Portland State kicker Gianni Smith had the game of his career last Saturday and has 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, a junior from Oak Park, CA, made a career-high three field goals in the Vikings 37-23 loss at UC Davis.  Smith 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. Smith now owns two of PSU's 18 all-time kicks of 50+ yards. Prior to Saturday, Smith's career long field goal was 49 yards.
 
Smith is having a strong season, having made 7-8 field goals. Thirty-eight of his 54 kickoffs have been touchbacks and he has made 38-39 extra points. In his career, Smith is 17-22 on field goals. The .772 conversion percentage ranks first in PSU history.
 
Smith is the third Viking to earn Big Sky Player of the Week honors this season. Quarterback Dante Chachere took offensive honors after an Oct. 14 win at Northern Arizona, and running back Jobi Malary earned offensive honors following an Oct. 28 win over Eastern Washington.

Portland State (4-5, 3-3) hosts third-ranked Montana (8-1, 5-1) this week in its home finale. The Vikings and Grizzlies meet at Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game, presented by OnPoint Community Credit Union, will be televised on The CW in Portland and ESPN+.
 
LONGEST FIELD GOALS IN PORTLAND STATE HISTORY
  1.  56   Cody Williams, 2019 at Northern Colorado
  2.  55   Gianni Smith, 2023 at UC Davis
       55   Pat Moore, 1975 at Eastern Washington
  4.  53   Jonathan Gonzales, 2014 vs. UC Davis
       53   Zach Brown, 2011 at Montana
       53   Zach Brown, 2010 at Arizona State
       53   Mike Erickson, 1986 at California Lutheran
  8.  52   Cody Williams, 2018 at Montana
       52   Zach Brown, 2009 vs. Southern Oregon
       52   Mike Erickson, 1987 vs. CS Northridge
       52   John Kincheloe, 1979 at Weber State
12.  51   Gianni Smith, 2023 at UC Davis
       51   Zach Brown, 2011 at Northern Colorado
       51   Jonathan Gonzales, 2015 at Idaho State
15.  50   Cody Williams, 2019 at Arkansas
       50   Zach Brown, 2010 vs. Eastern Washington
       50   Zach Brown, 2009 at Northern Colorado
       50   John Kincheloe, 1980 vs. Weber State