Portland State Football got back on track Saturday at Eastern Washington with a little good, old-fashioned BarnyBall. The Vikings ran the football early, often, and to great effect on the way to a 38-35 victory over the Eagles. The win was the first over EWU since 2015 and the Vikings took back the Dam Cup Trophy for winning the rivalry game.
 
PSU rushed 58 times for 427 yards and four touchdowns. It was the sixth-most rushing yards by a Viking team in school history and the most since a school-record 515 rushing yards against Idaho State in 2016. PSU put on a remarkable performance considering the Vikings were without three of its main backs - Andrew Van Buren, Jalynnee McGee and Ahmir McGee.
 
PSU totaled a season-high 628 yards of offense, the most against a Division I opponent since getting 682 yards against Montana State in 2015.
 
The win improved the Vikings to 3-5 on the season, 2-3 in the Big Sky Conference games. PSU's three losses all came against nationally-ranked teams. The Vikings are now tied for sixth in the 12-team Big Sky and vying for a winning record.
 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Portland State SO QB Dante Chachere had a big outing and was also effective at distributing the ball to PSU's other offensive weapons. Chachere rushed 14 times for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns, including a 51-yard sprint to score in the opening drive for the Vikngs. He was efficient with the pass too, completing 17-22 tosses for 201 yards and another score. In all, Chachere was responsible for 342 yards and three touchdowns… it was Chachere's second 100-yard rushing game this season and he leads the Vikings with 465 rushing yards this season.
• SO RB Jobi Malary, given his biggest opportunity yet as a Viking, delivered with a career-high 148 rushing yards on 19 carries… also contributing in the run game was SR WR Emmanuel Daigbe with seven carries for 69 yards and SO RB JoJo Siofele with 11 rushes for 41 yards. 
• SR WR Mataio Talalemotu caught three passes for 60 yards, including a nifty sideline, toe-tap reception on a 4th-and-7 play to convert a first down. The Vikings scored a touchdown on the next play… Talalemotu also had three rushes for 26 yards, including an 11-yard TD run on a fake field goal attempt in the second quarter. Talalemotu now has a team-high eight touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing).
• SR WR Beau Kelly continued his stellar career with more key plays in the win. Kelly caught five passes for 53 yards and a nine-yard touchdown pass. Kelly also made the play that iced the game for the Vikings, taking a 4th-and-2 handoff at the Eastern Washington 13-yard line and running a four-yard fly sweep for a first down. With just a minute to play, the Vikings were then able to kneel on the ball and run out the clock… Kelly moved into fourth place all-time in receptions at Portland State with 152. He trails only Orshawante Bryant (223), Barry Naone (199) and Terry Charles (180) - all PSU Athletics Hall of Famers - in receptions. Kelly's TD was the 17th of his career, moving him to ninth on the all-time receiving TD list.
• On defense, SO LB Jaymason Willingham made a team-high 12 tackles, and SR S Broderick Harrell had 11 tackles. Both were career-highs… SR LB Robert Holt's interception with 6:49 to play was his second career pick. He had one at Arkansas in 2019…with a sack against the Eagles, SR DT EJ Ane has a team-leading five sacks this season.

 

COMING UP

Portland State now comes home for the next two weeks. The Vikings host Northern Colorado on Saturday in a 2 p.m. game against Northern Colorado. 
 
It will be PSU's Salute to Service game, honoring our country and those who serve. Fans will have a unique opportunity to show their thanks and receive a free Vikings camo keychain. During the game, stop by and get your photo taken with therapy alpacas from Classy Camelids; they often work with veteran's groups to help mitigate the symptoms of PTSD and memory loss. Carnival games and fan activities will also be available on the field before the game!

Fans can celebrate at Vik Fest, the official pre-game party of Portland State Athletics, with full-service catering, a cash bar, and games. Get your tickets today!

The Vikings host second-ranked Sacramento State on Friday, November 11 at 6 p.m. The regular season concludes on Nov. 19 at Cal Poly. All games air on ESPN+.