PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-6, 3-4)
AT NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (0-10, 0-7)

Saturday, November 18, Noon MT/11 a.m. PT, Nottingham Field (8,533), Greeley, CO
Television/Live Stream: ESPN+ • Live Stats: uncbears.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

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THE KICKOFF

The Portland State Vikings will try to end their season on a high note this Saturday when they play their final game at Northern Colorado. PSU and UNC will meet up in a game with a noon MT/11 a.m. PT kickoff at Nottingham Field in Greeley, CO. It can be seen on ESPN+.
     
PSU has lost its last two games - on the road to UC Davis and at home to third-ranked Montana. That has dropped the Vikings' record to 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Sky Conference. So, a season finale win at Northern Colorado would leave the Vikings with smiles on their faces, a better conference record than last season's 3-5 and a move up in the conference standings.
     
There is work to be done before that can happen though. PSU's ground game was grounded - so to speak - in the two recent losses, combining for just 182 yards against UCD and Montana, who rank third and first, respectively, in run defense in the Big Sky. Prior to that, the Vikings had been averaging near 250 yards rushing per game. The Bears may provide an opportunity on that front as they have allowed nearly 200 rushing yards per game this season, ninth in the Big Sky.
     
In fact, Northern Colorado has had a woeful season at 0-10, 0-7 in the Big Sky. It has been a transition year with a new coaching staff in Greeley. The Bears have averaged just 13.1 points per game with a high point total of 21. That is a number the Vikings have failed to reach only three times season, against FBS Oregon and Wyoming, and Montana. PSU averages 34.5 points per game.
     
PSU beat Northern Colorado 35-21 last season in Hillsboro. The Vikings will try to extend a three-game winning streak over the Bears in their first appearance in Greeley since 2019.
     
Weather can be a factor in late November in Colorado. However, early forecasts show mild temperatures around 50 degrees for Saturday.
     

TEAM LEADERS

• PORTLAND STATE: JR QB Dante Chachere has completed 130 of 207 passes for 1,398 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He has also run for 506 yards on 95 carries, scoring seven TDs... JR RB Jobi Malary leads the Vikings in rushing with 100 carries for 653 yards and 12 rushing TDs... SR WR Jermaine Braddock leads the Vikings with 50 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns... SO LB Parker McKenna has 68 tackles, nine tackles for loss and an interception. FR LB Michael Mongomery has 63 tackles... PSU is averaging 376.7 yards and 34.5 points per game... the Vikings have given up 403.3 yards and 33.6 points per game... PSU has a +3 turnover margin... SR P George Triplett has been solid with a 43.2 yard punting average... JR K Gianni Smith has been strong on kickoffs with 40 touchbacks on 58 kicks. He is 8-9 on field goals and 39-40 on extra points... JR RB Christian Grubb has 433 combined return yards and two return touchdowns.
• NORTHERN COLORADO: The Bears average 13.1 points and 278.1 yards per game on offense... quarterback Jacob Sirmon has completed 133-235 passes for 1,355 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions... the running game is led by David Afari, who has 148 carries for 620 yards and two scores... Blake Haggerty has 43 receptions for 455 yards and two touchdowns, while Jamarii Robinson has 34 catches for 394 yards and two TDs... on defense, the Bears allow 34.0 points and 468.8 yards per game... they have 10 interceptions and 14 sacks on the season... defensive back Dustin Johnson leads the team with 73 tackles and linebacker Jordan Knapke has 65 stops... Northern Colorado has the fewest penalties in the Big Sky Conference this season with 43.

 

STORYLINES

• DISTANT COUSINS: Despite being conference opponents, the teams have only met five times in the past 11 seasons... the Vikings will make their first appearance in Greeley since 2019... PSU has won the last three games in the series, including a 38-30 decision in Greeley in 2019… Portland State leads the all-time series, 10-5, and the Big Sky series, 8-4.
• CLOSE CALLS: Northern Colorado's five all-time wins in the series are by just a combined 20 points... in fact, outside of PSU's wins in 2018 (21 points) and 2022 (14 points), the other eight meetings were one-score outcomes (5.2 ppg differential).
• BACK IN THE DAY:  Former Viking quarterback Neil Lomax set Portland State records for pass completions (44) and attempts (77) in a 1979 21-20 loss to the Bears. Lomax passed for 499 yards.

