GAME 10

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (5-4, 4-2) at #12 SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (7-2, 6-0)

Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, 6 p.m. PT, Hornet Stadium (21,195), Sacramento, CA
LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+/CW 31 (in Sacramento)
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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ANOTHER SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER, ANOTHER BIG GAME

With each win the Portland State Vikings make their next game bigger, and that will be the case again this Saturday when PSU takes on 12th-ranked Sacramento State on the road.
     
The Vikings were sub-.500 a month ago, but have won three straight, four of five and five of their last seven contests. Last Saturday's was the biggest yet as PSU knocked off 24th-ranked and defending Big Sky Champion Weber State on the road, 30-18. That leaves them at 5-4 on the season, 4-2 and tied for fourth in the Big Sky Conference.
     
This week's opponent will be their toughest since a battle with Montana State back in September. Sacramento State, a 2019 Big Sky co-Champion (who sat out the COVID-ravaged 2020 season like the Vikings), are better than ever in 2021. The Hornets are vying for another Big Sky title with a stellar 6-0 league mark, 7-2 in all games.
     
Sacramento State appears to be on a path to another NCAA I FCS playoff berth. The Vikings would like to join them in that post-season tournament. To do so, PSU will need to pull off another road upset this Saturday in Sacramento (then a season-finale win over 7th-ranked Eastern Washington). If the Vikings can pull that off, they would finish 7-4/6-2 with three wins over ranked teams and be a strong candidate for more games.
     
This week's challenge will be great once again as PSU will face a powerhouse Big Sky offense. The Hornets rank second in the Big Sky at 456.1 yards per game. Where they have really stepped up in recent years is on defense where they rank fourth in the Big Sky in fewest yards allowed and points allowed (the Vikings rank fifth and sixth, respectively).
     
Portland State will go after its first four-game winning streak since the playoff season of 2015. The Vikings definitely have momentum as they have out-scored their opponents 103-49 in the past three games. The defense has forced nine turnovers, made 13 sacks and held their opponents to 284.0 yards average total offense.
     
This week's game, at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, kicks off at 6 p.m. The game will be available for viewing on ESPN+.

ALL-TIME SERIES

PSU leads the all-time series 23-12 • PSU leads 13-4 in Portland • PSU leads 10-8 in Sacramento
PSU leads the Big Sky series 13-7 • PSU leads 7-2 in Portland • PSU leads 6-5 in Sacramento     

STORYLINES

• Sacramento State and Portland State have passed for exactly the same number of yards through nine games (2,573 yards each).
• Sacramento State is one of Portland State's most common opponents with 35 previous meetings, including 28 times in 29 years between 1983 and 2011. However, this will be only the fifth meeting in the past decade between the schools due to the Big Sky Conference's unbalanced scheduling. Strangely, the Vikings will be playing at Sacramento State for the fourth straight time (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021). The Hornets last played at Portland State in 2013… the last meeting between the teams was a 41-14 Viking victory in Sacramento in 2018.
• Portland State and Sacramento State can brag the two greatest rushers in Big Sky Conference history, and they played against one another for four seasons (1997-2000). Charles Roberts (6,553) of Sacramento State and Charles Dunn (6,007) of Portland State rank 1-2 in all-time rushing yards in BSC history. In their four meetings as opponents, Dunn's team was 3-1.

VIKINGS vs. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS

Since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996, PSU is 21-47 all-time against nationally-ranked FCS opponents, and 0-9 against nationally-ranked FBS opponents. Head Coach Bruce Barnum is 7-12 against all ranked teams, 7-9 against ranked FCS teams, 0-3 against ranked FBS teams. PSU is 1-1 against ranked teams this season.
     
This week marks only the second time PSU has played Sacramento State while it was nationally ranked (25th in 2000, #9 PSU won 35-23)

SCOUTING THE HORNETS

Sacramento State boasts the second-longest winning streak in the Big Sky Conference at six games. The Hornets are 7-2 overall, 6-0 in the Big Sky, and ranked 12th in the nation.
     
