PORTLAND STATE COMPLETES RETURN TO PLAY AT 5-6/4-4

After an opt-out season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portland State football program returned to a full season of competition in 2021. With two games to play in the season, the Vikings were still in contention for a post-season berth. However, losses to Big Sky Conference Champion Sacramento State and fifth-ranked Eastern Washington in the final two weeks had the Vikings finish the year at 5-6 overall, 4-4 in Big Sky Conference games.
        
Here is a look back at the Vikings' 2021 season:
        

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Portland State went 5-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Sky. The 4-4 mark was PSU's best since the 2015 season. The marquee win was a 30-18 victory over 24th-ranked and defending Big Sky Champion Weber State.
• The Vikings had six players earn All-Big Sky Conference honors: 1st team: JR CB Anthony Adams (52T, 5 TFL, 5 PBU, 3 INT, 3 FR, 1FF); 2nd team: JR WR Beau Kelly (69 receptions, 981 yards, 10 TDs); SR QB Davis Alexander (266-432, 3,075 yards, 21 TDs, 12 INTs, 6 rushing TDs); JR DE VJ Malo (45T, 20 TFL, 10.5 SK, 3 FF, 2 PBU); Honorable Mention: FR WR Nate Bennett (50 receptions, 616 yards, 4 TDs); SR DT Semise Kofe (37T, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 SK).
• JR TE Malik Thirdgill was named to the Big Sky Conference Community Service team for contributions away from the field. Thirdgill is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus, was a co-creator of a Social Justice Team, has also been involved with PSU's freshman student-athlete mentorship program and is a volunteer with Holy Redeemer Athletics and Big Yard Foundation.
• JR WR Beau Kelly led the Big Sky Conference in receptions (69), receiving touchdowns (10), total receiving yards (981), and would have led in punt return average (14.4) but did not reach the required number of returns... JR CB Anthony Adams led the Big Sky in fumble recoveries (3) and had six total takeaways.
• SR RB Malik Walker was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week after an Oct. 30 win over Cal Poly. Walker rushed 14 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Walker finished the season third in the Big Sky in rushing (879 yards) and second in touchdowns (11).
• FR WR Nate Bennett was named to the 22-player Jerry Rice Award Watch List during the season. The Jerry Rice Award recognizes the top freshman in the nation at the end of the season... SR QB Davis Alexander was selected to the 46-member Walter Payton Award Watch list. The Payton Award is given annually to the top offensive player in the nation at the FCS level.
• SR QB Davis Alexander finished his career second all-time in virtually every passing category at Portland State, trailing only Viking legend Neil Lomax, including total offense (10,473 yards), passing yards (9,215), touchdown passes (63), completions (708-1,223). Alexander also had 25 career rushing touchdowns (7th all-time), and with 88 total touchdowns ranks behind only Lomax.
• JR DE VJ Malo had 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks on the season. Both numbers were the most ever by a Viking at the FCS level, and the most by any Viking since 1988. He was second in TFLs and fourth in sacks in the Big Sky, ranking fifth and 11th in the nation, respectively.
• Other post-season honors, including All-America teams and Academic All-Conference are yet to be announced. 

ADAMS LEADS GROUP OF SIX VIKINGS NAMED ALL-BIG SKY

The Big Sky Conference released its All-Big Sky Conference football teams for the 2021 season, as chosen by league coaches, and six Vikings were honored. Cornerback Anthony Adams was selected as first team All-Big Sky Conference. Quarterback Davis Alexander, wide receiver Beau Kelly and defensive end VJ Malo were named second team All-Big Sky. Wide receiver Nate Bennett and defensive tackle Semise Kofe were selected as honorable mention All-Big Sky.
        
Adams, a junior from Newberg, had another All-American type season. The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back ranked second on the team with 52 tackles. Adams also had five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and forced a fumble. He was a consensus 2019 first team All-American and should be a top candidate for honors again this season. In three seasons of play, Adams has nine interceptions, four fumble recoveries, 31 pass breakups (third all-time) and 165 tackles. This is his second first team All-Big Sky honor.
        
