Eugene, OR – The 15^th-ranked Oregon Ducks brought three "Ss" into the opening game of the season against Portland State – size, speed and skill. All three shone brightly as Oregon took down the Vikings, 81-7.
 
Portland State was up against one of its most challenging opponents in school history. Only once have the Vikings faced a higher-ranked FBS team (Oregon, #9, 2002). The Vikings had 126 yards of offense and a touchdown in the first quarter, but stalled out with just 21 yards in the second, and soon were out of the game.
 
Quarterback Dante Chachere sparked the Vikings' second offensive series of the game with 46 total yards in a 75-yard scoring drive. Chachere closed it out with a nine-yard touchdown pass on a quick slant to Chance Miller. It was Miller's first career touchdown.
 
At that point, the Vikings trailed only 8-7. However, Oregon's offense was effective with both the run and the pass. The Ducks rolled up 427 yards in the first half. A pair of big runs by Oregon's Bucky Irving and a Viking turnover gave the Ducks a 28-point quarter and a 50-7 lead by halftime. Irving's TD runs were 52 and 56 yards.
 
Oregon scored twice in the opening five minutes of the second half to get to a 64-7 lead. The Ducks rolled to victory from there.
 
In less than three quarters of work for the Ducks, Heisman candidate Bo Nix completed 23-27 passes for 287 yards and three scores.
 
In all, Oregon had 729 yards of offense to 200 yards for the Vikings.
 
"Oregon's opponents will have a hard time finding a weakness in that team," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "I just watched four quarters of it and they are pretty damn good. They are not just fast, they are a strong football team. Offense, defense and special teams - they are a good football team. Period. We were outmatched everywhere."
 
With the game out of hand, PSU had a host of young players on the field in the second half, both redshirt freshmen and true freshmen.
 
"Our freshmen were impressive. Michael Montgomery, Zach Wusstig (on defense), and there were a bunch of others… we have something to build on going into next week," said Barnum.
 
"They earned their stripes today. We knew how good they were in practice, but we were curious about game day. They were playing in high school last fall, and now they are playing at Oregon. There were some pretty cool things that came out of that game."
 
The Vikings will regroup for another non-conference game next week against another FBS-level program. PSU plays at Wyoming on Sept. 9 in a 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT game.
 
"You get a snowman put on you like that - I will turn to my team leadership and my coaches to keep us up. We were getting humiliated and I didn't hear one negative comment. That was pretty cool and it tells me we have a shot. If you look at us, I believe we can have a hell of a season. Good for Oregon, I think they can win them all. I think after this we can win all of ours, too," said Barnum.
 
Oregon is no stranger to season-opening wins. It was the Ducks' 19^th straight home-opening win and 31^st straight non-conference win at home.
 
GAME NOTES

• The Vikings are 4-45 all-time against FBS-level competition. Wins have come over Hawai'i, New Mexico, Washington State and North Texas... PSU is 0-6 all-time against Oregon... Oregon is the 19th Pac-12 opponent the Vikings have played since 2002 (1-18).
• FR LB Michael Montgomery led the Vikings with 14 tackles – all in the second half.
• JR QB Dante Chachere eclipsed 2,000 career passing yards in the game (2,003) – his 12^th career start.
• PSU rushed 37 times for 148 yards. Chachere led the team with 53 rushing yards.
• JR WR Nate Bennett now has 99 career receptions in 23 career starts.
• SR OL Shiloh Ta'ase played in his 38^th career game, while starting his 31^st game. He leads the current Viking roster in both categories.
• The 81 points allowed were the most ever by a Viking team.