Time Series: PSU leads 11-5 • PSU is 6-3 in Portland • PSU is 5-2 in Davis
Big Sky Conference Series: PSU leads 3-0 • PSU is 1-0 in Portland • PSU is 2-0 in Davis
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
UC Davis, an NCAA playoff team last season and winner of 10 games, has not had the same success this year. The Aggies are 4-5 overall, 2-3 in the Big Sky under third-year Head Coach Dan Hawkins. In league play, UCD has beaten Cal Poly and Southern Utah, and lost to Montana, North Dakota and Weber State.
     
The Aggies average 29.4 points and 424.6 yards per game on offense. They have a pass-oriented attack, averaging over 313 yards per game through the air. Despite throwing it almost 400 times this season, the Aggies have allowed only 11 sacks all year, second-best in the league. Quarterback Jake Maier has thrown for 2,674 yards and 23 touchdowns.
     
Six receivers have 25 or more receptions, led by Khris Vaughn with 39 catches for 472 yards and seven touchdowns.
     
Ulonzo Gilliam highlights the running game with 813 yards and seven scores. Gilliam ranks third in the Big Sky in rushing.
     
On defense, the Aggies allow 30.0 points and 429.6 yards per game. They have forced 17 turnovers but also commited 17 this season. Linebacker Eric Flowers has 59 tackles to lead the team. Connor Airey, also a linebacker, has 57 stops.
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
FLY SWATTER WITH A NEW RECORD
SO S Anthony Adams continued his brilliant season with another solid game against Montana. Adams made five tackles, one for loss and broke up two more passes. That gives him 16 pass breakups for the season, a new Portland State record (15, Mitchell Fitzhugh, 2001).
• Adams has 16 pass breakups and four interceptions this season, both of which lead the Big Sky Conference. His 20 passes defended LEADS THE NATION.
• Adams leads the team with 44 tackles as well.
• Adams broke up three passes at Northern Arizona and logged a career-high 10 tackles.
• Adams has 23 career pass breakups in 21 games. He is already sixth all-time at PSU (record, 33).
• The Newberg native now has five career interceptions and six career takeaways.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky in rushing defense (110.6) and rank third in total defense at 369.5 yards per game. The Vikings are fifth in scoring defense (26.2). PSU leads the league in interceptions (11).
• PSU has 17 takeaways this season and a +5 turnover margin. The Vikings have 62 points off turnovers while opponents have just 17... in the last eight games, PSU has forced 14 turnovers and has a +8 turnover margin.
• The Vikings have 68 tackles for loss, 27 sacks, 43 pass breakups and 17 takeaways in 10 games this season.
• SR DE Shawn Richard (6.5) and SR DT Anthony Del Toro (3.5) and SO DE Jake Porter (3.5) lead the Vikings in sacks this season.
• SR CB Deon Crayon made his second interception of the season at Northern Arizona. With seven pass breakups, he now has nine passes defended to rank sixth in the Big Sky.
• Among active players, SR DT Anthony Del Toro is the team leader in tackles (114), tackles for loss (17.5) and sacks (8.5).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 IS ROLLING UP THE NUMBERS
JR QB Davis Alexander continues to put up productive numbers and direct an efficient Viking offense.
• For the season, Alexander is 165-284 passing for 2,324 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions.
• Alexander already has a career-high 17 touchdown passes and is completing a career-best 58% of his passes. 
• He ranks second on the team with 102 rushes for 449 yards (629 positive yards) and five touchdowns.
• Alexander had the fifth 300-yard game of his career at Northern Arizona, completing 22-39 for 307 yards. He finished with 337 yards of total offense... he had 230 yards of total offense in the win against UNC (170 passing, 60 rushing), passed for a TD and ran for another... 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 in the win over 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 23 career starts, Alexander is 373-666 for 5,275 yards, 33 TDs and 15 interceptions... for his career (25 games), he is 381-679-16-5,343-33TD.
• Alexander has 258 career rushes for 993 yards and 19 TDs. He has 1,384 positive rushing yards.
• In all, Alexander is responsible for 52 career TDs... he now ranks sixth all-time at Portland State in total offense 6,336 yards.
 
MISSING OUT ON SURGING SIRGEO
SR RB Sirgeo Hoffman had rushed for 361 yards and three touchdowns in the previous two weeks, but was unable to go against Montana due to leg ailments.
• Hoffman rushed 28 times for a career-high 221 yards and two touchdowns at Northern Colorado. He followed that up with 140 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries at Northern Arizona.
• Hoffman has rushed 129 times for 697 yards and eight touchdowns on the season to lead the team in all categories. That is the most rushing yards by a Viking since Alex Kuresa had 838 in 2016.
• Hoffman ranks seventh in the Big Sky Conference in rushing (77.4 yards per game).
• Remarkably, PSU has 33 games of individuals rushing for 200 yards in its history. Hoffman's total of 221 ranks 19th-best all-time (record 393, Ryan Fuqua, 2001).
• Hoffman had 24 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Southern Utah... he had a 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.
 