Alexander, a 6-foot, 195-pound senior from Gig Harbor, WA, completed 266 of 432 passes for 3,075 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season. He ranked second in yards and touchdowns in the Big Sky Conference. The 3,075 yards were also the seventh most in a season in PSU history. Alexander also rushed for 160 yards and six touchdowns during the season. Alexander was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List in 2021. The Payton Award goes to the National Offensive Player of the Year. With 40 career games, and 35 career starts, Alexander ends his career with 9,234 passing yards and 63 touchdowns, both of which rank second all-time at PSU behind Neil Lomax.
        
Malo, a 6-1, 270-pound junior from West Seattle, WA, had 45 tackles, 20 tackles for losses, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. He ranked second in tackles for loss and four in sacks in the Big Sky. Malo's 20 TFLs are the second-most for a season in school history and the most ever by a Viking at the Division I level. The 10.5 sacks rank eighth all-time and are the most at the Division I level and since 1988.
        
Kelly, a 5-9, 165-pound junior from Scottsdale, AZ, led the Big Sky Conference in receptions (69), receiving yards (981) and receiving touchdowns (10). He added 15 rushing yards, two pass completions in two attempts for 56 yards, and returned eight punts for 115 yards (14.4). The 69 catches rank as the seventh most for a season in PSU history. His 981 yards left him just short of being the 16th Viking ever to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. The 10 touchdowns ties for ninth in a season in school history.
        
Freshman wide receiver Nate Bennett, a 6-3, 195-pounder from Simi Valley, CA, ranked third on the Vikings with 50 receptions for 616 yards and four touchdowns. Bennett was also selected to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, putting him among the top 23 freshmen in the country for National Freshman of the Year. He tied for sixth in the conference in receptions, 13th in yards and 12th in touchdowns.
        
Senior defensive tackle Semise Kofe, a 6-2, 310-pounder from Portland's Roosevelt High School, ended a fine career with 37 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. Kofe played 44 career games, making 112 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss for the Vikings.
 

THIRDGILL NAMED TO BIG SKY COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM

Portland State football player Malik Thirdgill has been named to the Big Sky Conference Community Service team for 2021.
        
Thirdgill, a junior tight end on the Viking football team, has been active on the field, in the classroom and as a participant in a variety of extracurricular activities in his community.
        
The Community Service team, which is in its third year of existence, recognizes football student-athletes who have dedicated their time to helping others and have gone above and beyond in making an impact on their campus and community. The Community Service Team is made up of one individual football player from each of the league's 13 competing institutions. Award winners were nominated by their respective head coaches.
        
Thirdgill, from Portland's Central Catholic High School, just completed his third competitive season with the Vikings. He has been involved in a myriad of activities off the field. He has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as an executive representative. The goal of that committee is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
        
In the midst of social unrest around the country over the past year, Thirdgill and his SAAC co-members went right to work. Along with Sofi Papastamos of the soccer team and football teammate Brady Brick, Thirdgill was a co-creator of a "Social Justice Team." The object was to get PSU's athletics teams to learn more about social justice around the United States and the World. They developed ideas and a lesson plan that all Viking teams will choose from to read about, educate themselves and then present on social media. "We want to inform our student-athletes about what is going on in the world," Thirdgill said. "It is easy to see it on social media, but to get involved, we believe, will have a longer lasting effect."
        
Thirdgill has also been involved with PSU's freshman student-athlete mentorship program.
        
In addition, the native Portlander is a volunteer with Holy Redeemer Athletics and Big Yard Foundation.
 

WHO IS GONE, WHO IS BACK FOR 2022

Portland State had 65 players letter during the 2021 season. The Vikings will lose 14 seniors, as two others will petition the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility. That means the Vikings could have as many as 86 players return overall.
        
There are 51 returning letterwinners and 32 returning redshirts. True freshmen that played in four games or less are considered redshirts, as well as those that were injured, played four games or less and have an available redshirt year.
        
The Vikings will return 19 starters, eight on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams. A total of 32 players who have made starts during their careers are scheduled to return in 2022.
        
