VIKINGS END 2023 SEASON WITH ONE-GAME IMPROVEMENT

The Portland State Vikings finished the 2023 football season at 5-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Sky Conference. PSU was tied for sixth place in the 12-team league, and had a one-game improvement on its record over 2022.
        

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Portland State was 5-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings were 3-2 at home and 2-4 on the road. PSU was one game improved over its 2022 mark (4-7, 3-5).
• The Vikings had four players named second team All-Big Sky Conference and three others earned honorable mention. Senior fullback Andrew Van Buren, senior offensive lineman Shiloh Ta'ase, senior defensive lineman Dino Kahaulelio and junior kicker Gianni Smith were all named second team All-Big Sky. Senior wide receiver Jermaine Braddock, sophomore linebacker Parker McKenna and freshman all-purpose back Quincy Craig earned honorable mention.
• During the course of the season, three players earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors. They included: JR QB Dante Chachere after a 45-21 win over Northern Arizona (14-19 passing for 159 yards, 5 TDs, 12 rushes for 83 yards, 1 TD); JR RB Jobi Malary after a 47-35 win over Eastern Washington (23 carries, 241 yards, school-record tying six touchdowns); and JR K Gianni Smith with 3-3 field goals (51, career-best 55 and 42 yards) and 2-2 on PATs against UC Davis. Smith was also named the FCS FedEx Ground National Special Teams Player of the Week.
• The Viking running game was dominant, averaging 224.0 yards per game. That ranked second in the Big Sky Conference and fifth in the nation... PSU was also fifth in the nation in third-down conversion percentage (.475).
• FR RB Quincy Craig was named to the Jerry Rice Watch List for National Freshman of the Year honors. Craig had 66 carries for 410 yards and three touchdowns, 19 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns and six punt returns for 70 yards after six games. At that point he was leading the Big Sky Conference in all-purpose yards (124.0). Unfortunately, a knee injury knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
• 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. PSU's 91-0 score over North American ranks as the third-highest scoring game in PSU history.
• Portland State won the Dam Cup rivalry trophy game for the second season in a row, beating Eastern Washington 47-35. The Vikings totaled 544 yards of offense, 403 yards on the ground.
• A youthful team with only 11 seniors and the top-ranked recruiting class in the Big Sky, PSU was able to play 95 different players in 2023. Forty-seven of those were freshmen, including 24 redshirt freshmen and 23 true freshmen. Six true freshmen got starts during the course of the season.
• FR LB Michael Montgomery was named a Freshman All-American by FCS Football Central after totaling 69 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss an a fumble recovery.
• JR WR Christian Grubb set a Portland State record for longest kickoff return for touchdown with a 99-yarder against Cal Poly. The previous record was 98 yards... JR K Gianni Smith set the mark for best career field goal percentage at PSU (18-23, .783)... JR RB Jobi Malary tied the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with six against Eastern Washington.
• Academic All-Big Sky Conference and All-District will be announced later.

 

SEVEN VIKINGS EARN ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE HONORS

The Portland State Vikings Football Team had four players named second team All-Big Sky Conference and three others earned honorable mention as the league released its post-season awards. Voting for awards was done by league coaches.
        
Senior fullback Andrew Van Buren, senior offensive lineman Shiloh Ta'ase, senior defensive lineman Dino Kahaulelio and junior kicker Gianni Smith were all named second team All-Big Sky. Senior wide receiver Jermaine Braddock, sophomore linebacker Parker McKenna and freshman all-purpose back Quincy Craig earned honorable mention.
        
Van Buren, 6-foot, 240-pounder from West Hills, CA, rushed 56 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns this season. He played a vital role as a blocker for a running game that averaged 224.0 yards per contest – second-best in the Big Sky and sixth-best in the nation.
        