THESE RECEIVERS ARE GROWING UP
An extraordinarily young receiving corps last season has grown up a lot in one year.
• JR WR Emmanuel Daigbe leads the team lead with 31 receptions for 461 yards and four TDs. He posted a career-high 114 yards at Northern Colorado, including the season's longest play - a 76-yard TD reception... in his 21-game career, Daigbe has 54 catches for 834 yards and eight TDs... Daigbe also has eight tackles on special teams this season.
• SO WR Davis Koetter has 29 receptions and team-highs of 482 yards and six touchdowns this season. In his career, he has 33 catches and eight have gone for scores. He averages 18.3 yards per catch... Koetter 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.
• SO WR Beau Kelly has 25 catches for 368 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 66 return yards on seven punts.
• SO WR Mataio Talalemotu missed two games with a hamstring issue. But, he still has 22 receptions for 369 yards and three TDs... Talalemotu had five receptions for 109 yards and a 40-yard touchdown against Montana... he led the Vikings with five receptions for 78 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown reception, at Boise State... for his career, he has 45 receptions for 771 yards, five TDs and three 100-yard games.
 
CHARTING CHARLIE
After missing two games with hamstring tightness, All-American tight end Charlie Taumoepeau has eased back into competition. He ranks third on the team in receptions (28), but actually lead in catches per game (3.5).
• In eight games played Taumoepeau has 28 receptions for 412 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown at Arkansas.
• Taumoepeau put up his first 100-yard game of the season at Idaho State. He had seven receptions for 104 yards... against Northern Arizona, he made five receptions for 127 yards, including a bruising 61-yard catch and run. It was his second 100-yard game of the season and the fifth of his career.
• For his career, Taumoepeau now has 109 receptions for 1,814 yards (16.6) and 10 touchdowns.
• In his last 29 games played, Taumoepeau has 103 catches for 1,736 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 445.0 yards (5th in the Big Sky) and 34.2 points (fifth in the Big Sky).
• Twelve different Vikings have rushed for positive yards and PSU averages 195.8 yards rushing per game (third in the Big Sky).
• The Vikings' ball control offense leads the Big Sky in time of possession (ranking fourth in the nation) at 34:09.
• Portland State is converting third-downs at a 43% rate, and 4th downs at a 50% rate. The Vikings are 34-40 in the redzone (28 TDs, 6 FG).
• After having six turnovers in the first two games, the Vikings have only six in the last eight.
• 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).
• 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.
 
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER FIELD GOAL
SO K Cody Williams continues to rise on the field goal charts. Williams kicked a 47-yarder against Montana, his 14th of the season.
• Williams made 5-6 field goals at Northern Arizona to tie the school record for FGs made in a game (Dan Frantz, 1999).
• At Northern Colorado, Williams booted a school-record 56-yard field goal. He even got a shot at a 55-yarder, but that one missed.
• For his career, Williams is 25-34 on field goals, 73-73 on extra points... the PSU record for consecutive PATs is 77... Williams already ranks eighth all-time at PSU with 25 field goals.
• With 14 field goals made this season, he ranks sixth on the season list.
• Williams' kicked a 50-yarder and a 47-yarder at Arkansas to open the season.
• His previous long was a 52-yard game-winner at Montana in 2018 with four seconds left in the game (22-20).
• Williams has three of the 16 50+ yard field goals in school history. Only Zach Brown has kicked more than Williams (five over four seasons).
 
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 42.5 yards with eight 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 16th in the nation.
• The Vikings are 14-20 on field goals and 40-40 on extra points this season.
• BLOCK PARTY: Portland State has three blocked kicks this season. SR DT Kenton Bartlett knocked down an extra point at Northern Colorado... SR CB Montre Brown blocked a field goal at Idaho State... SO S Anthony Adams blocked a field goal against Simon Fraser... PSU had five blocked kicks/punts last season.
• The Vikings have recovered two opponent fumbles on punt returns (Davis Koetter, Emmanuel Daigbe).
 
YELLOW HANKIES HURTING... BUT NOW NOT AS BAD
Portland State now ranks 10th in penalties in the Big Sky Conference (69.2 yards per game) after ranking last earlier in the season. PSU has 78 penalties for 692 yards... three times this season PSU has had touchdowns taken away on penalties (and proceeded to get only three points on those possessions).
 
PORTLAND STATE SENIORS PLAYING IN FINAL HOME GAME
Portland State has 16 seniors playing in their final home game this week against UC Davis. They will be honored prior to the game.
     
Safety Ryan Lesch, long snapper Riley Shackelford and offensive linemen Carlos Barraza are also listed as seniors on the Viking roster. Due to injuries, all three will be able to appeal the NCAA for a redshirt season and return in 2020.
 
1, Romeo Gunt, LB, 5-10, 190, SR, 1V, Philadelphia, PA (Imhotep/Los Angeles Valley JC)
      Gunt has played two seasons for the Vikings, competing in 19 games with 11 starts. In that time he has 99 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the week after the Arkansas game, in which he had 15 tackles. Gunt also earned Academic All-Big Sky honors in 2018.
 
