Game 8

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-5, 1-3) at EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (2-5, 1-3)

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, 1 p.m., Roos Field (8,600), Cheney, WA
LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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VIKINGS, EAGLES MEET SET ON CLIMBING IN THE BIG SKY

A pair of programs with tremendous similarities that are seeking improvement in the Big Sky Conference will meet this Saturday in Cheney, WA as the Portland State Vikings take on the Eastern Washington Eagles. Game time is 1 p.m. at Roos Field and it will air on ESPN+.
     
Both PSU and EWU are victims of brutal scheduling as much as anything. Both have lost a pair of games to FBS opponents (one of which was nationally-ranked), and each have played four Big Sky games (three of which came against nationally-ranked teams). The result is both teams are 2-5 overall, 1-3 and tied for eighth in the 12-team Big Sky.
     
Saturday's game will be a catalyst for one team on the quest for credibility and a potential winning record in 2022. Eastern comes off a 17-10 win at Cal Poly after five straight losses. Portland State comes off a 56-21 loss at 17th-ranked Idaho, its second defeat in a row.
     
Not only do the records look similar, but so do the statistics. PSU averages 21.4 points compared to 24.0 for the Eagles. The Vikings give up 36.7, while Eastern allows a league-worst 42.3. PSU has struggled offensively in recent weeks, but has also played the top three defensive teams, statistically, in the Big Sky (Montana, Weber State, Idaho). The Vikings' running game has been inconsistent, however the Eagles run defense ranks last in the Big Sky, allowing 289.4 yards, as well last overall (524.1).
     
Both programs are breaking in new starting quarterbacks this season and have seen sporadic success. Dante Chachere has 1,642 yards of total offense and 17 total touchdowns for the Vikings, while Gunner Talkington has 1,698 yards of total offense and 17 total touchdowns.
     
Eastern takes a five-game winning streak in the series into the game this Saturday. PSU's last win was in 2015 at Roos Field as the Vikings rolled on to the NCAA playoffs that season. The Eagles were an NCAA playoff team in 2021, going 10-3 overall.
 

TEAM LEADERS

• PORTLAND STATE: SO QB Dante Chachere has completed 105-178 passes for 1,308 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Chachere is also the rushing leader with 78 carries for 324 yards and four TDs... SO RB Jalynnee McGee has rushed 47 times for 191 yards... All-Big Sky Conference SR WR Beau Kelly has 32 receptions for 482 yards and three touchdowns. SO WR Nate Bennett leads the team with 34 catches for 372 yards, while SR WR Mataio Talalemotu has 13 catches for 242 yards and six touchdowns. His seven TDs overall lead the Vikings... SR S Xavier Bell and SR S Broderick Harrell are tied for the team lead with 30 tackles each. Bell also has five tackles for loss. SR DT EJ Ane has a team-best four sacks while SR DE VJ Malo leads with 7.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries... PSU averages 317.4 yards of total offense and 21.4 points per game... the Vikings have allowed 441.1 yards and 36.7 points.
• EASTERN WASHINGTON: Quarterback Gunner Talkington is 149-234 passing for 1,624 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions... Justice Jackson, Micah Smith and Tuna Altahir have combined in the backfield for similar numbers and a total of 717 yards and four TDs... Efton Chism has 40 receptions for 414 yards and six scores to lead the team. Freddie Roberson is the other top target with 27 catches for 463 yards and five touchdowns...  defensive back Ely Doyle leads the Eagles with 56 tackles this season. Linebacker Derek Tommasini has 40 tackles. Defensive lineman Mitchell Johnson has team highs of 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.... the Eagles average 364.6 yards of total offense and 24.0 points per game. They give up 42.3 points and 524.1 yards per game... Eastern has forced 16 turnovers while committing 13.

 

