Portland State University Athletics

Hillsboro, OR – If you don't have the football, it's hard to win the game.
 
Montana proved that in nearly doubling up the number of offensive play calls against Portland State as the third-ranked Griz defeated the Vikings, 34-10.
 
A stout defense and a steady offense flexed its muscles against the Vikings in improving to 9-1 on the season, 6-1 in the Big Sky Conference and setting up a winner-take-all game with Montana State next week for the league championship.
 
With the loss, Portland State dropped to 4-6 on the season, 3-4 in the Big Sky and heads to Northern Colorado for a season finale next Saturday.
 
Only a late surge of plays by the Vikings made the game look a little more balanced. After punting with 7:11 to go in the fourth quarter, Montana had run 75 offensive plays to 38 for the Vikings. In the end, the Griz ran 78 plays for 489 yards, while the Vikings ran a season-low 47 plays for 255 yards.
 
"Their offense dominated," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "When we had the ball we challenged them in the run, and they won that battle. We probably should have thrown more earlier, but it seemed like the offense never had the ball."
 
And that's not far from the truth as Montana had four drives during the game of 12 plays or more. Two resulted in touchdowns, one a field goal and one a punt.
 
"Montana has gotten better each week this season. That's a coaching feat. They are peaking at the right time. In all three phases of the game we got beat, and that doesn't happen very often," Barnum said.
 
Each team scored on its opening possession. The Vikings got a 37-yard field goal from Gianni Smith, then Montana followed with a 77-yard touchdown drive. Quarterback Clifton McDowell scored on a one-yard plunge.
 
On Montana's next series, a big play broke the game open. McDowell dropped back on a fourth-and-eight play from PSU's 36. He was nearly sacked but broke away, then broke two more tackles for a 15-yard run. Montana went on to score again and led 14-3 early in the second quarter. They wouldn't look back.
 
McDowell scored again for Montana on a 20-yard run midway through the second quarter. A late field goal made the halftime score 24-3 Montana. The Griz out-gained the Vikings, 293-105, in the half. They scored on all four of their possessions with lengthy drives of 12, 9, 9 and 12 plays.
 
After PSU's field goal, the Vikings were held to two three-and-outs and a nine-play drive that ended in a punt.
 
The Vikings eventually forced a punt on Montana's first drive of the second half, but the Griz soon scored again. McDowell rushed for his third touchdown, a 17-yarder, with 8:29 left in the third quarter.
 
PSU overcame a miscue on the ensuing kickoff and came away with its only touchdown of the night. Confusion on a fair catch on the kick had the Vikings starting their series from their own one-yard line. After digging out of that hole, quarterback Dante Chachere found Jermaine Braddock down the middle on a 64-yard touchdown pass – PSU's longest pass play of the season.
 
But that would be all the fireworks for the Vikings as Montana went on to the 34-10 victory.
 
PSU rushed 29 times for 93 yards, while Chachere passed for 162 yards. Braddock was the star of the night with eight receptions for a career-high 142 yards and the one score. Jobi Malary rushed 11 times for 54 yards.
 
On defense, sophomore linebacker Parker McKenna made a career-high 15 tackles with two for losses. Freshman linebacker Michael Montgomery made 13 tackles and was also in on two for losses.
 
McDowell finished with the three rushing touchdowns and 72 yards on the ground for Montana. He passed for 127 yards.
 

GAME NOTES

• Gianni Smith is 8-9 on field goals this season. He is 18-23 in his career. His .783 kicking percentage is the best in school history.
• Jermaine Braddock leads the Vikings with 50 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
• Parker McKenna leads the Vikings with 68 tackles and nine tackles for loss this season.
• The Vikings will wrap up their season next Saturday at Northern Colorado. PSU plays the Bears in Greeley in a noon MT/11 a.m. PT kickoff. The game will air on ESPN+.