Ta'ase, a 6-3, 310-pound guard from Seattle, was a mainstay for the Vikings for four seasons. He played in 43 games, including 36 starts before an injury in the season's sixth game abruptly ended his career. He was vital in the Vikings outstanding running game and pass protection.
        
Kahaulelio, a 6-foot, 285 pounder from Santa Rosa, CA, started in the middle for the Viking defense. He made 24 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, had an interception and a pass breakup on the season.
        
Van Buren, Ta'ase and Kahaulelio were also Viking team co-captains.
        
Smith, a 6-1, 205-pound junior from Oak Park, CA, made eight of nine field goals this season to lead the Big Sky in field goal percentage (.889). He holds the PSU record for career percentage (18-23, .783) over three seasons. Smith was named Big Sky Conference and National Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking field goals of 51, 55 and 42 yards against UC Davis on Nov. 4. He was also 42-44 on extra points and had 45 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs.
        
Braddock, a 6-1, 190-pound transfer from San Jose State, is originally from Covina, CA. He led the Vikings in receptions with 54, receiving yards with 636, and receiving touchdowns with seven. Braddock ranked in the top six in the Big Sky in each category.
        
McKenna, a 6-foot, 220-pounder from Beaverton High School, led Portland State in tackles with 75 for the season. He also had a team-high nine tackles for loss, three pass breakups and an interception. McKenna was 11th in the Big Sky in tackles.
        
Craig might have been picked higher had he been able to stay healthy. The 5-9, 185-pound back from Garden Grove, CA was PSU's top offensive player for six games. He had 410 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns as well as 19 receptions for 207 yards and three more TDs. The team's punt returner as well, Craig was averaging 124.8 yards all-purpose yards per game to lead the Big Sky at the time. In October, he was named one of 22 freshmen across the nation to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List for the National Freshman of the Year. Unfortunately, an injury at Northern Arizona (10/14) ended his season.
 

MONTGOMERY NAMED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN

Highlighting Portland State Football's strong freshman class during the 2023 season, Viking linebacker Michael Montgomery has been named to The FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team. This team recognizes the best freshman players from across the subdivision. 48 players from 43 programs are recognized on the Freshman All-American Team.
        
Montgomery, a 6-3, 230-pounder from Seattle's Garfield High School, was a key player on the Viking defense. He played in all 11 games, starting the last five. Montgomery ranked second on the team in tackles with 69 for the season, including 3.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. He had a season-high 14 tackles against Oregon in the season opener. Montgomery also had a 10-tackle game against Idaho State.
        
Montgomery was one of 23 true freshmen to see playing time for the Vikings during the 2023 season.
        
FCS Football Central was formerly known as The Bluebloods. The media organization agreed to a partnership with Sports Illustrated/FanNation to form FCS Football Central.
 

WHO IS BACK, WHO IS GONE FOR 2024

Portland State 70 players letter during the course of the 2023 season while 21 other players saw game action but maintained redshirt status. With 11 seniors leaving the program and three announcing they are leaving through the transfer portal, the Vikings may have as many as 56 letterwinners return and more than 75 players who saw game action return. In all, some 90 players could return to the program for 2024.
        