STORYLINES

• Eastern Washington has won five straight games in the series... in the past 10 games of the series, Eastern Washington has averaged 45.9 points while the Vikings have averaged 34.4... PSU has had some success in Cheney, as the series is tied 10-10-1 with Eastern as the home team. However, in Big Sky games, the Eagles have an 8-4 lead as the home team.
• Viking Football Head Coach Bruce Barnum is an alum of Eastern Washington.
• Eastern Washington is the closest Big Sky Conference school - in proximity - to Portland State. PSU also maintains its longest continuous series with the Eagles. This will be the 32nd consecutive season the teams have met (PSU opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• The Vikings had their biggest offensive day of the season against Northern Arizona (10/1), compiling 479 yards of total offense, 274 through the air and 205 on the ground... Portland State had its poorest offensive output in two seasons with only seven points in the loss to Weber State (10/15)... PSU averages 317.4 total yards per game and 21.4 points.
• DANTE'S DATA: SO QB Dante Chachere (SASH-er-ay) totaled 724 yards of offense and accounted for 11 touchdowns in the Vikings' two wins, including 554 yards passing (36-57) and 170 yards rushing (16 carries). He completed eight TD passes (five to SR WR Mataio Talalemotu) and rushed for three scores... his career highs for passing are 280 yards (Lincoln) and five touchdowns (Lincoln), and for rushing are 128 yards (Northern Arizona) and two touchdowns (Northern Arizona)... Chachere was named Big Sky Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against NAU (272 yards passing, 3 TDs, 128 yards rushing, 2 TDs)... for the season, Chachere is completing 59% of his passes, has 1,308 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has 78 carries for a team-high 324 rushing yards (465 positive yards) and four TDs... he has 1,632 yards total offense (233.1 per game).
• KELLY IS A HERO: SR WR Beau Kelly added a second 100-yard game (and seventh career to his resume) with six catches for 119 yards and a touchdown at Idaho (10/22). His 63-yard TD reception was his career long among 147 total... he now has 32 catches for a team-high 482 yards and three scores. He ranks sixth in receiving yards in the Big Sky Conference... Kelly had a season-high nine receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown at San Jose State (9/1)… last season Kelly led the Big Sky Conference during the regular season in receptions (69), total yards (981) and touchdowns (10)... Kelly's career numbers are 147 receptions (6th all-time at PSU) for 2,116 yards (7th all-time) and 16 TDs (t10th)... Kelly also has the most career starts (38) and consecutive starts (31) of any active Viking.
• NATE THE GREAT: SO WR Nate Bennett has a team-high 34 catches for 372 yards this season. His nine receptions against Weber State (10/15) matched his career high set last season against Weber State... Bennett already has 84 career receptions in 18 games.
• MT's TDs: SR WR Mataio Talalemotu is PSU's touchdown leader with seven overall. He went on a pretty good run (10/1-8-15) over three weeks, catching nine passes for 215 yards and six touchdowns. Talalemotu made three catches for 106 yards against NAU, then three for 83 yards and two scores against Lincoln, followed by three for 26 yards and a TD against Weber State... his three-TD day marked the first time since Sept. 26, 2013 that a Viking had caught three touchdowns in a game... Talalemotu ranks fifth in receiving TDs (6) and third in scoring (10.5 ppg) in the Big Sky Conference... Talalemotu now has 111 receptions, 1,746 yards and 16 TDs in his career (10th all-time).
• FINDING THE "ZONE": SO RB JoJo Siofele has waited three years for a chance, halted previously by injuries and a global pandemic. He started and rushed 11 times at Idaho for 42 yards and his first career touchdown.

