Game 7

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-3, 2-1)
vs. IDAHO STATE BENGALS (2-4, 2-1)

game presented by University Pointe Apartments
Saturday, October 21, 1 p.m., Hillsboro Stadium (7,600), Hillsboro, OR
TELEVISION: None
LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+ • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Scott Hermo
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com

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VIKINGS HOST BENGALS IN A BATTLE TO GET TO THE TOP

The Big Sky Conference schedule-maker might not have figured a late October matchup between Portland State and Idaho State would mean a lot in the league standings, but here we are...
     
The Vikings host the Bengals this Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium as both teams come off big wins and sit in a tie for fourth place in the Big Sky standings at 2-1. The winner of the Vikings/Bengals game will be no worse than tied for second place with Montana and Idaho (both 3-1 with byes) while 3-0 Montana State plays at 2-1 Sacramento State. A minimum of three teams will be 3-1, but it is conceivable there could be a five-way tie for first place in the Big Sky Conference by next Saturday night. And of course, both Portland State and Idaho State want to be a part of that. So, the quest continues to rise to the top of the most competitive FCS conference in all the land.
     
It seemed a bit unlikely that the value of the game would be so large for the winner, or that either team might be holding hopes of contending for a Big Sky title or even a post-season possibility. PSU was 3-5 in league last year, while ISU was 1-7. But both schools have played well when it matters - against conference opponents.
     
Portland State brings a dominant running game into the contest after winning at Northern Arizona, 45-21, last Saturday. The Vikings average more than 246 yards on the ground per game, and that number goes up to 318 yards in league games. Moreover, PSU is 2-0 at home this year, and its last appearance on the Hillsboro Stadium turf was a 59-21 blowout of Cal Poly.
     
Idaho State has moved the ball through the air to the tune of a league-best 350 passing yards per game. Stopping that aerial assault will provide a great challenge for PSU. However, the Bengals also rank last in the Big Sky in rushing defense and points allowed, which would seem to have the Viking running game licking its chops.
     
Idaho State comes off a remarkable 42-41 home win last Saturday over 21st-ranked Eastern Washington. The Bengals trailed 41-14 in the third quarter but ran off four straight touchdowns, including one in the final minute for the upset win.
     
Portland State and Idaho State did not play last season. The Vikings won the most recent matchup, a 31-10 decision in 2021, also at Hillsboro Stadium.
     
The Vikings go into the game having won three of their last four and play three of the next four at home, so one might say things are trending their way.
     
Saturday's game marks the 47th time the Vikings have played the Bengals throughout history. That is the most of any opponent on the gridiron (at least until PSU plays Montana for a 47th time later this season). Portland State holds a 13-12 Big Sky Conference advantage over Idaho State.
     
Saturday's game, presented by University Pointe Apartments, kicks off at 1 p.m. at Hillsboro Stadium. Halftime festivities will include Weiner Dog Races. The game can be seen on ESPN+ with live stats available at www.ViksLive.com.
 

STORYLINES

• MOST COMMON OPPONENTS: Despite not playing last season for the first time (non-COVID season) since 1995, Portland State has played Idaho State (and Montana) the most times (46) of any opponent in PSU football history (77 years). Next on that list is Eastern Washington with 44 matchups. The Vikings play all three teams this season.
• RUSH WEEK: Portland State has compiled the first, third and fourth-most rushing yards in a game in school history against the Bengals (531, 2016; 437, 2012; 436, 2011). The Vikings also had a 395-yard game in 2013. Head Coach Bruce Barnum was directing the offense in all four of those games.... in 2012, the Vikings compiled 758 yards of total offense in a 77-10 victory. That is the most total offense for PSU ever in a Big Sky game, and second-most in school history.... in 2016, when PSU set the single-game rushing record, the team was also 0-6 passing for 0 yards - the fewest passing yards in school history. PSU won the game 45-20.

