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Portland State University Athletics

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS
Mataio Talalemotu hauls in a TD pass against Northern Colorado
Troy Wayrynen
Mataio Talalemotu hauls in a 64-yard touchdown reception in the Vikings' win over Northern Colorado last Saturday.

Football by Mike Lund

Vikings Home Finale, Senior Day Comes Against Big Sky's Best, Sacramento State

Game 10

#2 SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (9-0, 6-0) at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-5, 3-3)

Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, 6 p.m., Hillsboro Stadium (7,600), Hillsboro, OR
LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+ • Play-by-Play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Scott Hermo
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf
ANOTHER BIG GAME COMES TO TOWN AS VIKINGS FACE #2 HORNETS
For all the challenges and powerhouse opponents of the 2022 season, the Portland State Vikings likely face their biggest challenge yet this Friday night when they host second-ranked Sacramento State.
     
The Hornets come to town with a perfect 9-0 record, 6-0 in the Big Sky Conference, a 21-1 Big Sky record over the past three seasons, and what is believed to be the longest road winning streak against FCS opponents in the nation. It's conceivable Sacramento State comes to Hillsboro Stadium as the nation's best team - the Hornets received six first-place votes in this week's poll. The answer may be revealed when the teams kick off on a special day and time, this Friday at 6 p.m. Fans can witness in person or on ESPN+.
     
Portland State is game for the test as it comes off its two best offensive performances of the season. PSU has averaged 560.5 yards and 36.5 points in the last two games - both wins - and is now 3-3 in the Big Sky, 4-5 overall. PSU's defense has battled injuries but made the plays when it has needed to, including forcing three turnovers and getting eight straight defensive series' stop in last Saturday's win over Northern Colorado.
     
The Vikings will need all the offense it can muster as Sacramento State is the top scoring team in the Big Sky, third in the nation (42.8 ppg), and fifth in the nation in total offense (490.7 ypg). The Hornets have scored at least 31 points in every game, and more than 40 on five occasions this season.
     
What was for a long time an annual matchup with Sacramento State has become a little more rare in the 12-team Big Sky Conference. PSU lost 49-20 to a 12th-ranked Hornet team last season, but has faced them only five times in the last decade. And, it will be Sacramento State's first appearance at PSU since 2013.
     
The Vikings have faced an incredibly challenging schedule this season as the Big Sky has consistently had five nationally-ranked teams, four of which have spent most of the season in the top 10. PSU has already faced three ranked teams: Montana (#2 at the time of the game), Weber State (#6) and Idaho (#17). Sacramento State has faced that same group, winning at number-five Weber State, 33-30, last Saturday, and also beating Montana and Idaho at home.
     
In their current position, the Vikings have a shot at a winning season record and Big Sky record with games against Sacramento State and at Cal Poly (Nov. 19) to close out the season. PSU has had back-to-back five-win seasons (5-7 in 2019, 5-6 in 2021). PSU was 4-4 in Big Sky play last season.
 
TEAM LEADERS
  • PORTLAND STATE: SO QB Dante Chachere has completed 135-220 passes for 1,878 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Chachere is also the rushing leader with 95 carries for 464 yards and six TDs... SO RB Jobi Malary has rushed for 229 yards in the past two weeks, while SR WR Emmanuel Daigbe has 154 rushing yards in the last two games... All-Big Sky Conference SR WR Beau Kelly has 38 receptions for 565 yards and four touchdowns. SO WR Nate Bennett also has 38 catches for 413 yards, while SR WR Mataio Talalemotu has 19 catches for 405 yards and eight touchdowns. His 10 TDs overall lead the Vikings... SR S Broderick Harrell has a team-high 52 tackles, including 11 in each of the last two games... SR S Xavier Bell has 44 tackles and five tackles for loss... SR DT EJ Ane has a team-best eight tackles for loss and six sacks... PSU averages 371.4 yards of total offense and 24.8 points per game... the Vikings have allowed 457.9 yards and 34.8 points.
  • SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets have a unique two-quarterback system. Jake Dunniway is 124-207 for 1,551 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions. Asher O'Hara is 50-66 passing for 508 yards and six scores. He has also rushed 148 times for 690 yards and 16 TDs... Cameron Skattebo is the Big Sky's top rusher with 141 carries for 1,050 yards and five TDs... Marshel Martin leads the team in receptions with 38 for 507 yards and eight scores... linebacker Armon Bailey has a team-best 64 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks... nickelback Marte Mapu has 51 tackles and two interceptions... the Hornets average 42.8 points and 490.7 yards per game on offense... Sacramento State runs the ball 60% of the time and averages 259.0 rushing yards per game... defensively, the Hornets allow 22.4 points and 368.1 yards per game.
 
