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Game 5
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-2) at IDAHO STATE BENGALS (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 28, 3:05 p.m. MT/2:05 p.m. PT • Holt Arena (8,000), Pocatello, ID
TELEVISION: None
LIVE VIDEO: Pluto TV Channel 543, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com (Idaho State Feed)
LIVE AUDIO: www.GoViks.com/watch/ • Pregame Show: 1:30 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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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 next football luncheon take places on Oct. 4 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... on Oct. 11 the luncheon will be replaced by a TopGolf Tournament and luncheon at TopGolf in Hillsboro.

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BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS THIS WEEK AT IDAHO STATE
Portland State will play its fifth game of the season, but just its first against an FCS opponent when the Vikings meet Idaho State in the Big Sky Conference opener this Saturday in Pocatello.
     
The Vikings are 2-2 on the season, but still a bit of a mystery as they have lost two against FBS opponents and won two against lower division opponents. PSU is also trying to get a number of players back into action after a variety of off-season and early season injuries. They may be as close to full strength as they have been all year when they face the Bengals.
     
Idaho State is 1-2 on the year, and also a bit of a mystery. The Bengals defeated lower division Western State handily, then took losses to nationally-ranked (FBS) Utah and nationally-ranked (FCS) UNI. ISU's  offense has been slow to come around, averaging only 14.7 points, but the defense has been effective allowing 19.0 points.
     
No doubt both teams' fans are curious to see who their teams really are, and this week should be a good indicator.
     
Idaho State has won the last two meetings between the teams, both in high-scoring affairs. ISU won 59-30 in Holt Arena in 2017, then a 48-45 shootout last season at Hillsboro Stadium. However, ISU's star quarterback Tanner Gueller has graduated from that team.
     
In all, PSU leads the Big Sky Conference series, 12-11. The Vikings won six of seven between 2010-2016. Viking Coach Bruce Barnum took wins in 2015 and 2016.
     
The game with Idaho State is the lone road contest in a stretch of four games for the Vikings. They won the first of four, 59-9, against Eastern Oregon at Hillsboro Stadium last Saturday. Southern Utah (Oct. 5) and Idaho (Oct. 12) come to town in the ensuing weeks for Big Sky Conference matchups.
     
Saturday's game will be live streamed on Pluto TV Channel 543, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com with a 3:05 p.m. MT/2:05 p.m. PT kickoff. The pregame show begins at 1:30 p.m. Live stats are available www.ViksLive.com.
 
STORYLINES
• Portland State and Idaho State are dubbed "natural rivals" by the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals, along with the Eastern Washington Eagles, are on the Vikings schedule every season while six of the other 10 league teams rotate through each year.
• PSU is 11-12 all-time in Big Sky Conference opening games, 3-4 when playing on the road.
• Portland State has compiled four of the top eight rushing games in school history against Idaho State since 2011. The Vikings went for a school-record 531 yards in 2016. They also had 437 (3rd, 2012), 436 (4th, 2011) and 395 (8th, 2013).
• Portland State Head Coach Bruce Barnum spent nine seasons at Idaho State (1998-2006), serving as offensive coordinator the last six seasons. It was the second-longest tenure of his career at one school. The longest is now 10 seasons at Portland State.
• Portland State opened Big Sky Conference play at Idaho State on Sept. 12, 2015. The Vikings came away with a 34-14 win over the #23rd-ranked Bengals and went on to a 9-2 regular season record.
• The teams have met 44 times in the last 54 years.
 
LAST MEETING, Nov. 3, 2018: Idaho State 48, Portland State 45
A Portland State comeback ran out of time as the Vikings lost to Idaho State in an offensive showcase, 48-45, at Hillsboro Stadium. Trailing by 10 points in the fourth quarter, the Vikings scored a touchdown with just over three minutes remaining, then got the defensive three-and-out they needed. PSU started its final drive at its own 12-yard line with 2:31 to play and no timeouts. The Vikings' final march included a fourth-and-nine conversion pass from Davis Alexander to Emmanuel Daigbe. Later, on a third-and-21 play Alexander made a 20-yard completion to Charlie Taumoepeau. The officials marked the play just short of a first down at the ISU 36 and the Vikings had to race to get a final play off. But the scramble to snap the ball with the clock running out ended as a sack.
     
PSU had 597 yards of total offense to 518 for Idaho State.
     
Alexander threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards and three scores. The Vikings also got a career-high 105 rushing yards on 10 carries from Carlos Martin.
     
PSU gained a total of 316 yards on the ground on 49 carries, an average of 6.4 yards per carry.
     
ISU was led by quarterback Tanner Gueller, who finished 15 of 30 for 344 yards and four TDs. His brother Mitch caught six passes for 144 yards and two scores, while Michael Dean had five catches for 152 yards and two scores.
 
THE SERIES RECORD: VIKINGS vs. BENGALS
All-Time Series: Idaho State leads 26-17-1 • The series is tied 11-11 in Portland • Idaho State leads 15-6-1 in Pocatello
Big Sky Conference Series: PSU leads 12-11 • Idaho State leads 7-4 in Pocatello • Portland State leads 8-4 in Portland
 
SCOUTING THE BENGALS
Idaho State comes off a 6-5 season in 2018. The Bengals are 1-2 this year under third-year Head Coach Rob Phenicie.
 