 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• THE FACTS OF THE MATTER: Portland State is averaging 376.7 yards and 34.5 points per game (2nd in the Big Sky, 12th in the nation)... PSU's 216.2 yards per game on the ground ranks second in the Big Sky and 10th in the nation... the Vikings have committed nine turnovers this season... PSU is converting third downs at a rate of 48.1%, which ranks second in the Big Sky and eighth in the nation.
• HERE'S THE SCORE: 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 130-207 passes for 1,398 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He is second in the Big Sky in TD passes... Chachere has also rushed 95 times for 506 yards and seven scores to rank second on the team in rushing and sixth in the league in rushing TDs... Chachere LOVES playing against Northern Arizona. On Oct. 14, 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 3,366 career passing yards and 34 touchdowns passing in 21 starts... Chachere passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Montana State (9/30) and now has 1,255 career rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns... he has 4,621 yards of total offense and 50 total touchdowns in his career.
• WHO HAS THE BALL?: Portland State has a dynamic running game that features a number of players. Thirteen different players have carried the ball and six different players have scored touchdowns... the Vikings now average 216.2 rushing yards per game which ranks 10th in the nation... JR RB Jobi Malary is the team's leading rusher this season with 100 carries for 653 yards and 12 touchdowns... he had a career-best performance of 23-241-6 against Eastern Washington (10/28). He was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week... Malary has 16 rushing touchdowns in his career... Malary is followed by JR QB Dante Chachere (95-506-7), FR RB Quincy Craig (66-410-3 had been the team rushing leader through six games but is out for the season), SR RB Andrew Van Buren (51-220-3) and JR RB Christian Grubb (44-201-1)... in Van Buren's career, he has 1,360 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns (280-1,028-21 at Boise State, 85-332-3 at Portland State).... PSU has rushing games of 404 yards (Cal Poly), 403 yards (Eastern Washington), 366 yards (Idaho State) and 285 yards (North American) this season... 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)... the 403-yard game against the Eagles is 11th-most all-time.
• AND IN WIDE RECEIVER NEWS...: PSU has 16 total receiving TDs by seven different receivers this season. Eighteen different players have receptions... SR WR Jermaine Braddock leads the receiving group with 50 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a career-high nine receptions against Idaho State (10/21) and a career-high 102 receiving yards against UC Davis (11/4)... Braddock followed with another career-high, getting 142 yards and a touchdown against Montana (11/11)... Braddock passed 1,000 career receiving yards in the game at Montana State (9/30). He now has 120 receptions for 1,433 total yards (70-869 at San Jose State, 50-564 at Portland State)... SR WR Marquis Spiker had career-highs of six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown against Idaho State (10/28)... SR WR Maclaine Griffin also had career-highs of six receptions and 82 yards against ISU (10/28).
• NATE THE GREAT: JR WR Nate Bennett has 109 career receptions for 1,249 yards in 32 career games. He is approaching PSU's all-time top 20 for receptions... Bennett missed the game against Montana but is expected to return this week.
• 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 Viking roster in both categories. Unfortunately, Ta'ase went down with injury in the first half at Northern Arizona and his streak came to an end.
• Q RATING: Also done due to injury this season is RS FR RB Quincy Craig. He had become the key offensive component for the Vikings and will be missed... Craig has three 100-yard rushing games in 10 career games. He had 410 rushing yards through six games this season... Craig also had 19 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns... with 749 all-purpose yards he was averaging 124.8 yards per game... Craig was named one of 22 freshmen across the nation to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List for the National Freshman of the Year.
• NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: JR OL Billy Lutui has started at right guard in six 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 an injured Shiloh Ta'ase at Northern Arizona and has taken over at left guard now with five starts... RS FR OL Anthony Tena started his first two games in place of an injured Lutui (10/28 and 11/4).

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• DEFENDING THE SHIP: The Viking defense has allowed 403.3 yards (8th in the Big Sky) and 33.6 points per game (8th in the Big Sky) this season... PSU has forced 12 turnovers in 10 games... against Cal Poly (9/23), PSU allowed only 263 yards of offense - the fewest by a Big Sky opponent in 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.
• BACK WHERE HE BELONGS: SO LB Parker McKenna is on top of the Vikings' tackle chart once again. He leads the team with 68 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He also has an interception and three pass breakups... McKenna posted a career-high 15 tackles against Montana (11/11) - the most by a Viking in four seasons. In his last three games, he has 35 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss... McKenna is Portland State's career tackles leader among active players with 190 and tackles for loss (15). He led the team in tackles in 2021, then a knee injury limited him to four games and a redshirt season last year.
• HIT MAN: FR LB Michael Montgomery got significant playing time in the second half against Oregon (9/2) 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... Montgomery made his first start of the season against Idaho State (10/21) and responded with another 10-tackle game. He has been a starter ever since and ranks second on the Vikings with 63 tackles this season.
• TAKEAWAY TYREESE: JR S Tyreese Shakir made his first interception of the season, but the fifth of his career against Eastern Washington (10/28). He added a career-high 10 tackles and forced a fumble... Shakir came back to set another career high with 11 tackles against UC Davis (11/4)... Shakir has eight career takeaways (5 INT, 3 FR) and nine career pass breakups... he has 50 tackles on the season and now has 119 in his career.
• NO FLY ZONE: Eight different Vikings have a total of nine interceptions this season... SR CB Isaiah Avery leads the team with two interceptions to go with team-high six pass breakups... JR CB Michael Jackson got his first of the season at Northern Arizona (10/14) and the third of his career.
• I AM IRON MAN PART II: When SR LB Isaiah Henry, a team co-captain, steps on the field at Northern Colorado this Saturday, it will be his 44th career game - the most of any active Viking player. In addition to football, Henry has compiled two undergraduate degrees with a minor, is currently getting a Master's degree, and plans to go to law school.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• FOOTNOTES: SR P George Triplett is averaging 43.3 yards per punt, nearly a three yard improvement over his average last season (40.6), and currently fourth-best for a season in PSU history.... he ranks third in the Big Sky and 14th in the nation... 10 of his 36 punts have traveled over 50 yards, and he had a career-long of 61 yards... Triplett's 41.7 career average currently ranks third in PSU history.
• NO RETURN FOR YOU: Of JR K Gianni Smith's 58 kickoffs this season, 40 have been touchbacks... Smith is 39-40 on extra points and 8-9 on field goals with his only miss from 57 yards... Smith is 105-107 on extra points and 18-23 on field goals in his career. His .783 make percentage ranks first in PSU history.
• CALLING LONG DISTANCE: Smith made field goals of 51, 55 and 42 yards at UC Davis (11/4), earning Big Sky Conference and National Special Teams Player of the Week honors... the 55-yarder ties for second-longest in school history.
• 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 fifth in the Big Sky in kick return average at 21.9.
• RIGHT BACK ATCHA': PSU is averaging 17.3 yards punt returns and 22.3 yards on kickoff returns. The Vikings rank fourth in Big Sky Conference in kick returns and first in punt returns... they rank 19th in the nation in kick returns and sixth in punt returns.
• I AM IRON MAN, PART III: JR LS Ryan Alvidrez has made 33 consecutive starts.