STORYLINES
  • Remarkably, this will be Sacramento State's first appearance in Portland since 2013 after four straight meetings in Sacramento. It will be just the sixth meeting in the last 11 years between the teams.
  • Portland State leads the all-time series 23-13 and the Big Sky Conference series 13-8. PSU is 7-2 in Big Sky games at home. The Hornets have won four of the last five meetings overall.
  • Sacramento State is ranked second in this week's media and coaches polls... Portland State is 21-52 all-time against nationally-ranked FCS teams since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996. PSU is 13-26 at home, 8-26 on the road... this is the third time Sacramento State has been ranked when it has played the Vikings (25th in 2000; 12th in 2021)... Head Coach Bruce Barnum is 7-14 all-time against nationally-ranked FCS opponents.
 
VIKINGS WILL HONOR NINETEEN SENIORS
Portland State will honor 19 seniors playing in their final home game this week. A ceremony prior to the game with Sacramento State will recognize their contributions to the Viking Football Program. Among them are seven four-year letterwinners who entered school in 2017. Twelve of the seniors have been starters in 2022.
     
PSU has two seniors, WR Marquis Spiker and RB Andrew Van Buren, who will return in 2023 after taking redshirt seasons in 2022. CB Isaiah Avery, WR Maclaine Griffin and P George Triplett are all eligible for a sixth year and plan to return in 2023.
 
PORTLAND STATE SENIORS
QB Mike Irwin, WR Emmanuel Daigbe, S Broderick Harrell, S Xavier Bell, WR Mataio Talalemotu, QB Nathan West, WR Beau Kelly, CB Anthony Adams, LB Robert Holt, S Shea Carstens, CB Evan Camarena, DE VJ Malo, DT Moses Finau, LB Tevita Tuitavake, DE Jake Porter, OL Tyson Pauling, TE Anthony Rodriguez, TE Malik Thirdgill, DT EJ Ane
 
JACKSON NAMED BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michael Jackson made the most of his opportunity on Saturday and ended up as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week following the Vikings 35-21 win over Northern Colorado.
     
Jackson, a sophomore cornerback from Westlake Village, CA, made the first start of his Portland State career as the boundary cornerback. He made two interceptions in the fourth quarter as the Bears were attempting to make a comeback and helped put the game on ice for the Vikings.
     
In all, Jackson had four tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup to go with his first career interceptions. Jackson had an interception at the 9:13 mark of the fourth quarter, stopping a drive that had moved to the PSU 28, returning the ball 20 yards. The Vikings did not score on the ensuing possession but were able to run time off the clock toward victory. With PSU leading 35-21 inside of three minutes to play, the Bears again tried a desperation march downfield and were at the PSU 30. Jackson then made a leaping grab in the endzone for his second pick in the final minute.
     
For the season, Jackson has played in all nine games making 24 tackles, one for loss, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and two interceptions.
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES
  • The Vikings had their biggest offensive day of the season against Eastern Washington (10/29) with 628 yards, 427 on the ground and 201 through the air. The 427 rushing yards were the sixth-most in school history. The 628 yards are the most by a Viking team against a Division I opponent since gaining 682 yards against Montana State in 2015... PSU's second-highest output came against Northern Colorado last Saturday, compiling 493 yards of total offense, 269 through the air and 224 on the ground... the Vikings have averaged 560.5 yards and 36.5 points the last two weeks... Portland State had its poorest offensive output in two seasons with only seven points in the loss to Weber State (10/15)... PSU averages 371.4 total yards per game and 24.8 points for the season.
  • DANTE'S DATA: SO QB Dante Chachere (SASH-er-ay) totaled 724 yards of offense and accounted for 11 touchdowns in a pair of Vikings' wins (10/1 and 10/8), 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... Chachere had 610 yards of total offense and was responsible for seven touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in the wins over Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado... Chachere has completed 61% of his passes this season for 1,778 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing with 464 yards (616 positive yards) and six TDs... his career highs for passing are 280 yards (Lincoln) and five touchdowns (Lincoln), and for rushing are 141 yards (Eastern Washington) and two touchdowns (Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington)... 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)... Chachere has two 100-yard rushing games and has 2,242 yards total offense (249.1 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 153 total... he now has team-highs of 38 catches for 565 yards and four scores. He ranks eighth 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 153 receptions (4th all-time at PSU) for 2,199 yards (7th all-time) and 17 TDs (t10th)... Kelly also has the most career starts (40) and consecutive starts (33) of any active Viking.
  • NATE THE GREAT: SO WR Nate Bennett is tied for the team lead with 38 catches for 413 yards this season. His nine receptions against Weber State (10/15) matched his career high set last season against Weber State... Bennett already has 88 career receptions in 20 games.
  • MT's TDs: SR WR Mataio Talalemotu is PSU's touchdown leader with 10 overall (eight receiving, two rushing). He went on a pretty good run over three weeks (10/1-8-15), 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 caught three passes for 60 yards and had three rushes for 26 yards and a score at Eastern Washington (10/29), then last Saturday caught three more passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns against Northern Colorado... he ranks 16th in receiving TDs (8) in the nation and eighth in yards per catch (21.3)... Talalemotu now has 119 receptions, 1,931 yards and 18 TDs in his career (t7th all-time).
  • RUN GAME BREAKOUT: Portland State's running game has had its best two weeks over the last two weeks. The Vikings have rushed for 651 yards on 102 carries in wins over Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado. Big contributions came from SO RB Jobi Malary, SR WR Emmanuel Daigbe, SO RB JoJo Siofele and SO QB Dante Chachere in those games… Malary got into the endzone twice against Northern Colorado - once rushing and once receiving. They were his first two touchdowns this season. Malary has 31 carries for 229 yards and two receptions for 33 yards over the past two weeks… Malary had a career-high 148 yards at Eastern Washington while Chachere added a career-high 141 yards on the ground. It was also the first time two Viking rushers had 100 yards in the same game since Nov. 11, 2016 against Sacramento State... Daigbe has been converted to a part-time running back and it has been effective. In the Vikings' two wins he has 20 carries for 154 yards and two receptions for 64 yards.
 