Head Coach Troy Taylor has lifted Sacramento State to new heights, winning its first Big Sky title in 2019 and contending for another one this season. Taylor is 16-6 in his two seasons with the program.
     
Sacramento State averages 170.2 yards rushing and 285.9 yards passing per game this season. The 456.1 yard total ranks second in the Big Sky.
     
The Hornets allow only 113.6 yards rushing and 203.7 yards passing per game.
     
Sacramento State has two productive quarterbacks in Jake Dunniway and Asher O'Hara. They have combined for over 2,500 yards passing. O'Hara also leads the team with 496 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
     
On defense, the Hornets have been big-play makers, similar to the Vikings. Linebacker Marcus Hawkins and defensive Josiah Erickson have combined for 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks this season. 

LAST GAME: THREE IN A ROW FOR THE VIKINGS

Portland State defeated 24th-ranked Weber State on the road, 30-18. The Vikings dominated on both sides of the ball, racking up 299 passing yards and 428 total yards against the Big Sky's top pass defense (164.5 yards allowed per game). PSU also went 8-15 on third downs against the Big Sky's best third-down defense (29%)... The stat sheet was impressive. Quarterback Davis Alexander completed 29-42 passes for 299 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Freshman Nate Bennett made a season-high nine receptions for 83 yards. Freshman Darien Chase had five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Junior Beau Kelly made five grabs for 46 yards. Junior Mataio Talalemotu had four receptions for 69 yards... Portland State may have been even better on defense. The Vikings held Weber State to an opponent season-low 256 yards and only 3-13 on third downs. The Vikings had 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and three pass breakups... Junior Anthony Adams made a career-high 11 tackles, two for losses and broke up a pass. Juniors VJ Malo, Jake Porter and Xavier Bell were all in on sacks. Bell added four tackles and two breakups... The game was a defensive struggle until the 4:03 mark of the first quarter. The Viking defense  forced punts on the first two Wildcat possessions. But on the third WSU possession, a Viking blitz left an empty defensive backfield and the Wildcats took advantage. Backup quarterback Creyton Cooper avoided the rush, broke off the left side and went 51 yards for a score... The Vikings moved the football in the first quarter but couldn't get points. Alexander was 6-7 passing for 78 yards. However, PSU had a turnover and was stopped on its other two drives after just a couple of first downs... Midway through the second quarter the Vikings drove to the WSU 32. Freshman kicker Gianni Smith then booted a season-long 49-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3... Just before halftime, Alexander engineered an 11-play, 77-yard drive. He completed 6-8 passes for 76 yards in the series. Running back Malik Walker punched it in from two yards out with 56 seconds left in the half. The Vikings took the 10-7 lead into halftime... The lead was pushed to two scores on the opening series of the second half. This time it was a 13-play, 71-yard drive. Again, Alexander was key, completing 4-6 passes for 66 yards. A 50-yard grab over the middle by Talalemotu set up the score. Alexander rushed in from four yards out and PSU led 17-7 with 9:36 to play in the third quarter... Weber State netted only 16 yards in the third quarter but was able to produce one drive, aided by a PSU penalty, for a field goal. Kyle Thompson kicked a 45-yarder, making the game 17-10 heading to the fourth quarter... Portland State answered with another methodical 10-play, 72-yard drive. Methodical, that is, until freshman back Jalynnee McGee broke off a pair of big runs. McGee went 10 yards, then 22 yards for back-to-back first downs. On the next play, Alexander threw a jumpball into the right corner of the endzone and Chase came down with an 11-yard TD catch. The extra point made it 24-10 PSU with 11:57 left in the game... The Wildcats stayed alive on their next series. Using a two-quarterback system, WSU went 86 yards in 13 plays. Cooper scored again on a two-yard run. A fake extra point resulted in a two-point conversion and Weber State pulled within 24-18... The teams traded punts on the next two possessions. Though they trailed, Weber State was backed up to their own 10-yard line and had to punt, allowing the Vikings to take over with 3:30 to play. Two first downs would solve the game. PSU tried to run out the clock, but when pressed to third down, Alexander hit Bennett for a 15-yard first down pass with just over two minutes left. On the next play, Walker broke free on a 39-yard scamper for the final touchdown, making the score 30-18. 