A breakdown of who is going and who is staying (/ means players shared starts):
LETTERWINNERS RETURNING/LOST: 53/14 (includes previous letterwinners who redshirted)
STARTERS RETURNING/LOST: 19 (8 o/9 d/2 st)/7
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING (8): OL D'Angalo Titiali'i, OL Tyson Pauling, OL Shiloh Ta'ase, OL Richard Estrella, WR Nate Bennett, WR Beau Kelly, WR Mataio Talalemotu, WR Darien Chase
OFFENSIVE STARTERS LOST (4): QB Davis Alexander, RB Malik Walker, TE Daniel Giannosa, OL Carlos Barraza
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING (9): DE VJ Malo, DE Jake Porter, LB Parker McKenna, LB Justice Pagan/Tevita Tuitavake, ROV Tyreese Shakir, SAM Xavier Bell, CB Anthony Adams, CB Evan Camarena, S Broderick Harrell (petitioning NCAA for redshirt year)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS LOST (2): DT Semise Kofe, LB Nicolas Ah Sam
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS RETURNING (2): K Cody Williams/Gianni Smith, LS Ryan Alvidrez
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS LOST (1): P Seth Vernon
OTHER LETTERWINNERS THAT RETURN (32, with career starts): WR Marquis Spiker, QB Jaden Casey, WR George McCorley (1), CB Semaj Bolin, LB Robert Holt (5), QB Dante Chachere, S Shea Carstens, WR Bishop Mitchell, S Day Day Bright, CB Davion Gaines, RB Jobi Malary, RB Jalynnee McGee, CB Travis West (1), LB Isaiah Henry, LB David Joseph (9), CB Michael Jackson, RB Ahmir McGee, CB Benton Hoge, LB Justice Pagan (4), LB Zack Mandera (4), LB Moses Finau (2), DE Kennedy Freeman, LB Levi O'Connell, DT Boogie Davis (2), LB Ian Crocker, OL Brandon Mello (4), TE Elias Spence, TE Anthony Rodriguez, TE Malik Thirdgill, DT Martin Salazar, DT Holden Williams (1)
REDSHIRTS/SQUAD MEMBERS THAT RETURN (33): WR Emmanuel Daigbe (18), WR/KR Deion Malone, QB Nathan West, S De'jon Fort, QB DeMontre Thomas, QB Caden Filer, WR Chance Miller, QB Mason Packer, RB Jarmar Julien, RB JoJo Siofele, WR Jayden Brannan, RB Keenan Harpole, CB Stetler Harms, S Jake Urena, CB Ronan Gay, CB Jalen Boston, RB Treyvon Easterling, LB Spencer Delacruz, LB Tom Lambert, OL Dominic DeBerry, OL Manaia Fuertes, OL Hayden Engel, OL Ethan Wallis, OL Logan Bruce, TE Kole Allen, WR Malcolm Tatum, WR Tre Anderson, WR Taylor Evans, DT Serge Rusnak, DE Jayson Pace, DE Zane Maningo, DT Jessie Brown, DE Slade Shufelt
OTHER SENIORS LOST (8): S Ryan Lesch, LB Alex Lozano, S Ty Apana-Purcell, DE Noah Yunker, OL John Krahn, DT Tiano Tialavea (petitioning NCAA for redshirt year), OL Carlton Lorenz, OL Brady Brick
 

BENNETT, ALEXANDER NAMED TO WATCH LISTS

Freshman wide receiver Nate Bennett was named to the 2021 Jerry Rice Award Watch List by Stats Perform, sponsor of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision post-season awards.
         
Bennett was one of 22 true and redshirt freshmen from across the nation that were being considered for the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year at the FCS level. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
        
Meanwhile, Viking quarterback Davis Alexander was one of 11 players added to the Payton Award Watch List on Nov. 10 for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award. The Payton Award is presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Alexander was among 46 players included on the list.
 
The Payton Award, celebrating its 35th anniversary season, is named for the legendary Hall of Fame running back. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.
 