 

TEAM LEADERS

• PORTLAND STATE: JR QB Dante Chachere has completed 69 of 115 passes for 658 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He has also run for 360 yards on 57 carries, scoring six TDs... FR RB Quincy Craig leads the team in rushing with 66 carries for 410 yards and three scores. Craig also has 19 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns. His 749 all-purpose yards lead the Big Sky Conference... JR RB Jobi Malary has 45 carries for 272 yards and five rushing TDs... SR WR Jermaine Braddock leads the Vikings with 22 receptions for 207 yards and four touchdowns... FR LB Michael Montgomery leads the team with 29 tackles. JR LB Jaymason Willingham has 28 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, a sack and an interception. SO LB Parker McKenna has 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception... PSU is averaging 382.5 yards and 40.5 points per game... the Vikings have given up 357.0 yards and 32.0 points per game... SR P George Triplett has been solid this season with a 45.1 yard punting average... JR K Gianni Smith has been strong on kickoffs with 29 touchbacks on 36 kicks. He is 3-4 on field goals and 28-28 on extra points... JR RB Christian Grubb has 281 combined return yards this season and two return touchdowns.
• IDAHO STATE: The Bengals rank first in the Big Sky Conference in passing offense (350.2 per game), but last in rushing defense (231.5) and points allowed (40.8)... wide receiver Chedon James leads the league in all three major receiving categories with 53 receptions for 584 yards and five touchdowns. He had 15 catches for 206 yards in last week's win over Eastern Washington... in that game, Jordan Cooke and Hunter Hays combined for 523 yards passing. Cooke leads the team in passing with 132-216 for 1,507 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions... Christian Frederickson has also had a big year receiving with 37 catches for 549 yards and three scores... the Bengals average only 58 yards per game on the ground... safety Calvin Pitcher is the team's top tackler with 53... defensive lineman Cortland Horton has five tackles for loss and three sacks... the Bengals have 13 turnovers in six games while forcing six.

 

SIX TD DAY, WIN AT NORTHERN ARIZONA EARN DANTE CHACHERE BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

Football is all about scoring touchdowns. And few are better at it than Portland State quarterback Dante Chachere. The Viking signal caller was responsible for all six PSU touchdowns in Saturday's 45-21 victory at Northern Arizona, and for that performance he has been named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
     
Chachere completed 14-19 passes for 159 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed 12 times for 83 yards and one touchdown. That made for 242 total yards and six scores. The result was a convincing win over the Lumberjacks on the road. PSU improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky and is currently tied for fourth place with a home game against Idaho State this Saturday.
     
Earlier on Sunday, Chachere was named the College Football Performance Awards National Player of the Week.
     
Chachere leads the Big Sky Conference this season with 11 touchdown passes. He has six rushing TDs which is tied for third-most. That gives him 17 total touchdowns on the season.
     
In 17 games as the PSU starter Chachere has totaled 30 touchdown passes and 16 rushing touchdowns.
     
The Player of the Week honor for Chachere was no surprise. He pulled off the same feat last season in a 35-27 win over NAU at home. In that game Chachere completed 22-28 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 12 times for 128 yards and two scores. That was 402 yards total and five TDs.
     