Currently, 17 positions have starters returning, seven on offense, nine on defense and one on special teams.
 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• THE FACTS OF THE MATTER: Portland State averaged 385.8 yards and 33.8 points per game (3rd in the Big Sky, 11th in the nation)... PSU's 224.0 yards per game on the ground ranked second in the Big Sky and sixth in the nation... the Vikings committed 12 turnovers on the season... PSU converted third downs at a rate of 47.5%, which led the Big Sky and ranked fifth 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 completed 143-231 passes for 1,573 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was third in the Big Sky in TD passes... Chachere also rushed 113 times for 629 yards and 10 scores to rank second on the team in rushing and fifth 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… against Northern Colorado, Chachere accounted for all four touchdowns with three rushing and one passing. He had a season-high 123 rushing yards in the game... Chachere has 3,541 career passing yards and 35 touchdowns passing in 22 starts... Chachere passed 1,000 career rushing yards at Montana State (9/30) and now has 1,378 career rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns... he has 4,919 yards of total offense and 54 total touchdowns in his career.
• WHO HAS THE BALL?: Portland State had a dynamic running game that featured a number of players. Thirteen different players carried the ball and six different players have scored touchdowns... the Vikings averaged 224.0 rushing yards per game to rank sixth in the nation... JR RB Jobi Malary was the team's leading rusher with 103 carries for 676 yards (6.6 ypc) 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 and has passed 1,000 career yards (185-1,161-16)... Malary was followed by JR QB Dante Chachere (113-629-10), FR RB Quincy Craig (66-410-3, had been the team rushing leader through six games but then was out for the season), SR RB Andrew Van Buren (56-244-3) and JR RB Christian Grubb (53-282-1)... in Van Buren's career, he has 1,384 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns (280-1,028-21 at Boise State, 90-356-3 at Portland State).... PSU had rushing games of 404 yards (Cal Poly), 403 yards (Eastern Washington), 366 yards (Idaho State), 302 yards (Northern Colorado) and 285 yards (North American) on the 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 had 17 total receiving TDs by eight different receivers. Eighteen different players had receptions... SR WR Jermaine Braddock led the receiving group with 54 receptions for 636 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 had 124 receptions for 1,505 total yards (70-869 at San Jose State, 54-636 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 finished with 111 career receptions for 1,302 yards in 33 career games.
• I AM IRON MAN: SR OL Shiloh Ta'ase played in his 43rd career game at Montana State, while starting his 36th game. He led the Viking roster in both categories at the time of an injury at Northern Arizona, ending his streak.
• Q RATING: Also done due to injury after six games was 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 in 2023... 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.
• HOLLIDAY INN: SR OL Dallas Holliday transferred in from Boise State for his final collegiate season in 2023. He proved to be a great addition. Holliday started all 11 games and, due to injuries of other players, moved around on the line. With a start at center in the season finale, Holliday started at all five offensive line positions for the Vikings.
• NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: JR OL Billy Lutui started at right guard in seven 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 took over at left guard 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 400.5 yards (8th in the Big Sky) and 32.6 points per game (8th in the Big Sky)... PSU forced 12 turnovers on the season... 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 was on top of the Vikings' tackle chart once again. He led the team with 75 tackles and nine tackles for loss, adding 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... McKenna is Portland State's career tackles leader among active players with 197 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 started five games and ranked second on the Vikings with 69 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. At the end of the season Montgomery was named a Freshman All-American by FCS Football Central.
• 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 had 53 tackles on the season and now has 122 in his career.
• NO FLY ZONE: Eight different Vikings had a total of nine interceptions... SR CB Isaiah Avery led 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, stepped on the field at Northern Colorado in the season finale, it was the 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 averaged 42.9 yards per punt, more than a two-yard improvement over his average in 2022 (40.6), and was fifth-best for a season in PSU history.... he ranked sixth in the Big Sky... 11 of his 38 punts traveled over 50 yards, and he had a career-long of 61 yards... Triplett's 41.6 career average ranks third in PSU history.
• NO RETURN FOR YOU: Of JR K Gianni Smith's 63 kickoffs this season, 45 were touchbacks... Smith was 42-44 on extra points and 8-9 on field goals with his only miss from 57 yards... Smith is 108-111 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 ranked fifth in the Big Sky in kick return average at 21.9.
• RIGHT BACK ATCHA': PSU averaged 17.3 yards on 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 ranked 18th in the nation in kick returns and fifth in punt returns.
• I AM IRON MAN, PART III: JR LS Ryan Alvidrez has made 34 consecutive starts.

 

YOUTH SHALL SERVE

• Portland State started four true freshmen in the game against Idaho State: OL Isaac Perez, LB Michael Montgomery, NICK Jaden DaCosta and DE Elijah Eason.
• PSU 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 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 five getting starts (OL Isaac Perez, S Zach Wusstig, LB Michael Montgomery, NICK Jaden DaCosta and DE Elijah Eason). 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.