BIG PLAYS ON DEFENSE CONTINUE, VIKINGS REAP REWARDS

It's no coincidence that when the Portland State defense is productive, the Vikings win games. In the Vikings' five wins this season, they have allowed 7, 13, 10, 21, and 18 points – an average of less than two touchdowns per game. They have given up just 278.4 yards per game in those wins.

• In the past two games, the Vikings have held their opponents to 5-24 conversions on third down and made 22 tackles for loss.
• The Viking defense has produced nine turnovers and 13 sacks during the three-game winning streak.
• MALO-IFICENT TO OFFENSES: Perhaps most impressive has been the play of JR DE VJ Malo. He continues to terrorize opposing quarterbacks. With another sack at Weber State, Malo has a Big Sky Conference-best 10.5 on the season. He has 18.5 tackles for loss (2nd in the Big Sky) and has three forced fumbles this season. He should be a top candidate for Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year.... the 10.5 sacks are the most by a Viking SINCE 1988 and the most ever by a Viking at the FCS level... Malo ranks third in the nation in tackles for loss, fifth in the nation in sacks and 11th in forced fumbles.
• All-American JR CB Anthony Adams had a career-high 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup in the win over Weber State. Adams has 42 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries this season... he now has 29 career breakups and 12 career takeaways. His 29 PBUs ranks third all-time at PSU.
• JR CB Xavier Bell, a transfer from Arizona, is quietly turning in an excellent season. Bell has started all nine games at the SAM position, compiling 38 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a team-best six pass breakups. He had four tackles, a sack and two pass breakups at Weber State. 

MORE DIAMONDS ON DEFENSE

• The Vikings allowed only 106 yards in the first half and 278 yards total in their home-opening win over Western Oregon (9/18). PSU had nine tackles for loss, four sacks and six pass breakups in the game. SR LB Broderick Harrell led the way with 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup.
• Portland State allowed 267 yards in the 20-13 win at Southern Utah. On the T-Birds 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 JR CB Xavier Bell swatted away the pass in the endzone with 3:05 to play... Bell finished with six tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
• THREE TIMES FIVE: PSU's defense forced a season-high five turnovers against Idaho State and allowed 259 yards of offense. The Vikings made five sacks and five pass breakups.
• Portland State held the defending Big Sky Champion Weber State Wildcats to 256 yards - the fewest by an opponent this season - in a 30-18 win. PSU made 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and four pass breakups in the win.
• This season, the Viking defense has forced 17 turnovers and made 27 sacks, which ranks second in the Big Sky Conference.
• LEADERS: FR LB Parker McKenna leads the Vikings with 73 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a pass breakup... JR CB Anthony Adams has 42 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups... JR DE VJ Malo is third in tackles with 39, has 18.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles... JR CB Xavier Bell has 38 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, six pass breakups and an interception... SR LB Nicolas Ah Sam has 36 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.
• ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS FOR TACKLES: JR CB Anthony Adams, 155; SR LB Nicolas Ah Sam, 120; SR DT Semise Kofe, 105. 

TRENDING TOWARD BALANCE ON OFFENSE

On offense, the Vikings have found the balance they seek. In the last five games, four of which are wins, the Vikings have averaged 160.0 rushing yards and 252.6 passing yards per game. PSU had 299 yards passing and 428 total yards against a Weber State defense that was allowing only 164.1 yards passing (best in the Big Sky) and 307.0 total yards going into the game. 

WALKING THE WALKER

Portland State had been averaging only 88 yards on the ground per game through the first four. However, the Vikings have rushed for 156 yards, 164 yards, 144 yards, 207 and 129 in the past five games - an average of 160.0 per game.

