Portland State Football will head into its bye week in the best possible way - with a comfortable victory in its back pocket. The Vikings rolled over Idaho State on Saturday, 31-10.
 
Going into last week's game, Head Coach Bruce Barnum continued to preach what he has all season: start fast on offense and create more turnovers on defense. On Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium, the Vikings checked both boxes.
 
PSU took the opening kickoff 75 yards down the field, scoring on a 44-yard touchdown pass from SR QB Davis Alexander to FR WR Nate Bennett. There was your fast start… and a lead the Vikings would not relinquish.
 
The defense forced five – count 'em, five – turnovers in the game, including three in the first quarter, setting up a quick 17-0 lead.
 
First, SR S Broderick Harrell forced a fumble that was recovered by JR CB Anthony Adams. Then JR DE VJ Malo made a strip sack of ISU quarterback Hunter Hays, which was recovered by FR LB Parker McKenna. Then, on Idaho State's third series, SR S Ty Apana-Purcell intercepted a pass.
 
Later in the game, FR CB Tyreese Shakir intercepted a pass, and SR LB Alex Lozano recovered a fumble.
 
The Viking defense also held Idaho State to 259 yards – a season-low for an opponent. In PSU's three wins this season, they have allowed 7, 13 and 10 points.
 
On offense, SR RB Malik Walker continues to run well. He had 17 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown, after a career-high 132 rushing yards last week.
 
Alexander added three TD passes to his resume. He now has 15 on the season and 57 in his PSU career. Alexander has 2,008 passing yards in seven games this season.
 
And, JR WR Beau Kelly caught six more passes, including two touchdowns. He has team highs of 46 receptions for 640 yards and eight scores this year – all of which rank in the top five in the Big Sky.
 
Malo continued his quarterback terror show with a pair of strip sacks in the game (ISU recovered the second fumble). He now has 8.5 sacks on the season – the most by a Viking since Adam Hayward had 9.5 in 2006 – and there are four games to play in the regular season.
 
All-American cornerback Anthony Adams now has four takeaways this season (2 INT, 2 FR). Shakir has three (2 FR, 1 INT).
 
PSU (3-4, 2-2) will now get a week's rest before resume play on Oct. 30. The Vikings will host Cal Poly at Hillsboro Stadium in a 2:05 p.m. game.