The Bengals have had a slow start offensively, averaging 14.7 points and 283.7 yards per game. Quarterbacks Matt Struck and Gunnar Amos have shared duty so far. Amos got the start last week against UNI, throwing for 134 yards with three interceptions.
     
Returning star Michael Dean leads the team with 15 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown. Tanner Connor has 14 catches for 225 yards and two scores.
     
Ty Flanagan is a veteran in the backfield for the Bengals. He leads the team in rushing with 53 carries for 185 yards.
     
Idaho State's defense has been effective through three games. The Bengals allow only 19.0 points and 318.3 yards per game. Ninth-ranked UNI managed only 234 yards in a 13-6 win over the Bengals last Saturday. Idaho State forced six straight punts to open the game and eight in all.
      Idaho State has only 11 penalties through three games.
 
PORTLAND STATE AND THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Portland State begins its 24th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. PSU has never won a Big Sky title, but the Vikings have finished second five times - most recently in 2015. Portland State has had nine winning seasons in the previous 23 years and reached the FCS playoffs twice (2000 and 2015).
 
QUICK SNAPS
 
VIKINGS QUICK START TURNS INTO AN EASY WIN
Quick. Efficient. Effective. Those three words summed up the Portland State Vikings' effort against Eastern Oregon at Hillsboro Stadium last Saturday as the home team took a 59-9 win. 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 completed his first 10 passes in the game for 139 yards and threw three first-half touchdowns. On the defensive side, the Vikings gave up only 12 yards and no first downs in the first quarter. In fact, Eastern Oregon's first four series ended in three-and-outs. Portland State rolled up 411 yards of offense and a 31-0 lead by halftime. Alexander finished his day midway through the third quarter with 366 passing yards and five touchdowns. Ten different Vikings caught passes in the game and eight different Vikings had running plays. Davis Koetter led the team with seven receptions for 96 yards. Beau Kelly caught six for 57, and Emmanuel Daigbe had three for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Malik Walker led the running game with 11 carries for 73 yards. On defense, the Vikings forced six three-and-outs, seven punts and recovered one fumble against the Mountaineers. With only nine points allowed, PSU has held nine of the last 13 opponents under 20 points.
 
WHO ARE THE VIKINGS? WE START TO FIND OUT THIS WEEK
After four weeks of non-conference play, the question is still out there: Who are the 2019 Portland State Vikings? A lot of conclusions can be drawn, but considering the Vikings have yet to play an FCS opponent, most of it is still speculation following PSU's 59-9 win over Eastern Oregon last Saturday.
     
What we do know is PSU goes into the Big Sky Conference opener at Idaho State with a 2-2 record. The Vikings lost a pair of games to FBS teams, from the SEC and the Mountain West Conference. In fact, they took Arkansas to the final minute of the game in Fayetteville, before losing 20-13. PSU easily won a pair of games against lower division teams. So, who are the Vikings? Let's take a look at the results against a disparate group of opponents:
• Certainly, the Vikings are proving to be an excellent defensive team. Three of the four opponents combined for only 36 points (12 ppg), and that includes Arkansas. The Vikings were competitive with Top-20 Boise State into the middle of the second quarter before the Broncos got their offense rolling and pulled away for a 45-10 win. Overall, the defense has allowed 20.2 points and 283 yards of offense per game (fewest yards allowed in the Big Sky). PSU leads the Big Sky in pass efficiency defense (105.4). Opponents have converted only 31% of their third downs and have been forced into five turnovers. The Vikings have 35 tackles for loss among 17 different players, 13 sacks (most in the Big Sky) and 20 pass breakups in four games. SO S Anthony Adams leads the Big Sky with eight passes broken up.
• The offense has some breakout receivers. SO WR Mataio Talalemotu had 12 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns in the first three weeks. Talalemotu ran away from the Boise State defense on a 52-yard TD reception in week three. He sat out the game against Eastern Oregon. SO WR Davis Koetter has become a big-play receiver with 13 catches for 239 yards and three TDs, and JR WR Emmanuel Daigbe (12-171-2) gives the Vikings a triple threat on the outside. Add in SO slot receiver Beau Kelly (9-105-1) and that makes four. Now, if PSU can get a healthy SR TE Charlie Taumoepeau (7-94-1), a preseason All-American, back into the lineup, they should be truly dangerous through the air.
• He has proven to be elusive in scrambling, but JR QB Davis Alexander has also shown he can pick apart a defense when he has time in the pocket. Alexander completed 25-34 passes for 366 yards and five touchdowns before coming out midway through the third quarter against Eastern Oregon. His five TDs were the most by a Viking quarterback since Drew Hubel threw five in a win over Eastern Washington in 2008. Alexander has 872 passing yards, nine TDs and hasn't thrown a pick since week one. He also has 187 positive yards rushing to lead the team.
• On the other hand, Portland State struggled with six turnovers in their first two games (though none since). And penalties have been a bugaboo, as PSU's 39 yellow flags are tied for the most in the Big Sky Conference so far.
     
