Another dominating performance on the ground led to a raucous plane ride home for the Portland State Vikings as they earned a big 45-21 road win at Northern Arizona on Saturday. It was a long time coming as PSU hadn't won at Walkup Skydome since 2006 (a streak of four straight losses). More important for the Vikings, they improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky Conference as they come home for the next two games.
 
Northern Arizona went into the game at 2-1 in the Big Sky after wins over Top-20 programs Montana and Weber State, sandwiched around a one-point loss to Top-10 ranked Sacramento State. The 'Jacks had been particularly strong against the run, allowing a combined 240 rushing yards in those three games against three of the nation's best. But they couldn't stop the Vikings.
 
PSU rushed for 366 yards of its 525 yards total offense. The Viking defense was stout as well, allowing only 318 yards, forcing two turnovers and terminating two other NAU drives on fourth down.
 
Portland State (3-3, 2-1) now comes home, where it is 2-0, to face Idaho State (2-4, 2-1, Oct. 21) and Eastern Washington (2-4, 1-2, Oct. 28) in consecutive weeks. Both games are 1 p.m. kickoffs at Hillsboro Stadium and both can be seen on ESPN+.
 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PSU'S 45-21 WIN AT NORTHERN ARIZONA

• DANTE'S DAY: JR QB Dante Chachere LOVES playing against Northern Arizona. He completed 14-19 passes for 159 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Chachere also rushed 12 times for 83 yards and a score. He was responsible for all six Viking touchdowns. Last season, Chachere had 402 yards of total offense against the 'Jacks in a 35-27 win, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for two touchdowns…. Chachere's five-TD passing game matched his career-high of five last year against Lincoln… this season, Chachere has passed for 658 yards, 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He has rushed for 360 yards and a team-high six scores, giving him 17 total touchdowns. Chachere leads the Big Sky Conference in passing touchdowns.
• THAT BIG, UGLY MONSTER: The Viking running game continues to be a five-headed monster. PSU rushed for 366 yards against Northern Arizona and had a 40:13 time of possession in the game. Chachere rushed 12 times for 83 yards. FR RB Quincy Craig had 10 carries for 103 yards. JR RB Christian Grubb added nine carries for 76 yards. JR RB Jobi Malary rushed 14 times for 66 yards, and SR RB Andrew Van Buren carried 10 times for another 41 yards… for Craig, it was the third 100-yard game of his career… adding in his receiving and return stats, Craig leads the Big Sky Conference in all-purpose yards (124.8 pg).
• GROUND GAME: PSU has rushing games of 404 yards, 366 yards and 285 yards this season. The Vikings average 246.2 rushing yards per game, 318.0 rushing yards in three Big Sky games… PSU ranks seventh in the nation in rushing offense.
• BUT THEY CAN PASS: Although the running game was dominant, five of six PSU touchdowns came on pass plays against Northern Arizona.
• CAN'T STOP THE VIKS: From the start of the second quarter through the fourth quarter, Portland State scored on six straight possessions with five touchdowns, then a field goal. The drives were 60, 80, 82, 75, 75 and 18 yards… on the Vikings' final possession, despite being on the NAU 39, they kneeled on the ball in the closing seconds.
• MAKING THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY: FR CB Duhron Goodman earned his first start of the season at nickelback and he responded. Goodman made a team-high six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, had an interception and a pass breakup. The six tackles were a career-high.
• HERE'S THE SCORE: Portland State is averaging 54.3 points per game in its last four contests, three of which are wins. The Vikings average 43.0 points per game in conference play… PSU ranks seventh in the nation in scoring (40.2) and sixth in the nation in third-down conversions (51.2%).
• DOING THEIR PART: The Viking defense held Northern Arizona to four three-and-outs during the game, squelched two drives on fourth-down attempts, had two interceptions and five pass breakups.
• STOP THE RUN: In PSU's three wins, the defense has allowed only 113 total rushing yards on 84 carries (1.3 ypg) and forced six turnovers.