ALL-AMERICAN BOY

All-American JR CB Anthony Adams had a familiar season. Though opponents notably stayed away from his side of the field, Adams had 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, three interceptions, a Big Sky-leading three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

• Adams was named first team All-Big Sky Conference for the second season in a row.
• He now has 13 career takeaways (4 FR, 9 INT) and his 31 career pass breakups ranks third all-time at PSU. The school record is 33 by Rashad Floyd (1997-2000).
• Adams has started all 35 games of his career. He has 165 career tackes, 14.5 tackles for loss, 31 pass breakups, nine interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
• 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.

 

MALO-IFICENT TO OFFENSES

As impressive anything in 2021 was the play of JR DE VJ Malo. He terrorized opposing quarterbacks. into 10.5 sacks (2nd in the Big Sky), 20 tackles for loss (4th in the Big Sky) and three forced fumbles (1st in the Big Sky).

• Malo had a total of 45 tackles to rank fifth on the team.
• His 20 TFLs are the second most for a season in school history, most ever at the Division I level and most since 1987.
• His 10.5 sacks rank eighth all-time, are the most at the Division I level and most since 1988.
• His 20 TFLs rank fifth in the nation and 10.5 sacks rank ninth in the nation.
• Malo was named second team All-Big Sky Conference.

 

DEFENSE A PREDICTOR OF VIKING VICTORIES

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

• During PSU's three-game winning streak, the Viking defense produced nine turnovers and 13 sacks.
• 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.
• The Viking defense forced 18 turnovers, made 81 tackles for loss and 27 sacks on the season.
• ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS FOR TACKLES: JR CB Anthony Adams, 165; SR LB Nicolas Ah Sam, 125; SR DT Semise Kofe, 112.

 

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

SR QB Davis Alexander put up legendary numbers in 2021. He passed for 3,075 yards and 21 touchdowns (as well as six rushing TDs).

• Alexander was 266-433 passing for 3,075 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Alexander ranked second in the Big Sky in passing yards per game (279.5) and total offense (294.1) and touchdowns.
• The 3,075 yards ranks as seventh for a season in school history and was the most in 20 seasons... his 3,235 total yards ranks sixth for a season in PSU history.
• He was named second team All-Big Sky Conference.
• Alexander was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List for the national offensive player of the year.
• He was responsible for 88 career touchdowns (63 passing, 25 rushing), ranking second only to Lomax.
• Alexander threw for a career-high 424 yards and four touchdowns at Idaho earlier this season. He also had a 400-yard game (Hawai'i), 339 yards against Eastern Washington, and games of 299, 295 and 293. 

ALEXANDER'S CAREER NUMBERS
Total Offense: 10,473 yards, 2nd
Passing Yards: 9,215, 2nd
Passing Touchdowns: 63, t2nd
Completions: 708-1,223, 2nd
300-yard Games: 9, 4th
400-yard Games: 3, 3rd
Rushing Touchdowns: 25, 7th
Rushing Yards: 1,254
 

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

JR WR Beau Kelly was an all-around contributor for the Vikings. He had 1,111 all-purpose yards for the season (101.0). He gained yards receiving, rushing and on punt returns. And he was 2-2 passing for 56 yards.

• Kelly led the Vikings and ranked first in the Big Sky in receptions (69), first in touchdowns (10) and first in receiving yards (981)... he also had 15 rushing yards, 115 punt return yards and 56 passing yards.
• He ranked 17th in the nation with 89.3 receiving yards per game.
• Kelly was named second team All-Big Sky Conference.
• 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, then a fifth 100-yard game with seven catches for 126 yards and a score against Eastern Washington.
• For his career, Kelly has 115 receptions for 1,634 yards and 13 touchdowns in 32 games. He also has 221 career punt return yards, 103 career passing yards (on 3-4 completions), and 70 career rushing yards.

 

WIDEOUT PRODUCTION

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

• JR WR Beau Kelly led the team in receptions (69), receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (10).
• Though he missed the Idaho game with illness, FR WR Darien Chase became a starter and had 54 receptions, 579 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
• FR WR Nate Bennett had 50 receptions for 616 yards and four TDs and has started all 11 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 named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List for National Freshman of the Year... he earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference.
• 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... in eight games, he had 42 catches for 573 yards and three TDs... Talalemotu passed 1,000 career receiving yards at Hawai'i... he now has 100 receptions for 1,526 yards and 10 TDs in his career.