All that said, the Vikings still look ahead to their first FCS opponent of the season. In Big Sky Conference play mistakes are amplified and wins mean so much more. So who are the Vikings? That question should begin to be answered in Pocatello.
 
20 OR LESS
Portland State has held three of its first four opponents to 20 points or less this season. That is always a good recipe to win in college foootball. PSU allows only 283.0 yards per game to lead the Big Sky Conference, and most important, just 20.2 points per game. Some highlights:
• The Vikings have held nine of the last 13 opponents to 20 points or less.
• PSU leads the Big Sky Conference with 13 sacks and a 105.4 defensive pass efficiency rating.
• SO S Anthony Adams leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks third in the nation with eight pass breakups. Adams has 15 in his 15-game career and already ranks ninth all-time at Portland State.
• PSU has five takeaways this season and SO LB Robert Holt has been involved in three of them. Holt had his first career interception against Arkansas, then he forced a fumble on a sack against Simon Fraser that was recovered for a touchdown. He forced another fumble against Eastern Oregon.
• The Vikings held their opponents to 18-58 on third-down conversions (31%).
• The Vikings have 35 tackles for loss among 17 different players, 13 sacks and 20 pass breakups in four games.
• 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... he currently leads the Vikings with 22 tackles.
• 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.
 
A LOOK AT THE OFFENSE
Portland State's offense has averaged 442.0 yards and 38.0 points this season.
• Portland State has run a "by committee" backfield with five players at 96+ rushing yards, and four at 100+... twelve different Vikings have rushed for positive yards and PSU averages 186.5 yards rushing per game.
• Portland State is 6-8 on fourth down conversions (75%). The Vikings are 14-16 in the redzone (12 TDs, 2 FG).
• After having six turnovers in the first two games, the Vikings have a clean slate in the last two.
• 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.
 
ALEXANDER STARTS TO ROLL UP THE NUMBERS
JR QB Davis Alexander has put up some pretty good numbers this season considering he hasn't played more than three quarters in any of the four games. Alexander is 64-103 passing for 872 yards, two interceptions and nine touchdowns. He also leads the team with 35 rushes for 126 yards (187 positive yards).
• 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 17 career starts, Alexander is 272-485 for 3,823 yards, 25 TDs and 11 interceptions... for his career (20 games), he is 280-498-12-3,891-25TD.
• Alexander has 191 career rushes for 670 yards and 14 TDs. He has 942 positive rushing yards.
• In all, Alexander is responsible for 39 career TDs.
 
THESE RECEIVERS ARE GROWING UP
An extraordinarily young receiving corps last season has grown up a lot in one year.
• SO WR Mataio Talalemotu has 13 receptions for 215 yards and two TDs in just three games played. He did not compete against Eastern Oregon... Talalemotu led the Vikings with five receptions for 78 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown reception, at Boise State... for his career, he has 35 receptions for 617 yards and four TDs and two 100-yard games.
• MONEY MAN: SO WR Davis Koetter has 17 career receptions (13 this season) for 360 yards and five touchdowns. He averages 21.2 yards per catch... this season, he leads the team with 13 catches for 239 yards and three scores... he grabbed a career-high seven passes against Eastern Oregon.
• JR WR Emmanuel Daigbe posted a career-high 109 yards against Eastern Oregon. He totaled three catches, with touchdowns of 57 and 44 yards. Daigbe has 12 catches for 171 yards this season... in his 15-game career, Daigbe has 35 catches for 544 yards and six TDs.
• SO WR Beau Kelly has nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown... he also has a 52-yard running play on a fly sweep and 41 return yards on four punts.
 
YELLOW HANKIES HURTING
Portland State had 10 more penalties for 100 yards against Eastern Oregon. For the season, PSU has 39 penalties for 378 yards. They are tied for most penalties in the Big Sky Conference.
 
CHARTING CHARLIE
All-American tight end Charlie Taumoepeau missed the last two games due to hamstring tightness. He is expected to return this week. Through the first two games he was a focus of opposing defenses. Taumoepeau made seven receptions for 94 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown at Arkansas.
• For his career, Taumoepeau now has 88 receptions for 1,496 yards (17.0) and 10 touchdowns.
• In his last 23 games played, Taumoepeau has 82 catches for 1,418 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.
 
KICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
SO K Cody Williams is picking 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... he is now 3-4 on the season.
• For his career, Williams is 15-20 on field goals, 53-53 on extra points... his .750 career field goal percentage currently ranks second all-time at PSU (Zach Brown, .753).
• 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 off to a good start in the 2019 season. Some notes:
• JR P Seth Vernon, in his first season as a Viking, is averaging 42.1 yards with four 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 sixth in the Big Sky Conference and 29th in the nation.
• The Vikings are 4-6 on field goals and 20-20 on extra points this season.
• SO WR Beau Kelly is averaging 10.3 yards per punt return.
• SO S Anthony Adams blocked a field goal against Simon Fraser... PSU had five blocked kicks/punts last season.