 

2023 SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL

 
91 PLAYERS, 91 POINTS
Portland State had a massive 91-0 win over North American (9/16) in a non-conference game that allowed the team to have 91 different players compete - likely a PSU record. The 91 points scored were the third-most in school history and most ever by a Big Sky Conference team. Nine different players scored touchdowns, 10 different players rushed the ball and 34 different players had tackles for the Vikings who gained 419 total yards. The -23 total yards for the Stallions was a new PSU defensive record. NAU was 1-15 on third downs and converted only one first down on offense.
 
THE HOLY TRINITY
Portland State played well in every aspect of the game in a 59-21 win over Cal Poly (9/23). On offense, the Vikings had 496 total yards, including 404 rushing yards – 10th-most in school history. The Vikings had five rushing plays of 50+ yards in the game. On defense, the Vikings held the Mustangs to 263 yards – the fewest by a Big Sky opponent in PSU's last 11 league games – made 10 tackles for loss, forced two turnovers and five three-and-outs. On special teams, the Vikings had a kick return for touchdown and continued to punt (45.0) and kick (1-1 FG, 45 yards) effectively.
 
BREAKING A ROAD JINX
Portland State won for the first time at Northern Arizona since 2006 when the Vikings beat the Lumberjacks, 45-21 (10/14). Admittedly, it was only four losses at Walkup Skydome over the 17-year span, but it wasn't something the Vikings wanted to continue. PSU's dominant rushing game churned out 366 of the 525 yards of total offense. FR RB Quincy Craig had 10 carries for 103 yards to lead the team. But it was JR QB Dante Chachere who was the star with 14-19 passing for 159 yards and five touchdowns, and 12 rushing plays for 83 yards and another score. He was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week. PSU's defense was big in the win as well, holding the 'Jacks to 318 yards, forcing two interceptions and twice stopping them on fourth-down attempts.
 
MALARY KEEPS THE DAM CUP IN TOWN
A career performance by JR RB Jobi Malary led a dynamic Portland State offense to a 47-35 victory over Eastern Washington in the Dam Cup Rivalry Game (10/28). The Vikings take the Dam Cup Trophy for the second year in a row as the offense totaled 544 yards of offense, 403 yards on the ground. Malary rushed 23 times for a career-high 241 yards and a school-record-tying six rushing touchdowns. Malary had scores of eight, one, one, 39, 75 and 44 yards. It was the most rushing yards by a Viking in seven years and tied the rushing touchdown record of Jeff Salta, set in 1976 in a win over Eastern Montana. He was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
 
CALLING LONG DISTANCE
JR K Gianni Smith had the game of his career at UC Davis (11/4) and was been honored by the Big Sky Conference as Special Teams Player of the Week, and nationally as the FCS FedEx Ground National Special Teams Player of the Week. Smith made a career-high three field goals in the Vikings 37-23 loss. He kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal in the third quarter. That stood up for less than a half an hour as he came back to kick another career-long - this time from 55 yards – in the fourth quarter. Smith later added a 42-yard field goal to get the Vikings within a touchdown with six minutes to play. The 55-yard kick ties for the second-longest in Portland State history. He is the first Viking to earn National Player of the Week honors since 2012.
 
HAPPY ENDING
Portland State pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Northern Colorado, 27-23, (11/18) and end their season on a happy note. The Vikings scored two touchdowns in the final 6:15 of the game to erase a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit. PSU had drives of 75 and 90 yards result in TDs. JR QB Dante Chachere hit JR TE Elias Spence on a seven-yard score on the first drive, then rush in from three yards with a minute to go for the second score. PSU finished with 477 yards, including 175 passing and 123 rushing from Chachere, who accounted for all four Viking touchdowns.