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Game 1

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS at #15 OREGON DUCKS

Saturday, September 2, Noon, Autzen Stadium (54,000), Eugene, OR
TELEVISION: Pac-12 Network • Play-by-Play: Roxy Bernstein • Analyst: Lincoln Kennedy
LIVE STREAMING: Pac-12 Now App
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com
Game notes and stats in pdf

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VIKINGS FACE A FORMIDABLE FOE IN OPENER AT OREGON

The 2023 campaign opens for Portland State Football this Saturday as the Vikings take on FBS #15 Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. Kickoff is scheduled for noon as the game is televised on the Pac-12 Network.
     
The Vikings begin their season in familiar fashion, taking on a pair of Bowl Subdivision programs before getting to the meat of their schedule and the Big Sky Conference season. PSU comes off a 4-7 season in 2022. The Vikings were 3-5 and seventh place in the 12-team Big Sky.  
     
Head Coach Bruce Barnum begins his ninth season at the helm of the Viking ship. He has 38 returning letterwinners, including 14 starters (6o/5d/3st). The Vikings have 31 returning redshirts, 20 with game experience who maintained redshirt status.
     
The Vikings should have a dynamic offense, led by returning JR QB Dante Chachere who, as a pass-run threat in the pocket, had 2,565 total yards and 26 total touchdowns in his first season as a starter in 2022. He is backed up by great depth in the backfield, on the outside and the offensive line. Barnum will continue to call the plays for the Vikings offense while elevating Assistant Coach AC Patterson to the role of offensive coordinator in 2023.
    
The Vikings defense will be led by a pair of veteran coaches as Colin Fry and Mark Rhea will share coordinating duties. Fry, in his seventh season, will be co-defensive coordinator for the defensive backfield, while Rhea, in his third season, will be co-defensive coordinator for the defensive line. Rhea is charged with rebuilding a re-stocked line as the Vikings lost four senior starters from 2022. Fry has quality experience at defensive back while the linebacking crew, also loaded with experienced players, will have heated competition for playing time.
     
Portland State has an influx of youth on its roster in 2023 and some of those freshmen may see action early on. PSU's 22-man National Letter of Intent Day signing class was rated as the best in the Big Sky Conference and third-best in all of FCS by 247Sports.com. Defensive line and defensive backfield talent has been obvious among the freshman class in preseason practice. The Vikings have also added five Division I transfers with three expected to start.
     
Oregon enters this week's contest after going 10-3 in its initial season under Head Coach Dan Lanning. The Ducks were 7-2 in the Pac-12, tying for second, and won a Holiday Bowl game over North Carolina. Star quarterback Bo Nix returns to lead the Ducks offense in 2023. Nix accounted for more than 4,000 yards of total offense and 43 touchdowns last season, and is considered a Heisman Trophy candidate this season.
 

STORYLINES

• The Vikings are 4-44 all-time against FBS-level competition. Wins have come over Hawai'i, New Mexico, Washington State and North Texas... PSU is 0-5 all-time against Oregon... Oregon will be the 19th Pac-12 opponent the Vikings have played since 2002 (1-17).
• Portland State opens on the road for the sixth straight season and eighth time in nine seasons. All eight of those games were against FBS opponents.
• This will be the ninth year in a row that PSU has played two FBS opponents.
• Last season, Oregon also played a Big Sky Conference program, beating Eastern Washington, 70-14. The Ducks beat Montana, 35-3, in 2019. Their last meeting with the Vikings was in 2018, a 62-14 victory.

  

2023 PORTLAND STATE TEAM NOTES

 