So in two career starts against the Lumberjacks, Chachere has totaled 644 yards, 11 touchdowns and two wins.
 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• THE FACTS OF THE MATTER: Portland State is averaging 382.5 yards and 40.2 points per game (2nd in the Big Sky)... PSU's 246.2 yards per game on the ground ranks second in the Big Sky... the Vikings have committed seven turnovers this season... PSU is converting third downs at a rate of 51.2%, ranking sixth in the nation.
• 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 overall (40.2)... the Vikings scored 150 points in consecutive games (Sept. 16-23) including a stunning 115 points in the two first halves of those wins. PSU had 63 at halftime against North American, and 52 points at halftime against Cal Poly... the Vikings' 91-0 score over North American ranks as the third-highest scoring game in PSU history... the 150 points were the most in back-to-back games since Nov. 8-15, 1980 when a Mouse Davis/Neil Lomax-led program scored 153 points (105-0 over Delaware State and 48-17 over South Dakota State). The Vikings then proceeded to beat Weber State 75-0 in the final game of the season on Nov. 23, 1980.
• DANTE'S DATA: JR QB Dante Chachere has completed 69-115 passes for 658 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He leads the Big Sky in TD passes... Chachere has also rushed 57 times for 360 yards and six scores to rank second on the team... Chachere LOVES playing against Northern Arizona. Last Saturday, he completed 14-19 passes for 159 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, and rushed 12 times for 83 yards and a score. He was responsible for all six Viking touchdowns. That earned him Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors... 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. He was also Big Sky POTW after that game... that makes 644 total yards, 11 total touchdowns, two wins, two POTWs…. Chachere's five-TD passing game matched his career-high of five last year against Lincoln… Chachere has 2,626 career passing yards and 30 touchdowns passing in 17 starts... Chachere passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Montana State (9/30) and now has 1,109 career rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
• THAT BIG UGLY MONSTER: PSU has a five-headed monster of a rushing game. Against NAU JR QB Dante 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. PSU rushed for 366 yards against Northern Arizona and had a 40:13 time of possession in the game... Craig is the team rushing leader (66-410-3) followed by Chachere (57-360-6), Malary (45-272-5), Van Buren (30-162-2) and Grubb (29-156-1). The Vikings average 246.2 rushing yards, which is the most since 2015, and ranks seventh in the nation... PSU has rushing games of 404 yards, 366 yards and 285 yards this season... the Vikings average 318.0 rushing yards in three Big Sky games… PSU had 340 first-half rushing yards against Cal Poly (9/23) on the way to a season-high 404 for the game (10th most in school history). Among the 404 rushing yards, PSU had five(!) runs of 50 yards or longer (Chachere, 51td and 50td;  Malary, 56td; Van Buren, 70; Craig, 53)... six different players have rushing touchdowns this year.
• Q RATING: RS FR RB Quincy Craig has become the key offensive component for the Vikings... Craig had the third 100-yard game of his career (in 10 total games) and leads the Vikings with 410 rushing yards... he had 141 all-purpose yards at NAU... will 749 all-purpose yards this season (124.8) he leads the Big Sky Conference... Craig has 19 receptions for a team-high 207 yards and three touchdowns... Craig is second in the Big Sky in punt returns (12.5).
• NATE THE GREAT: JR WR Nate Bennett has 106 career receptions in 29 career games. He is approaching PSU's all-time top 20 for receptions.
• AND IN OTHER WIDE RECEIVER NEWS...: Although the Vikings had a big running game at Northern Arizona, five of the six touchdowns were by reception. PSU has 12 total receiving TDs by six different receivers this season... SR WR Jermaine Braddock leads the receiving group with 22 receptions for 207 yards and four touchdowns this season... Braddock passed 1,000 career receiving yards in the game at Montana State (9/30). He now has 1,076 total yards (869 at San Jose State, 207 at Portland State).
• I AM IRON MAN: SR OL Shiloh Ta'ase played in his 43rd career game at Montana State, while starting his 36th game. He leads the current Viking roster in both categories. Unfortunately, Ta'ase went down with injury in the first half at NAU and his streak will end.
• NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: JR OL Billy Lutui has started at right guard the last four games for the Vikings. That came after starting the first two games at defensive tackle. Lutui, a transfer from Sacramento State, was deemed more valuable on the offensive side of the ball, and it took only three practices to get him into the starting lineup on offense... when the Vikings were short-handed on the line at Montana State, they went with true FR OL Isaac Perez as a starter at left guard. He came in to replace Ta'ase at NAU.