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• DEFENSIVE DIAMONDS: Portland State's defense held Lincoln (10/8) scoreless for 59:57 before allowing a late touchdown. It was the fewest points (6) the Vikings have allowed since a 24-0 win over Idaho on Oct. 12, 2019... the 234 yards allowed were the fewest by a Viking opponent this season... PSU currently ranks 11th in the nation with 7.7 tackles for loss per game this season... the Vikings are third in the Big Sky Conference with 18 sacks... 11 different Vikings have sacks (18 total) and 22 have tackles for loss (54 total) through seven games... PSU's defense had a stretch of 22 straight third down stops at one point this season (Northern Arizona 0-11, then Lincoln 0-11 before the Oaks finally converted one).
• THE NUMBERS DON'T ALWAYS TELL THE STORY: Portland State had 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery at Idaho. However, they were undone by some big plays and allowed 571 yards and a season-high 56 points.
• THRILLER: SO CB Michael Jackson led the Vikings with a career-high eight tackles and a pass breakup at Idaho... JR LB Isaiah Henry had six tackles, including one for a loss.
• "INITIAL" DEFENDERS: SR DT EJ Ane had six tackles against Weber State, marking the third time he has hit that mark this season. His 28 total tackles is tied for third on the team lead and he leads the team with four quarterback sacks... SR DE VJ Malo has a team-high 7.5 TFLs this season (and 27.5 in his 19-game career to rank 11th all-time at PSU).
• D-LINE DOMINANCE: SR DEs Jake Porter and VJ Malo and SR DTs EJ Ane and Moses Finau have combined for 79 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks this season. 
• TURNOVER TABLE: SO ROV Tyreese Shakir has a team-high two interceptions this season. SR S Xavier Bell, JR LB Isaiah Henry and JR ROV David Joseph also have interceptions. Bell and Joseph each have two in their careers... SO S Day Day Bright has one fumble recovery.
• Portland State's defense had one of its best performances ever against an FBS-level program at San Jose State (9/1). The Vikings allowed only 288 yards in the game, making seven sacks. The most sacks PSU had in a game last season was five, and the seven sacks were the second-most in the nation by an FCS team in week one... the Viking D held SJSU to 66 yards in the second half helping the offense turn a 14-7 deficit into a 17-14 lead... PSU held four of 11 opponents under 300 yards in 2021, so far this season two have been under 300 yards.
• SR DE Jake Porter has now played in the most games of any current Viking (42), making 28 starts.
• SR CB Anthony Adams suffered an ankle injury at Washington and is out indefinitely. Prior to that, Adams had started 37 consecutive games in his career. He missed his first game ever at Montana. In the first two games, Adams had 15 tackles. At SJSU he had a team-high 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups. It was the third double-digit tackle game of his career... Adams now has 33 career pass breakups, tying former Viking Rashad Floyd (1997-2000) for the PSU career record.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• FOOTNOTES: SR P George Triplett, a transfer from Princeton, has punted for an average of 40.8 yards with a long of 57... of his 41 punts, seven have gone over 50 yards.
• FOOTNOTES PART II: SO K Gianni Smith is 3-4 on field goals this season with a long of 40 yards. Smith is now 8-12 on field goals in his career. He has made 47-48 extra points in his career, including a stretch of 43 straight.
• BLOCK PARTY: SO TE Elias Spence has been a key special teams player this season. Against Lincoln, he had three big plays on the punt block team, tackling the punter on one series, then blocking a punt on the next series. Spence's blocked punt was the first since 2018 (Jacob Bystry) for the Vikings. Later in the game, Spence blocked another punt... Spence has four tackles on special teams this season.
• SO LS Ryan Alvidrez started the 19th consecutive game of his career. He has a perfect long snapping record as a Viking.

 

LET'S OPEN UP THE RECORD BOOK

Four Vikings are having an impact on the Portland State career record book this season. A more complete look at record book updates can be found after the season stats in these game notes.

• SR CB All-American Anthony Adams is tied for first all-time in pass breakups (33 in 37 games) with former Viking All-American Rashad Floyd (1997-2000, 45 games). Adams is two interceptions shy of making the top 10 for picks (9).
• SR WR Beau Kelly now ranks sixth all-time in receptions (147), he became the 10th Viking in history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in his career (2,116, 7th) and is now tie for 10th in receiving touchdowns (16)... he ranks ninth all-time in punt return yards (268).
• SR DE VJ Malo now ranks tied for eighth all-time in career sacks with 12 in 19 career games... his 27.5 tackles for loss ranks 11th all-time.
• SR WR Mataio Talalemotu has moved into 10th all-time with 16 career touchdown catches. He is also approaching the top 10s for receptions (113) and receiving yards (1,768).

 

VIKINGS ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS

• RUSHING: Dante Chachere, 101-464-4; Jalynnee McGee, 96-450-2; Jobi Malary 34-145-1
• PASSING: Dante Chachere, 106-180-7-1,320-13; Mike Irwin, 6-15-1-44-1
• RECEPTIONS: Beau Kelly, 147; Mataio Talalemotu, 113; Nate Bennett, 84; Emmanuel Daigbe, 73
• RECEIVING YARDS: Beau Kelly, 2,116; Mataio Talalemotu, 1,768; Emmanuel Daigbe, 1,090
• TOUCHDOWNS: Mataio Talalemotu, 16; Beau Kelly, 16; Emmanuel Daigbe, 11
• ALL-PURPOSE YARDS: Beau Kelly, 2,479; Emmanuel Daigbe, 1,358
• TACKLES: Anthony Adams, 180; Parker McKenna, 115; David Joseph, 96; Jake Porter, 87; Xavier Bell, 80; Broderick Harrell, 76; Robert Holt, 68; VJ Malo, 67.
• SACKS: VJ Malo, 12; Jake Porter, 10
• TACKLES FOR LOSS: VJ Malo, 27.5; Jake Porter, 22.5; Anthony Adams, 15.5
• INTERCEPTIONS: Anthony Adams, 9; Tyreese Shakir, 4
• PASS BREAKUPS: Anthony Adams, 33; Xavier Bell, 9; Broderick Harrell, 7
• FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Anthony Adams, 4; Jake Porter, 2; Tyreese Shakir, 2