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 18th in the nation with 7.1 tackles for loss per game this season... the Vikings are third in the Big Sky Conference with 20 sacks... 11 different Vikings have sacks (20 total) and 23 have tackles for loss (64 total) through nine 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)... PSU forced a season-high three turnovers in the win against Northern Colorado. The Vikings also held the Bears without points for eight straight possessions... 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.
  • WHATEVER WORKS: The Viking defense made an adjustment to a 3-4 look to open the game with Northern Colorado to accommodate its available personnel. The Bears scored on their first two possessions but then the Vikings buckled down, stopping UNC on its next eight possessions (fumble, punt, punt, punt, missed FG, punt, blocked field goal, interception). That defensive performance allowed the offense to score 35 unanswered points and take control of the game... SO CB Michael Jackson, making his first career start, had a big game with two interceptions in the fourth quarter as the Bears were trying to mount a comeback. Jackson added four tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup and was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week… for the second game in a row SR S Broderick Harrell made 11 tackles. He leads the Vikings with 52 tackles this season… SR DT EJ Ane continues to produce. Pressed into duty at defensive end due to injuries, Ane made seven tackles, two for losses, picked up his team-leading sixth sack of the season, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble.
  • "INITIAL" DEFENDERS: SR DT EJ Ane has 38 total tackles this season and leads the team with eight tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks... SR DE VJ Malo missed the game with Northern Colorado but has 7.5 TFLs this season (and 27.5 in his 20-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 96 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks this season. 
  • TURNOVER TABLE: SO ROV Tyreese Shakir and SO CB Michael Jackson each have two interceptions this season. SR S Xavier Bell, JR LB Isaiah Henry, JR ROV David Joseph and SR LB Robert Holt also have interceptions. Bell, Joseph and Holt all have two in their careers... SO S Day Day Bright and SR DT EJ Ane havew fumble recoveries.
  • SR DE Jake Porter has now played in the most games of any current Viking (44), making, 30 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... the Vikings have also missed top returning tackler SO LB Parker McKenna for all but two games this season.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
  • FOOTNOTES: JR P George Triplett, a transfer from Princeton, has punted for an average of 39.8 yards with a long of 57... of his 44 punts, seven have gone over 50 yards.
  • FOOTNOTES PART II: SO K Gianni Smith is 4-5 on field goals this season with a long of 40 yards. Smith is now 9-13 on field goals in his career. He has made 57-58 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 recovered the onside kick at Eastern Washington that eventually led to the Vikings running out the clock for the win. He has five tackles on special teams this season.
  • FAKE OUT: The Vikings faked a field goal for the first time in recent memory against Eastern Washington (10/29). It worked perfectly as holder SR WR Mataio Talalemotu picked up the snap and dashed through the left side of the offensive line, avoiding two tackles and scoring a touchdown on an 11-yard run.
  • SR LB Robert Holt blocked a field goal against Northern Colorado, the first by a Viking since 2019.
  • SO LS Ryan Alvidrez started the 21st 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 fourth all-time in receptions (153), he became the 10th Viking in history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in his career (2,199, 7th) and is now tied for 10th in receiving touchdowns (17)... he ranks seventh all-time in punt return yards (290).
  • SR DE VJ Malo now ranks tied for eighth all-time in career sacks with 12 in 20 career games... his 27.5 tackles for loss ranks 11th all-time.
  • SR WR Mataio Talalemotu has moved into a tie for 7th all-time with 18 career touchdown catches. He is also approaching the top 10s for receptions (119) and receiving yards (1,931).
 
VIKINGS ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS

 
 
 
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