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• DEFENDING THE SHIP: The Viking defense has allowed 350.7 yards (5th in the Big Sky) and 32.0 points per game (7th in the Big Sky) this season... PSU has forced eight turnovers in six games... against Cal Poly (9/23), PSU allowed only 263 yards of offense - the fewest by a Big Sky opponent in the last 11 games. The Vikings also had 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, forced two turnovers and five three-and-outs... the Vikings gave up just 318 yards to Northern Arizona (10/14), including four three-and-outs, two turnovers on downs, two interceptions and five pass breakups... in the 91-0 win over North American (9/16), the Vikings pitched their first shutout since a 24-0 win over Idaho on Oct. 12, 2019. PSU had 15 tackles for loss and two interceptions. The Viking D held North American to -23 yards of total offense. That is a new PSU record. The previous mark was 24 total yards by Western Washington in 1981.
• 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.
• SHARE THE WEALTH: Six different Vikings have interceptions in six games this season... JR CB Michael Jackson got his first of the season at NAU and the third of his career.
• MAKING THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY: FR CB Duhron Goodman earned his first start of the season at nickelback at Northern Arizona 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.
• BACK WHERE HE BELONGS: SO LB Parker McKenna is Portland State's career tackles leader among active players with 146. He led the team in tackles in 2021, then a knee injury limited him to four games and a redshirt season last year. This season he has 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup.
• MAN IN THE MIDDLE (LINEBACKER): JR LB Jaymason Willingham led a strong defensive effort for the Vikings against Cal Poly (9/23). He had 10 tackles in the game, including one for loss, and intercepted a first-quarter pass… Willingham has 28 tackles to rank second on the team, a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pick this season.
• HIT MAN: FR LB Michael Montgomery got significant playing time in the second half against Oregon and he made the most of it. The true freshman from Seattle had 14 tackles - the most by a Viking since Romeo Gunt had 15 in the 2019 season-opener at Arkansas... Montgomery's 14 tackles were the most by any player in the Big Sky Conference on the opening weekend of games... though not a starter, Montgomery leads the Vikings with 29 tackles this season.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• FOOTNOTES: SR P George Triplett is averaging 45.1 yards per punt, a four-yard improvement over his average last season (40.6).... eight of his 22 punts have traveled over 50 yards.
• NO RETURN FOR YOU: Of JR K Gianni Smith's 36 kickoffs this season, 29 have been touchbacks... Smith is 28-28 on extra points and 3-4 on field goals and his only miss from 57 yards... Smith is 94-95 on extra points and 13-18 on field goals in his career.
• GRUBB HUB: JR RB Christian Grubb returned the opening kickoff against Cal Poly (9/23) 99 yards for a touchdown. It was the first KOR for a TD by a Viking in six seasons… against North American (9/16), Grubb had a 60-yard punt return. That was the first PR for a TD by a Viking in 18 seasons... Grubb ranks second in the Big Sky in kick return average at 27.6.
• RIGHT BACK ATCHA': PSU is averaging 17.4 yards on eight punt returns and 28.7 yards on 10 kickoff returns. The Vikings rank second in Big Sky Conference in both categories.. they rank seventh in the nation in punt returns, second in kick returns and 18th in net punting (39.9).
• I AM IRON MAN, PART TWO: JR LS Ryan Alvidrez made his 29th consecutive start and has not missed a snap in his career.

 

YOUTH SHALL SERVE

• PSU has played 47 freshmen, including 24 redshirt freshmen and 23 true freshmen, this season. Twenty-four of those freshmen appeared in their first game against North American.
• The Vikings have had 95 different players participate in at least one game.
• The Vikings well-documented true freshman class has had an impact, particularly on defense where 15 true freshmen have played in at least one game, with two getting starts (OL Isaac Perez at Montana State, S Zach Wusstig at Wyoming). The true freshman group was rated the best National Letter of Intent class in the Big Sky Conference and third-best at the FCS level after the Feb. 1 signing date by 247Sports.com (18 freshmen, three JCs).
• PARTICIPATION AWARD: Portland State played 91 different players against North American, including numerous true freshmen. Although such records are not kept, it is likely the most Vikings ever to appear in a single game… nine different players scored touchdowns, 10 different players rushed the ball and 34 different players had tackles during the game.