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Hillsboro, OR – It took a while for the Vikings, but once Portland State got control of the game it ran roughshod over Simon Fraser, 70-7, at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
The win, in PSU's home opener, improved the Vikings record to 1-1. Simon Fraser is now 0-1.
 
Simon Fraser served notice in the first series of the game, connecting on a Justin Seiber-to-Rysen John 60-yard scoring play. That gave the Clan had an early 7-0 lead.
 
Portland State answered later in the quarter on a 96-yard drive. Sirgeo Hoffman rushed in from 10 yards out and the game was tied.
 
Still, the Vikings had trouble getting going as three first-half fumbles ended drives. Penalties also hurt as PSU had six for 88 yards on the first half.
 
Finally, the Vikings took the lead midway through the second quarter. A short scoring drive ended with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Davis Alexander to Davis Koetter.
 
Another long TD pass just before halftime gave PSU a 21-7 lead at the break. Alexander hit Mataio Talalemotu on a 50-yard score.
 
At halftime the Vikings had a huge advantage in yardage, 317 to 127, but the turnovers kept it a two-score game. Alexander was 14-19 passing for 226 yards and two scores.
 
"It was a slow start between the turnovers and them scoring right away. It was a muddy start. We cleaned stuff up at halftime. And what you saw in the second half is what you hope you will get in a game like this," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum.
 
Defensively, the Vikings buckled down after the first score. PSU had 14 tackles for loss in the first half and four sacks. The Clan had minus-nine yards of offense in the second quarter.
 
The lead grew at the start of the third quarter. Alexander led a 10-play, 66-yard drive. Carlos Martin went in from two yards out and PSU led 28-7.
 
Another Alexander to Koetter touchdown pass came moments later. This time, it was a 42-yard strike and the Vikings were up 35-7.
 
PSU's defense got into the scoring act on a big hit from linebacker Robert Holt. The sophomore middle linebacker smacked quarterback Mihai Lapuste. He lost the ball, it rolled back toward the Clan endzone, and David Joseph scooped the ball for a Viking touchdown.
 
PSU tacked on four more rushing touchdowns to close out the game. Freshman quarterback Dante Chachere played two series, scored twice, and ended up leading the Vikings with 65 rushing yards.
 
Alexander was 18-25 passing for 292 yards and three scores. Talalemotu had 132 receiving yards on six catches. Koetter caught four passes for 107 yards. In all, PSU's offense had 646 yards.
 
It was the defense that really made its mark. After SFU's initial score, the Vikings were dominant. The Clan had -23 yards of total offense over the last three quarters and only 113 for the game. PSU had 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks in the contest. Defensive tackle Kenton Bartlett led with three sacks. Greg Oliver had an interception, Joseph recovered fumble for a score and Anthony Adams broke up four passes.
 
"The defense is playing well right now," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "They are flowing to the ball. It looks like one swarm of bees. That is fun to watch."
 
Portland State established a new school record for fewest rushing yards allowed to an opponent, due mainly to the sacks. Simon Fraser had 29 rushing plays for -65 yards. 54 yards were lost on sacks. The previous fewest yards allowed rushing was -21 by Western Washington in 1981.
 
GAME NOTES: Quarterback Jalani Eason had 54 passing yards in one series in the third quarter before giving way to Chachere. Eason scored on a two-yard run… Malik Walker scored his first touchdown as a Viking on a one-yard run, and Carlos Martin added a scoring run to go with 55 rushing yards… Portland State is 17-0 all-time against lower division opponents since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996… the 70 points scored were the most since a 77-10 win over Idaho State in 2012... next week, the Vikings travel to nationally-ranked Boise State to take on the Broncos in a 7:15 p.m. PT game televised on ESPN2.