Greeley, CO – It was no work of art, but in the end it was a win. The Portland State Vikings scored twice in the final 6:15 of the game to defeat the Northern Colorado Bears, 27-23, in the season finale at Nottingham Field.
 
The Vikings had to overcome their own mistakes, but they did just that and finish the season at 4-4 in Big Sky Conference play, 5-6 overall.
 
PSU had three turnovers, committed 82 yards of penalties and were down nine points midway through the fourth quarter. But the Vikings wiped all that away by mounting drives of 75 and 90 yards for scores. In fact, PSU scored so quickly on the final, nine-play, 90-yard drive after taking over with 3:24 on the clock that a minute was left for the Bears to try a comeback of their own. UNC got all the way to the Viking 30, but the threat was snuffed out on the final play.
 
"We grinded out a win on the road," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "We just kept sticking to it. We didn't need anything magical to happen. We just needed to take care of the ball and play a little smarter. People can say it was an ugly win but I don't think there are any ugly wins.
 
"The team made plays in the end when they had to. They dug a hole but found a way to get out of it."
 
On a positive note, the Vikings had 477 total yards while holding Northern Colorado to 373. Quarterback Dante Chachere, who uncharacteristically threw two interceptions, came back to pass for 175 yards and one touchdown while rushing for a season-high 123 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.
 
Portland State entered the game with only nine turnovers all season, but proceeded to turn it over on its first two possessions. The first was an interception in the end zone after a lengthy drive, the second a dropped swing pass that was ruled a lateral. On the second miscue, the Bears made a long return. That set up a 15-yard scoring run by UNC's Jamarii Robinson. That was all the action in the first quarter as the teams proceeded to trade punts.
 
The Vikings finally got on the board on a 13-play, 82-yard drive early in the second quarter. Chachere scrambled in from four yards out. The extra point tied the game at the 9:05 mark.
 
Northern Colorado answered back with an 11-play, 75-yard march. The Bears took the lead back on a one-yard run by Caden Meis. UNC led 14-7 with 3:19 left in the half.
 
Portland State had one last chance in the half, and drove to the Bears 29-yard line. But another pick in the endzone by UNC halted the Vikings hopes to tie before halftime. In fact, it proved costly as Northern Colorado was able to drive across midfield in four plays and attempt a field goal. Hunter Green booted a 50-yarder and the Bears led 17-7 at halftime.
 
PSU out-gained Northern Colorado, 186 yards to 146, in the half. But three turnovers and five penalties contributed to a sloppy half of play.
 
The second half started much better with a defensive stop, then a long 82-yard scoring drive. Chachere completed a 32-yard pass to Jermaine Braddock down to the UNC 5, then he rushed in on the next play, cutting the deficit to 17-14.
 
Another field goal by Green, this time from 29 yards, pushed UNC's lead to 20-14 with 4:07 to play in the third quarter.
 
PSU's next series ended in a punt, and the Bears were able to make it a two-score game with another field goal from Green. His 39-yarder pushed Northern Colorado's lead to 23-14 with 10 minutes left in the game.
 
But the Vikings weren't done. Needing to air it out, PSU was effective on the next series. Wide receiver Nate Bennett caught a pair of passes over the middle for a combined 53 yards. The series concluded with a seven-yard TD catch by tight end Elias Spence. That made it 23-21 Bears with 6:15 left on the clock.
 
The defense then stopped the Bears near midfield. Northern Colorado punted, setting up the Vikings at their own 10-yard line with 3:24 left in the game. PSU mixed the pass and the run effectively over the next nine plays. PSU ran on the final three plays, trying to burn clock once they were in the red zone. Chachere finally scampered in from three yards out with a minute left and the Vikings led for the first time in the game, 27-23.
 
Northern Colorado had no timeouts left and was able to move the ball, as well as benefit from a Viking penalty. The Bears last play, from PSU's 30 with five seconds left, was a short pass that led to a few laterals before a tackle ended the game.
 
The Vikings, despite myriad injuries in their backfield, managed 302 rushing yards in the game. In addition to Chachere, Christian Grubb rushed nine times for a season-high 81 yards. Jalynnee McGee rushed nine times for 47 yards.
 
On defense, Ezriel Vasquez led the Vikings with 10 tackles. Linebacker Parker McKenna had seven stops.
 

GAME NOTES

• Portland State rushed for 300 yards in a game for the fifth time this season.
• Although he played only one snap at the position, senior offensive lineman Dallas Holliday started at center for the Vikings. That gave him a start at all five line positions this season. Holliday moved over to left tackle for the remainder of the game… also starting for the Vikings was junior offensive lineman Christian Delacruz, who played formerly at Northern Colorado.
• Portland State has won four straight games in the series with Northern Colorado.
• Portland State finishes the season one game better than 2022. The Vikings were 5-6, 4-4 in the Big Sky. Last year, they were 4-7, 3-5 in the Big Sky.