• SR RB Malik Walker rushed 26 times for a career-high 132 yards against Idaho... on Oct. 30, he rushed 14 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns, earning Big Sky Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week... Walker has 87 carries for 506 rushing yards over the last five games... he ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference with 145 carries for 732 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
• FR RB Jalynnee McGee has struggled to stay healthy this season, but he has proven to be a solid complement to Walker when he is healthy. McGee rushed 17 times for 63 yards and a score against Cal Poly… he had seven carries for 78 yards at Southern Utah... he had only three carries, but went for 33 yards at Weber State. All three of those games were wins.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

SR QB Davis Alexander is putting up legendary numbers. He had another big game at Weber State completing 29-42 passes for 299 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Alexander also ran for a touchdown in the game. With 299 passing yards in the game, he now has 8,645 passing yards in his career and has moved into second all-time at PSU trailing only Neil Lomax (13,220). With a 25th career rushing touchdown, Alexander moved up to seventh all-time in Portland State history in that category. Alexander has 2,505 passing yards and 17 touchdowns this season (as well as six rushing TDs). He is responsible for 84 career touchdowns and might be one of the most overlooked stars in the Big Sky the past couple of seasons. Here is a sample of what Alexander has achieved through nine games this season and 35 career starts (see page 23 of these notes for career lists).

• Alexander is 209-355 passing for 2,505 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Alexander ranks second in the Big Sky in passing yards per game (278.3) and total offense (297.9)... he also has six rushing touchdowns this season.
• Alexander has moved into second place all-time at PSU for total offense behind only Neil Lomax (1977-2000, 13,345). Alexander now has 9,915 yards.
• With 8,645 career passing yards, Alexander is now in second place in PSU history. He trails only Neil Lomax (1977-1980, 13,220).
• With 17 passing touchdowns, Alexander is now third all-time with 59 in his career at PSU. He has accounted for 84 career touchdowns (including 25 rushing). With 25 rushing touchdowns, he ranks seventh all-time at PSU.
• Alexander has moved into second in completions in Portland State history. He is now 651-1,134 in his career.
• Alexander now has eight 300-yard passing games, which ties for fourth-most in PSU history. His three 400-yard games ties for third-most... Alexander threw for a career-high 424 yards and four touchdowns at Idaho earlier this season. He also has a 400-yard game (Hawai'i), and games of 299, 295 and 293. 

BEAU KNOWS RECEIVING, PASSING, RETURNING, RUSHING...

JR WR Beau Kelly continues to be an all-around contributor for the Vikings. He has 917 all-purpose yards for the season (101.9). He has gained yards receiving, rushing and on punt returns. And he is 2-2 passing for 56 yards.

• Kelly leads the Vikings and ranks first in the Big Sky in receptions (59), first in touchdowns (8) and third in receiving yards (787)... he also has 15 rushing yards, 115 punt return yards and 56 passing yards this season.
• He ranks 17th in the nation with 87.4 receiving yards per game.
• Kelly leads the Big Sky Conference with a 14.4 punt return average.
• Kelly had back-to-back career games in the first two of the season. He went for 6-132-1 at Hawai'i, then 10-152-1 at Washington State... his third 100-yard game came at Idaho (7-119-2)... he racked up 101 receiving yards on eight catches against Cal Poly for a fourth 100-yard game.
• For his career, Kelly has 105 receptions for 1,440 yards and 11 touchdowns in 30 games. He also has 221 career punt return yards, 103 career passing yards (on 3-4 completions), and 70 career rushing yards.

ALL-AMERICAN BOY

All-American JR CB Anthony Adams is having a familiar season. Though opponents have notably stayed away from his side of the field, Adams has 42 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

• Adams now has 12 career takeaways (3 FR, 9 INT)... his 29 career pass breakups ranks third all-time at PSU. The school record is 33, by Rashad Floyd (1997-2000).
• Two of his takeaways - the fumble recovery at Hawai'i and the interception at Washington State - came when the opponent was inside the Vikings' 10-yard line.
• In 2019, Adams led the nation in passes defensed at the FCS level in 2019 (5 INT, 19 PBU) earning consensus first team All-American honors.

WIDEOUT PRODUCTION

Portland State figured to have a very strong wide receiver group in 2021. That has come to fruition even with some injuries to key members.

