Moscow, ID – The comeback was impressive, but the hole was too deep. Down four touchdowns, Portland State came back within one score but finally succumbed to Idaho, 42-35, at the ASUI Kibbie Dome.
 
It was a rally that ended on a Hail Mary pass attempt in the endzone for the Vikings. Idaho was able to knock the ball away and save the game. With the loss, Portland State dropped to 2-4 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Sky Conference.
 
After a defensive effort that led to a win a week ago at Southern Utah, the Vikings didn't have an answer for the rugged offense of Idaho in the first half. The Vikings gave up five first-half touchdowns, forcing the Vandals to punt just one time. Idaho's largest lead was 35-7.
 
Portland State's offense moved the ball all day, but four possessions into Vandal territory resulted in two missed field goals and two failed fourth-down attempts. Two came in the second quarter and two in the third quarter. Otherwise, PSU out-gained Idaho 588-444.
 
Quarterback Davis Alexander passed for a career-high 424 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Mataio Talalemotu caught 12 passes for 196 yards and two scores. The defense held the Vandals without a yard of offense over three possessions in the second half, aiding the comeback.
 
And, when Idaho inexplicably continued to run the ball inside the final minute when a couple of kneel downs would have ended the game, the Vikings almost performed a miracle. PSU forced and recovered a Vandal fumble with 26 seconds left at the PSU 3. Alexander was able to complete five quick sideline routes all the way out to the 47-yard line. His final play Hail Mary pass was swatted away in the endzone.
 
"We started slow again," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "We all have to find a way to get off the bus, hit the stadium and go. We have to find a way to start like we end, offense, defense and special teams."
 
"We have to be able to bring four quarters together, from an energy standpoint and the speed of the game. We're a good team when we play four quarters. When we slog through the early parts, it hurts us. We know the problem. We can fix it. We can score. We can stop people."
 
At the start, Idaho wasted little time in scoring. It took only five plays, and a 46-yard run by Elisha Cummings set up his one-yard scoring burst for Zach Borisch.
 
Portland State answered right back with a 10-play, 70-yard drive for a score. Alexander hit Beau Kelly on a 15-yard pass in the right corner of the end zone. That tied the score at 7-7 just seven minutes into the game. Alexander was 5-6 passing for 50 yards on the drive.
 
Running back Aundre Carter broke off another big run for the Vandals, scoring a 41-yard touchdown on the next series.
 
After the Vikings were stopped, Idaho capitalized with a big punt return, then connected on a 42-yard TD pass from Mike Beaudry to Terez Traynor.
 
Early in the second quarter, Portland State took a chance on a 4^th-and-4 play from the Idaho 44. But Alexander was sacked on the play and the Vandals took over. On the very next play, Borisch completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Cash. That had the Vikings behind 28-7 early in the second quarter.
 
Carter tacked on another touchdown for the Vandals late in the half on a two-yard run. Idaho compiled 321 yards of offense in the half, averaging 11.5 yards per play.
 
With the aid of two Idaho penalties the Vikings drove all the way to the Vandal 11 just before halftime. The Vikings were given one untimed down following a UI penalty when the clock rolled to 00:00. Alexander took advantage, finding Kelly again in the back of the endzone on an 11-yard scoring strike. That made it 35-14 at halftime.
 
The Vikings' first two series of the second half ended on a failed fourth-down attempt and a missed field goal. But PSU still had some fight left. The defense held the Vandals to 0 total yards on their first three possessions of the half. Following one series late in the third quarter, a poor punt set up the Vikings up at their own 49. They ran a 13-play drive, and this time, faced with fourth-and-goal at the one, converted. Alexander rushed in from a yard out.
 
Another defensive stop had the Vikings taking over with 11:58 to go. On the third play, Alexander scrambled out of the pocket and converted PSU's longest play of the season – a 71-yard bomb to Talalemotu, closing the score to 35-28.
 
Finally, Idaho got its offense going again. On the next series, Beaudry broke out of the pocket on a third-and-eight play and went for 25 yards into PSU territory. The Vandals sustained the drive and were able to score on a three-yard run by Roshaun Johnson, pushing their lead back to 42-28 with 7:50 to play.
 
PSU responded again, driving down field in three minutes and scoring on an Alexander to Talalemotu 26-yard pass.
 
When Idaho got the ensuing kickoff, it needed only one first down to run out the clock. The first down came, but the Vandals continued to run the ball and gave PSU one final chance on the fumble.
 
Parker McKenna had 11 tackles to lead the Viking defense. VJ Malo forced the late fumble and it was recovered by Broderick Harrell.

GAME NOTES

• SR RB Malik Walker had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career with 26 carries for 132 yards. It was also the first 100-yard game by a Viking back in 10 starts dating to 2019.

• JR WR Mataio Talalemotu, making his first start since the first game of the season because of injury, had a career-high 12 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

• With four touchdowns passes, SR QB Davis Alexander moved into fourth place all-time in PSU history with 54, passing Tim Von Dulm. He trails only Neil Lomax (106), Jimmy Blanchard (63) and John Charles (58)… with a rushing touchdown as well, Alexander is now responsible for 76 touchdowns in his career (54 passing, 22 rushing)… Alexander had the third 400-yard passing game of his career second this season.
• JR WR Beau Kelly had his third 100-yard game of the season with seven receptions for 119 yards and two TDs.
• The Vikings had a season-high 588 yards of total offense.
• PSU has never won at Idaho, going 0-9 all-time and 0-2 in Big Sky games.
• Portland State returns home for its next two games. The Vikings host Idaho State next Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium in a 2:05 p.m. game. Following a bye week, the Vikings then take on Cal Poly at Hillsboro on Oct. 30.