THE OFFENSE

• DANTE'S DATA: In 2022, JR QB Dante Chachere (6-3, 195) completed 60% of his passes for 1,956 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 609 yards (772 positive yards) and seven TDs... Chachere was named Big Sky Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against NAU in a 35-27 win (272 yards passing, 3 TDs, 128 yards rushing, 2 TDs)... Chachere had three 100-yard rushing games and 2,565 yards total offense (233.2 per game).
• NATE THE GREAT: JR WR Nate Bennett (6-3, 195) led the team with 47 catches for 517 yards in 2022. His nine receptions against Weber State (10/15) matched his career high set in 2021 against Weber State... Bennett already has 97 career receptions in 22 career games. He has passed 1,000 career receiving yards (1,123).
• RECEIVING ACCOLADES: Among the top players joining Bennett on the receiving corps in 2023 are SR Maclaine Griffin (6-2, 200, 14-175-3), RS SO Darien Chase (6-1, 210, injury redshirt in 2022, 54-579-4 in 2021) and SR TR Jermaine Braddock (6-1, 190, 70-869-6 in 44 games at San Jose State).
• OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS: A pair of Viking veterans have made a position move and early indicators are good. JR Semaj Bolin (5-10, 170) moves over from defensive back to slot receiver, as does SO Jaden Casey (6-1, 190) from quarterback to slot receiver. Those two will attempt to fill the gap left by the graduation of All-Conference receiver Beau Kelly (career stats: 156-2,288-18). Coach Barnum lauded their respective performances throughout spring football, calling Bolin "perhaps the fastest player on the team" and saying Casey "shines a little more each week."
• YOUTH SHALL SERVE: The tight end position will feature three young players seeking breakout seasons: JR Elias Spence (6-4, 225) and RS FRs Tanner Beaman (6-3, 220) and Charlie White (6-2, 235). Spence has been a special teams mainstay in his early career. Beaman showed flashes in brief action last year and can also play outside. White comes off a redshirt season with an opportunity to get into the mix.
• RUNNING GAME REVIEW: Portland State will have a stable of talented running backs returning in 2023. Though injuries limited any individual from having a big season in 2022, several were featured at different times and all have starts. They include: JR RB Jobi Malary (5-11, 225, 8 games, 58 carries, 355 yards, 3 TD); RS FR Quincy Craig (5-9, 185, 4 games, 38-221-2); JR RB Jalynnee McGee (5-10, 195, 8 games, 53-220-0); RS SR Andrew Van Buren (6-0, 240, 4 games, 36-112-0)... Craig was dynamic during spring football and totaled 120 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game... Van Buren returns from an injury season and provides the big back the Vikings need... McGee and Malary are the most experienced Vikings... as if those backs weren't enough, PSU has added star 2023 signee Delon Thompson (5-9, 200) from St. Bonaventure High School in southern California and UCLA transfer Christian Grubb (JR, 5-9, 170). Thompson led southern California and ranked second in the state in rushing with 261 carries for 2,388 yards and 25 scores in 11 games. Grubb spent three seasons with the Bruins but saw limited action. 
• ON THE LINE: Portland State will need to replace first team All-Big Sky Conference center Tyson Pauling who has graduated, but the Vikings have three returning starters and five returners with significant playing time in SR Shiloh Ta'ase (6-3, 310), JRs Richard Estrella (6-4, 305) and D'Angalo Titiali'i (6-2, 320) and SOs Logan Bruce (6-4, 320) and Pedro Timoteo (6-3, 335). Key newcomers that will compete to start right away are SR signee Dallas Holliday (6-3, 315, 34 games at Boise State) and JR Christian Delacruz (6-4, 305, Northern Colorado). The Vikings also have eight returning redshirts, six with game experience... in addition, three impressive freshmen - Tristan Lewis (6-5, 275), Pryce Roberts (6-5, 290) and Isaac Perez (6-3, 305) - are part of the much-hyped 2023 recruiting class.

 