3, Sam Inos, S, 5-11, 195, SR, 1V, Tigard, OR (Tigard/Eastern Washington)
      Inos is among the team leaders in tackles this season with 43. In two years as a Viking has played in 17 games, starting 10. Inos has 67 career tackles and two interceptions.
 
8, Maxwell Howell, CB, 6-2, 195, SR, 2V, West Palm Beach, FL (Palm Beach Lakes/Ohio)
      Howell transferred to Portland State as a sophomore and is in his third season as a Viking. He has played in 25 games with 15 career starts. Howell has 39 career tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
 
21, Carlos Martin, RB, 5-11, 210, SR, 3V, La Habra, CA (La Habra)
      Martin has been a mainstay in the Viking backfield for four season. He has played in 34 games, starting 17 at running back. In his career, Martin has rushed for over 600 yards, had over 800 all-purpose yards and scored five touchdowns.
 
23, Montre Brown, CB, 6-1, 185, SR, 3V, Tacoma, WA (Wilson)
      Brown has moved into a full-time starting role this season at cornerback. In four seasons, He has played in 34 career games, making 34 tackles with seven pass breakups and an interception.
 
25, Sirgeo Hoffman, RB, 6-0, 215, SR, 1V, Gresham, OR (Gresham/Pima CC)
      Hoffman has come into his own as a senior, becoming a vital part of the Viking offense. He leads the team in rushing with 697 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has 18 pass receptions for 179 yards. Hoffman's 221 rushing yards at Northern Colorado were the most by a Viking in four seasons. He has over 1,200 all-purpose yards in two seasons at PSU. Hoffman earned Academic All-Big Sky Conference in 2018.
 
27, Deon Crayon, CB, 6-2, 180, SR, 1V, Palmdale, CA (Knight/Butte JC)
      Crayon has been a fixture at cornerback the past two seasons, starting 17 games. This year, he has 21 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions, and ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference in passes defended. In all, Crayon has 44 career tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions.
 
51, Kenton Bartlett, DT, 6-3, 270, SR, 3V, Boise, ID (Centennial)
      No Viking has started more games in the past four seasons than defensive tackle Kenton Bartlett, with 31. Bartlett has played in 38 games overall and been a key element in the Vikings' improved defense. This season, he has 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. In his career, Bartlett has 103 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
 
62, Spencer Reed, OL/DE, 6-3, 270, SR, 1V, Thousand Oaks, CA (Thousand Oaks/Moorpark)
      Reed moved over to defensive end at midseason when the Vikings were battling injuries and has found a role. He has five tackles in a backup role. Reed came to the Vikings as an offensive lineman.
 
64, Larry Brister, OL, 6-2, 285, SR, 1V, Portland, OR (Jefferson)
      Originally a walk-on to the program two years ago, Brister finally got on the field last season on special teams. In the off-season he was awarded a scholarship, then he earned the starting left guard role in preseason camp and has started every game this season. Last season, Brister earned Academic All-Big Sky Conference honors.
 
65, Garrett Stauffer, OL, 6-3, 290, SR, 3V, Damascus, OR (Sam Barlow)
      Stauffer completes his sixth year in the program in 2019. He suffered two season-ending injuries and was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. He has played in 26 career games, making 25 starts, all at center. Earlier this season, he had an appendectomy, but returned to play the following week.
 
87, Jacob Bystry, WR, 6-0, 180, SR, 1V, Vancouver WA (ColumbiaRiver/Citrus JC)
      Bystry is a two-year player who transferred from Citrus Junior College. He has played at both wide receiver and special teams for the Vikings. In 19 career games, he has seven receptions, seven tackles and a blocked kick.
 
89, Charlie Taumoepeau, TE, 6-3, 245, SR, 3V, Federal Way, WA (Federal Way)
      A consensus All-American and first team All-Big Sky Conference performer, Taumoepeau has had one of the best careers by a tight end in Portland State history. This season he has 25 receptions for 366 yards and a touchdown despite missing two games. For his career, Taumoepeau is one if the few Vikings to pass 100 career receptions (109) and he has 1,814 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a sophomore he had the most receptions by a tight end in 29 years (45).
 
93, Jackson Davis, TE, 6-1, 240, SR, RS, Portland, OR (Wilson/College of the Siskiyous)
      Davis walked on to the program and earned a role as a backup tight end. This year he has seen significant action, primarily as a blocker, and started two games. He also made his first career reception in the win over Idaho.
 
98, Anthony Del Toro, DT, 6-2, 300, SR, 3V, Grants Pass, OR (Grants Pass)
      Del Toro has played in more games (41) than any Viking over the past four seasons. He has made 26 career starts during that time. This season, Del Toro has 30 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. In his career, he has 114 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks – all of which rank highest among active players.
 
99, Shawn Richard, DE, 6-1, 230, SR, 1V, Miami, FL (Mourning/El Camino JC)
      Richard has taken over as a starting defensive end this season. He has 24 tackles and leads the team with 6.5 sacks. Richard has played in 17 career games, making 29 total tackles. He was named Academic All-Big Sky Conference in 2018.