 

WALKING THE WALKER

SR RB Malik Walker had a standout senior season, ranking third in the Big Sky Conference in rushing with 176 carries for 879 yards, and second with 11 rushing touchdowns.  
Walker rushed 26 times for a career-high 132 yards against Idaho (10/9)... on Oct. 30, he rushed 14 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns against Cal Poly, earning Big Sky Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week... he had three other games with more than 90 rushing yards.
He had the most rushing yards by a Viking since 2015.
 

EXTRA SPECIAL TEAMS

Vikings special teams were strong once again in 2021:

• SR P Seth Vernon was impressive. He had a 44.9 yard average and 12 punts of over 50 yards. He ranked fourth 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, 65 at Southern Utah, 57 at Sacramento State and 51 against Eastern Washington.
• JR K Cody Williams missed most 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 went 29-29 on extra points and 5-8 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.
• JR WR Marquis Spiker averaged 19.2 yards per kick return.

 

BUILT TO LAST

The Vikings started six freshmen, had eight making major contributions, and played 24 freshmen this season. Top freshmen included: WR Nate Bennett (11 starts, 50 receptions, 616 yards, 4 TD); LB Parker McKenna (11 starts, team-high 88 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 FR); OLs Richard Estrella (11 starts) and D'Angalo Titiali'i (7 starts); WR Darien Chase (8 starts, 54 receptions, 579 yards, 4 TDs); LB Justice Pagan (5 starts, 39 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2 SKs, 2 PBUs); DB Tyreese Shakir (8 starts, 32 tackles, 1 SK, 2 INT, 2 FRs, 4 PBUs, 1 TD); K Gianni Smith (5-8 FGs, 29-29 PAT).
 

2021 SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL

 

ISLAND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Portland State didn't get the win at Hawai'i (9/4), losing 49-35, but they won the final three quarters, 35-21. Along the way, some impressive numbers went up. SR QB Davis Alexander completed 23-47 passes for 400 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. It was the second 400-yard game of his career. JR WR Beau Kelly had a career-high of six receptions and 132 yards with a touchdown. JR CB All-American Anthony Adams continued his fine play with a fumble recovery and an interception. FR CB Tyreese Shakir recovered a fumble in the end zone in the touchdown and another on an onside kick.
 

BACK-TO-BACK BEAU

JR WR Beau Kelly had back-to-back career games to open the season. He set career-highs with six receptions for 132 yards at Hawai'i. Kelly followed that with a career-high 10 receptions for 152 yards at Washington State (adding a 25-yard pass completion and 12-yard punt return for 189 total yards). He had a touchdown in each of the two games. After two weeks, Kelly led the Big Sky in receptions (8.0) and yards per game (142.0).
 

DOMINANT DEFENSE TAMES THE WOLVES

Portland State's defense shutout the Western Oregon Wolves for 56 minutes before settling for a 21-7 win in the Vikings home opener (9/18). The Vikings allowed only 106 yards in the first half and 278 yards total. 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.
 

BARNY BEERS

Portland State Head Coach Bruce Barnum promised to buy beers for Viking fans if they came out to the home opener on Sept. 18 against Western Oregon. Needless to say, the fans took him up on it. Barny's Beer Garden, adjacent to the stadium, gave away 2,064 beers. Barny's bar tab was $14,448.
 

DEFENSE HAS ITS DAY

Portland State's defense was the catalyst for the Vikings' 20-13 win at Southern Utah (10/2). 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... 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, the T-Birds moved to a first-and-goal at the PSU 9. They 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 Xavier Bell swatted away the pass in the endzone. FR LB Parker McKenna, from Beaverton, had a team-high nine tackles and one tackle for loss... Bell made six tackles with an interception and a pass breakup.
 

BIG NUMBERS, NOT ENOUGH POINTS

Portland State had its best offensive performance of the season at Idaho (10/9) despite not getting the win. The Vikings had season-highs of 588 total yards, 424 passing yards, 164 rushing, matched the season-high with 35 points and did not turn the ball over... SR QB Davis Alexander passed for a career-high 424 yards on a career-best 32-48 attempts. He had four touchdowns and no interceptions... JR WR Mataio Talalemotu, making his first start since game one due to injury, had career-bests of 12 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns... SR RB Malik Walker rushed 26 times for a career-high 132 yards... JR WR Beau Kelly had another big game with seven receptions for 119 yards and two scores.
 