THE DEFENSE

• RESHAPING THE LINE: Portland State had a very productive defensive line last season as the front four of Jake Porter, VJ Malo, EJ Ane and Moses Finau combined for 114 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Unfortunately, all four were seniors, leaving the Vikings in need of a rebuild. Five letterwinners and three redshirts return, but there is not a lot of experience up front. The most experienced of the group are SR DT Dino Kahaulelio (6-0, 285) and JR DE Kennedy Freeman (6-2, 240) who combined for 20 tackles and two sacks as backups. RS FR DT Michael MacNeill (6-1, 280) and SO DE Slade Shufelt (6-3, 225) spent most of the time with those two on the first unit during spring practice... help is on the way to restoring depth and building for the future in the Vikings 2023 recruiting class. PSU signed eight defensive line newcomers. Three of the signees are junior transfers in JRs Billy Lutui (6-1, 310, Sacramento State), J'Querian Ladson (6-4, 345, College of the Canyons) and Jordan Tagaloa (6-2, 295, Santa Barbara CC). That group is expected to compete for playing time right away. FRs Bam Afalava (6-3, 240), Elijah Eason (6-5, 235), Spencer Elliott (6-2, 235), Donte Hookfin (6-4, 240), Jayden House (6-2, 250), and Kamren Marsh (6-3, 250) are part of the much-heralded 2023 recruiting class and will boost the PSU line for seasons to come.
• FROM THE SECOND ROW: What the front four lacks in experience is made up for at the linebacker position. PSU returns four letterwinners with significant playing time, including: RS SO Parker McKenna (6-0, 220, 122 tackles in 16 career games), JR LB Jaymason Willingham (6-1, 220, 53 tackles, 5 TFL in 2022), SR LB Isaiah Henry (5-11, 205, 33 career games, 27 tackles in 2022) and SR LB Ian Crocker (6-1, 220, 18 tackles in 2022). A talented group of six redshirt freshman from the 2022 signing class are right behind them, along with true FR Michael Montgomery (6-3, 230) from the 2023 class.
• TAKEAWAY TEAM: Portland State returns three of four starters in the defensive backfield and has eight letterwinners back in that group. In two seasons, JR S Tyreese Shakir (5-10, 175) has been a master of the takeaway, gathering four interceptions and three fumble recoveries to go with 69 tackles in 21 career games. SR CB Isaiah Avery (6-0, 175) started every game at cornerback last season (28 tackles, 4 PBU), while JR Michael Jackson (6-2, 185) and SO Ezriel Vasquez (5-11, 170) shared the starting spot at the other corner for the majority of the season. They combined for 61 tackles... RS FR Duhron Goodman (5-11, 190) also earned experience at safety in 2022, and is ready to go... JRs Davion Gaines (6-0, 170), Day Day Bright (5-10, 170) and Travis West (5-6, 160) are also experienced defensive backs in their third seasons.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• FOOTNOTES: Portland State returns three experienced starters on their special teams unit. SR P George Triplett (5-10, 190) averaged 40.6 yards with a long of 57 last season. JR K Gianni Smith (6-1, 205) is now 10-14 on field goals, 66-67 on extra points in his two seasons. JR LS Ryan Alvidrez (5-11, 215) has not missed a start or a snap in his two seasons... RS FR Fyodor Henrichs-Tarasenkov (6-4, 200) serves as a capable backup at kicker.

 

VIKINGS ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS

• RUSHING: Dante Chachere, 133-749-9; Jobi Malary 83-485-4; Jalynnee McGee, 102-479-2
• PASSING: Dante Chachere, 149-250-8-1,968-19
• RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: Dante Chachere, 9; Jobi Malary, 4; Jalynnee McGee, 2; Quincy Craig, 2
• RECEPTIONS: Nate Bennett, 97; Darien Chase, 55
• RECEIVING YARDS: Nate Bennett, 1,123; Darien Chase, 587
• RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS: Nate Bennett, 4; Darien Chase, 4; Maclaine Griffin, 3
• ALL-PURPOSE YARDS: Nate Bennett, 1,182; Darien Chase, 611; Jalynnee McGee, 572; Jobi Malary, 544
• TACKLES: Parker McKenna, 122; Tyreese Shakir, 69
• SACKS: Tyreese Shakir, 3; Kennedy Freeman, 2; Parker McKenna 2
• TACKLES FOR LOSS: Parker McKenna, 6; Jaymason Willingham, 5; Tyreese Shakir, 4
• INTERCEPTIONS: Tyreese Shakir, 4; Michael Jackson, 2
• PASS BREAKUPS: Tyreese Shakir, 7; Isaiah Avery, 4
• FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Tyreese Shakir, 3

 

MILESTONES TO WATCH

• JR QB Dante Chachere needs 32 passing yards for 2,000 in his career.
• JR QB Dante Chachere needs 251 rushing yards for 1,000 in his career.
• JR WR Nate Bennett needs three receptions for 100 in his career.
• JR S Tyreese Shakir needs 31 tackles for 100 in his career.
• SR WR Jermaine Braddock needs 30 receptions for 100 in his career and 131 yards for 1,000 in his career (70-869-6 at San Jose State)

 

