San Jose, CA – Night owls in the City of Roses were nearly treated to an upset from the hometown team on Thursday. But San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro scrambled for a two-yard touchdown with 1:11 to play, boosting the Spartans over Portland State, 21-17, at CEFCU Stadium.
 
In a coulda, shoulda, woulda game, the Vikings came up agonizingly short. They outgained the Spartans 395-288 on the field. The defense was resilient in the second half, allowing only 66 yards to San Jose State, forcing a missed field goal and getting a goal line stop with four minutes to play. However, the Vikings couldn't get a needed first down and had to punt it back with just over two minutes left.
 
PSU can look at two turnovers, a special teams miscue and seven costly penalties as big factors in their season opener.
 
"We made too many mistakes and we left two touchdowns on the field in the first half," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum. But he also acknowledged the grit his team played with, led by the defense.
 
"It was an outstanding performance by the defense. But there were too many mistakes to follow up what they did. They put us in a great position to win, but we have to clean it up and not make mistakes I saw in the other two phases of the game on offense and special teams."
 
"I told the team don't accept 'you played well' from this. Win the game. That's what we need to do. We need to clean up the mistakes and win those games."
 
New starting quarterback Dante Chachere was up to the moment in his first time leading the team. The sophomore signal caller drove the Vikings 66 yards for a touchdown in his first series. Chachere completed 4-4 passes for 47 yards, including an 11-yard TD toss to senior wideout Maclaine Griffin. That gave the Vikings an early 7-0 lead.
 
San Jose State is known for its defensive front seven and it showed after that. The Vikings went three-and-out in their next two series. The Spartans scored on their next two series and led 14-7 early in the second quarter.
 
The Vikings had two drives terminated inside the Spartans 10-yard line late in the second quarter. Kenyon Reed intercepted a Chachere pass at the nine-yard line to end a 73-yard PSU drive and scoring threat. 
 
PSU's defense held on the succeeding series getting a fourth-down stop on the Spartans at the PSU 43. VJ Malo had a sack, Anthony Adams and Boogie Davis each made tackles for loss, then Jake Porter got the 4^th-and-2 stop with another sack.
 
Again, the Vikings drove deep into Spartan territory. With the clock winding down, PSU got to first-and-goal at the one-yard line with no timeouts and 4.5 seconds on the clock. With the option of attempting a field goal, the Vikings went for a tying score. But the San Jose State defense stopped Viking back Andrew Van Buren on a dive over the line and the half ran out with the Spartans ahead 14-7.
 
The Vikings closed the gap on a 12-play, 70-yard drive in the third quarter. A pair of SJSU personal fouls helped the cause. Gianni Smith finished the drive with a 35-yard field goal, making it 14-10 Spartans.
 
PSU got a defensive stop on the next series, but the Spartans punted it down to the PSU 1. On the next play, the Vikings ran a flea flicker from their own endzone. The result was a 48-yard completion to Nate Bennett near midfield. Later, the Vikings went for it on 4^th-and-2 from the Spartans 43. A wildcat run by Van Buren resulted in a first down.
 
On another 4^th-and-2, at the Spartans 19, a Chachere keeper went for eight yards and a first down. Two plays later, Chachere hit Beau Kelly in the middle of the end zone on a go-ahead 12-yard touchdown pass. PSU led 17-14 with 9:57 to play.
 
The Spartans missed a chance to tie with a 37-yard field goal attempt that flew wide right.
But a moment later Jordan Cobbs picked off a Chachere pass that was tipped at the line. SJSU took over at the PSU 23 with 6:20 to play.
 
Portland State was able to terminate that drive, making a fourth-and-goal stop with 4:03 left.
 
The Vikings took over at their own one-yard line, but were limited to eight yards and a punt. It was returned to the PSU 32. Six plays and two PSU penalties later Cordeiro made his dash into the end zone with the winning score.
 
PSU had 1:11 to play, but could only get to midfield before a last-second Hail Mary fell short.
 
Chachere completed 24-37 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed 14 times for 83 yards.
 
"He learned and I was proud of him," said Barnum of his new quarterback. "The pick he threw in the first half… well, the touchdown he threw in the second half was on the same play. He learned and adjusted. I was happy with what I saw from him. If he keeps doing that, he is going to put a lot of points up."
 
Coming up big again for the Vikings was Kelly with nine receptions for 133 yards and a score.
 
"He is a threat. Everybody looks at him in pregame and laughs at him (because of his 5-9, 170-pound stature), and then he torches them. He made some outstanding plays and catches. He is an All-American type football player," said Barnum.

The story was the defense though. PSU did not force a turnover, but stopped two Spartan drives on fourth down, made 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks in the game while allowing just 288 yards to an FBS program.
 
Sophomore roverback Tyreese Shakir had eight tackles, four TFLs and three sacks. Senior cornerback Anthony Adams made 10 tackles, one for loss, and broke up a pair of passes.
 
GAME NOTES
• In his first game as a Viking, SR DT EJ Ane was playing against his former team, San Jose State. Ane played in 28 career games for the Spartans, making 68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Ane had two tackles for the Vikings.
• All-American SR CB Anthony Adams started the 36^th consecutive game of his career. He and SR DE Jake Porter have each played in 36 career games, most on the Viking roster. Porter has started 22.
• Adams had two pass breakups in the game and now has 33 in his career. That ties the all-time record at Portland State held by Rashad Floyd (1997-2000).
• PSU is now 4-43 all-time against FBS-level competition. The Vikings are 2-20 against the Mountain West with wins over Hawai'i and New Mexico.
• Beau Kelly (124 career catches) needs two receptions to move into the top 10 all-time at PSU.
• Portland State plays at Washington on Sept. 10.