ANOTHER DEFENSIVE GEM SETS THE TONE

Portland State got off to the best start possible against Idaho State (10/16), jumping to a 17-0 first-quarter lead and never looking back in a 31-10 win. The tone was set when the Vikings forced turnovers on the Bengals first three possessions, and forced five turnovers on the day. The defense also allowed a season-low 259 yards of offense. JR DE VJ Malo had two strip sacks in the game among five total sacks.
 

BE LIKE RICE

On Oct. 27 FR WR Nate Bennett was named to the 2021 Jerry Rice Award Watch List by Stats Perform. Bennett is one of 22 true and redshirt freshmen from across the nation that are currently being considered for the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year at the FCS level. Bennett, a 6-3, 195-pound wide receiver from Simi Valley, CA, has started all seven games for the Vikings going into this weekend's contest against Cal Poly. Bennett has 44 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns, ranking second on the team in each category. He is seventh in the Big Sky Conference in receiving yards, sixth in receptions and tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns. Bennett has played well against top competition. He had five receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in the season-opener against Hawai'i of the Mountain West Conference. Bennett followed that with six receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown against Washington State of the Pac-12. He had a season-high nine receptions in the win over 24th-ranked Weber State.
 

WALKER, MALO HELP TAME THE MUSTANGS

The Vikings were brilliant early, sloppy in the middle, then opportunistic at the end as they beat Cal Poly, 42-21 (10/30). The 42 points were a season-high and PSU forced four turnovers, scoring three touchdowns off them. The Vikings had 207 yards and five touchdowns rushing in the game as SR RB Malik Walker (14-116-2) and FR RB Jalynnee McGee (17-63-1) had big days. Walker went on to earn Big Sky Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week honors... on defense, the Vikings got another strip-sack forced fumble from JR DE VJ Malo - his third in two games. Malo had a monster day with eight tackles, including five tackles for loss... in all, the Vikings made a dozen TFLs and held Cal Poly to 50 yards rushing. The Vikings stopped the Mustangs on third down (2-11) and fourth down (2-5) at a high rate all day.
 

SIGNATURE WIN

Portland State had been playing well for more than a month, but hadn't gotten the signature win they were seeking... yet... when they went to Weber State (11/6). The Vikings knocked off the #24 Wildcats, who have had a share of the Big Sky Conference title each of the last four years, 30-18. PSU held the Wildcats to a season opponent low 256 yards, 3-13 on third down, made 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and four pass breakups. The Vikings offense put 299 yards on the Big Sky's top passing defense (164.5) and 428 yards in total... JR CB Anthony Adams made a career-high 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup... SR QB Davis Alexander completed 29-42 passes for 299 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He also rushed for a score.
 

ALEXANDER CONSIDERED AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

On Nov. 10, SR QB Davis Alexander was one of 11 players added to the 46-player watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Alexander, a senior from Gig Harbor, WA, is turning in another brilliant season for the Vikings. Through nine games, he has completed 209-355 passes for 2,505 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Alexander has also rushed for 281 positive yards and six touchdowns. He has led the Vikings on a current three-game winning streak that has them 5-4 overall, 4-2 in the Big Sky Conference and contending for an FCS post-season playoff bid. Last Saturday, Anderson threw for 299 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another, in a 30-18 road win over 24th-ranked and four-time defending Big Sky Champion Weber State. This season, he ranks second in the Big Sky in passing yards (278.3), total offense (297.9) and touchdown passes (17). 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. In 35 career starts, the 6-foot, 195-pound Alexander has risen to a level of greatness at Portland State. He has 10,473 yards of total offense, 9,215 passing yards and 708 completions. All three numbers rank second all-time at PSU behind Viking legend Neil Lomax. With 63 passing touchdowns (2nd) and 25 rushing touchdowns (7th), Alexander has accounted for 88 TDs in his career, also second most in school history.