When Southern Utah gained 68 and 61 yards on its first two possessions against the Viking defense on Saturday night, it had to make the Portland State sideline a little nervous. But, when you consider the Thunderbirds only got three points out of it, the tone had been set for a brilliant defensive performance.
 
The Thunderbirds kicked a field goal on their first possession, but then JR CB Xavier Bell came up with a big interception at the PSU 15 on the second drive. From then on, the game belonged to the Viking defense.
 
Included were the turnover, three three-and-outs, and a stop late in the fourth quarter when Southern Utah was seeking the tying touchdown at first-and-goal on the PSU 9. Bell capped his night with a pass breakup on SUU's fourth-and-goal play from the four.  
 
"That was fun," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "That stand from the nine-yard line won the football game.
 
"When you get in the redzone it is not as easy for an offense to make plays. Speed helps in that condensed area and our speed in the back end made a difference. You saw it with Xavier Bell coming off his guy and making that breakup on the last play.
 
"I liked how cool the coaches were and how disciplined the players were (at the end)."

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE VIKING WIN

• Southern Utah totaled only 66 yards in the second and third quarters combined.
• After a big kickoff return and a PSU penalty set up the Thunderbirds at the Viking 35 in the third quarter, the defense again held up. A key sack by JR DE VJ Malo forced the T-Birds into a field goal.
• When the Vikings drove to the SUU one-yard line, threatening to score the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter, they fumbled the ball away. But the defense forced a three-and-out and Southern Utah had to punt from its own five-yard line. It was returned by JR WR Beau Kelly to the SUU 20, and a penalty moved it to the 10. One play later SR QB Davis Alexander rushed in for the go-ahead – and eventual winning – touchdown.
• On Southern Utah's final drive, they moved to a first-and-goal at the PSU 9. The T-Birds rushed for no yards, then got a quarterback scramble for five yards. With third-and-goal at the four, PSU forced two incompletions. The second came on fourth-and-goal when Bell swatted away the pass in the endzone.
• The 267 yards allowed by the PSU defense were the fewest this season. Southern Utah had only 136 yards after the first quarter and averaged just 2.8 yards per rush.
• The Vikings had nine tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and two pass breakups in the game. FR LB Parker McKenna, from Beaverton, had a team-high nine tackles and one tackle for loss.  He leads the team with 39 tackles this season… Bell made six tackles with an interception and a pass breakup... SR DT Semise Kofe made six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss.
• SPECIAL TEAMS OF NOTE: SR P Seth Vernon had a season-high 65-yard punt and added a 51-yarder for a 58.0 yard average… FR K Gianni Smith, who has taken over as starter due to injury to Cody Williams, was 2-2 on field goals and 3-3 on extra points. He is now 3-3/5-5 this season… JR WR Beau Kelly had a season-best 30-yard punt return, setting up the game-winning touchdown.
• ON OFFENSE: FR RB Jalynnee McGee had a season-high 78 rushing yards as PSU rushed for a season-high 156 yards… SR RB Malik Walker rushed for 71 yards… SR QB Davis Alexander's rushing touchdown was his second of the season and the 21^st of his career. With 151 passing yards, he moved into third place all-time at PSU (7,545 yards), passing Chris Crawford (7,543).