• JR WR Beau Kelly leads the team in receptions (59), receiving yards (787) and touchdowns (8).
• Though he missed the Idaho game with illness, FR WR Darien Chase has become a starter and has 36 receptions. He has 435 receiving yards, two touchdowns and had a 100-yard game at Hawai'i.
• FR WR Nate Bennett has 44 receptions for 574 yards and four TDs and has started all nine games. He picked up his first 100-yard game with six receptions for 106 yards against Western Oregon... against Weber State, Bennett made a season-high nine grabs for 83 yards... Bennett was recently named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List for National Freshman of the Year.
• JR WR Mataio Talalemotu was unavailable for three games and played briefly at Southern Utah. He came back strong at Idaho, making career-highs of 12 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yarder... this season, he has 28 catches for 398 yards and three TDs in six games... Talalemotu passed 1,000 career receiving yards at Hawai'i... he now has 88 receptions for 1,351 yards and 10 TDs in his career.

EXTRA SPECIAL TEAMS

Vikings special teams are strong once again in 2021:

• SR P Seth Vernon continues to impress. He has a 44.4 yard average and nine punts of over 50 yards. He ranks fifth in the Big Sky. Vernon had a long of 59 yards at Hawai'i, 56 yards at Washington State, 58 yards against Western Oregon, 55 against Montana State and 65 at Southern Utah.
• JR K Cody Williams will miss the remainder of the season due to a hip injury. Williams started the first 26 games of his career. This season he made 10-10 extra points, extending his school-record streak to 93 in a row... Williams hit a 46-yard field goal at Washington State. That was the 27th successful three-pointer in his career, tying him for seventh all-time in PSU history (Mike Cajal-Willis, 2001-02).
• FR K Gianni Smith took over for Williams late in the Western Oregon game. Since then, Smith has gone 23-23 on extra points and 5-7 on field goals. He made a 41-yard field goal against Montana State, then 35 and 28 yarders at Southern Utah, and a 20-yarder against Idaho State... Smith nailed a career-best 49-yard field goal at Weber State.
• FR CB Tyreese Shakir recovered a pair of fumbles at Hawai'i. The first came in the third quarter when Shakir recovered a muffed kickoff return by the Rainbow Warriors in the endzone. Later in the fourth, when the Vikings were attempting a desperate comeback, Shakir recovered a fumbled onside kick.
• JR WR Beau Kelly had a season-best 30-yard punt return at Southern Utah and averages 14.4 for the season. He leads the Big Sky Conference.
• JR WR Marquis Spiker is averaging 19.2 yards per kick return.

BUILT TO LAST

The Vikings start six freshmen, have eight making major contributions, and have played 23 freshmen this season. Top freshmen so far include: WR Nate Bennett (9 starts, 44 receptions, 574 yards, 4 TD); LB Parker McKenna (9 starts, team-high 73 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1 FR); OLs Richard Estrella (9 starts) and D'Angalo Titiali'i (5 starts); WR Darien Chase (6 starts, 36 receptions, 435 yards, 2 TD); LB Justice Pagan (4 starts, 32 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 SKs, 2 PBUs); DB Tyreese Shakir (6 starts, 25 tackles, 1 SK, 2 INT, 2 FRs, 4 PBUs, 1 TD); K Gianni Smith (5-7 FGs, 23-23 PAT) 

VETERANS

• CAREER GAMES PLAYED: Semise Kofe, DT, 42; Daniel Giannosa, OL/TE, 40; Nicolas Ah Sam, LB, 39; Davis Alexander, QB, 38; Jake Porter, DE, 33; Anthony Adams, CB, 33; Brady Brick, OL, 33; Noah Yunker, DE, 31; Beau Kelly, 30
• CAREER STARTS: Davis Alexander, QB, 35; Anthony Adams, CB, 33; Beau Kelly, WR, 29; Cody Williams, K, 27; Nicolas Ah Sam, 26; Mataio Talalemotu, 23, Seth Vernon 23
• CONSECUTIVE STARTS: Anthony Adams, CB, 33; Davis Alexander, 31; Seth Vernon, P, 23; Beau Kelly, WR, 22