VETERANS

• CAREER GAMES PLAYED: Shiloh Ta'ase, OL, 37; Isaiah Henry, LB, 33; Nate Bennett, WR, 23; Ryan Alvidrez, LS, 23; D'Angalo Titiali'i, OL, 22; Richard Estrella, OL, 22; Kennedy Freeman, DE, 22; Dante Chachere, QB, 21; Tyreese Shakir, S, 21
• CAREER STARTS: Shiloh Ta'ase, OL, 30; Ryan Alvidrez, LS, 23; Nate Bennett, WR, 22; Richard Estrella, OL, 20; Gianni Smith, K, 19; D'Angalo Titialii, OL, 18
• CONSECUTIVE STARTS: Ryan Alvidrez, LS, 23; Nate Bennett, WR, 22; Shiloh Ta'ase, OL, 20; Gianni Smith, L, 19; D'Angalo Titialii, OL, 18

 

THE 2023 SCHEDULE

FBS opponents and a rigorous eight-game Big Sky Conference slate that includes defending Big Sky Conference co-Champion and NCAA semifinalist Montana State are included on Portland State's 2023 schedule. The Vikings will host Montana, also an NCAA playoff team in 2022, and Dam Cup rival Eastern Washington among other games. The Vikings have five games at home and six on the road in 2023.
 

SCHEDULE NOTES

• This will be the 77th season of Portland State football (1947) and 28th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU faces five teams in 2023 that were on the schedule in 2022 (Cal Poly, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, Montana, Northern Colorado). The Vikings went 3-2 against that group… PSU plays eight of 11 possible Big Sky opponents. The Vikings will miss Weber State, Sacramento State and Idaho in 2023.
• The Vikings play at Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona for the first time since 2019. They play at Montana State for the first time since 2017, and for the first time at UC Davis since 2016. In fact, the Vikings have not seen the Aggies on the gridiron at all since 2019.
• The two FBS-level programs are Oregon and Wyoming. PSU is 4-44 all-time when playing "up" against FBS programs. Wins have come over Hawai'i (2000), New Mexico (2006), Washington State (2015) and North Texas (2015)… this marks the ninth consecutive season that Portland State has played two FBS opponents. PSU has done so a total of 13 times, including three in 2006.
• Portland State is playing one lower division program in 2023, NAIA North American University. The Vikings are 20-0 in games against lower division opponents since moving to Division I in 1996.
• Portland State opponents were a combined 59-74 last season.

 

VIKING TRIVIA

• BUY LOCAL: Portland State has 23 players on the roster from the state of Oregon, plus six others from just across the river and the Vancouver, WA area.
• BEAM ME UP: Portland State has 16 players on its roster that previously were at other Division I schools, 10 of those were FBS-level schools.
• STUDENT-ATHLETES: Portland State has 13 players on its roster that have already earned undergraduate degrees and are working on post-baccalaureate degrees: Isaiah Avery, Jermaine Braddock, Dante Chachere, Kennedy Freeman, Maclaine Griffin, Christian Grubb, Isaiah Henry, Dallas Holiday, David Joseph, Jobi Malary, Shiloh Ta'ase, George Triplett, Andrew VanBuren.
• OH, BROTHER: JR QB Dante Chachere's brother, Andre, is a cornerback for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
• FAMILY AFFAIR: RS FR OL Braylon Cornell has had a cousin, Jake Porter, play on the Viking Football team (2018-22), another cousin play on the Viking volleyball team, Ellie Snook (2019-22), and two uncles play at PSU, Jamie Snook (basketball, 1996-99) and Jason Porter (baseball, 1991-94).
• FROM THE FIELD TO THE SIDELINE: Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Matt Leunen (OL/TE, 2005-09) is a PSU alum who played for the Vikings... Quarterbacks Coach Kieran McDonagh (2012-15) is also a PSU alum who was recruited by and played for Bruce Barnum.
• SUPER PLAYERS: Portland State had a pair of former players meet in the Super Bowl for the first time in history in February 2014. TE Julius Thomas ('10, Denver) and DB DeShawn Shead ('11, Seattle) both played in Super Bowl XLVIII. Shead returned to the Super Bowl in 2015 with the Seahawks. He joins Clint Didier and Ted Popson as former Vikings with Super Bowl rings. Thomas was named a Pro Bowl tight end in 2013 and 2014. In the 2014 off-season, he signed the richest tight end contract in the NFL to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas retired in the 2018 off-season after a seven-year career that included 71 games, 226 receptions, 2,406 yards and 36 touchdowns. Shead, a starting corner with the Seahawks in 2016, missed 2017 due to an ACL injury, then signed and played with Detroit in 2018. Shead is now an assistant coach with the Seahawks.