Pocatello, ID – It looked like a bad case of déjà vu for the Vikings at the ICCU Dome on Saturday evening; a narrow lead late in the fourth quarter and having to punt the ball away in the final two minutes. That scenario turned into a nightmare last week, but Portland State got the job done this Saturday, beating Idaho State, 42-38.
 
PSU's defense, which struggled mightily through the first half, made the difference in the second half, stopping Idaho in six of seven possessions, including three three-and-outs. Then, when ISU took over at its own 21-yard line with 1:36 remaining to be played and needing a touchdown for the win, the Vikings "D" got the job done.
 
The Bengals moved into PSU territory, but the Vikings forced incompletions on Idaho State's final three plays, including a fourth-and-five game-decider at the PSU 36 with 29 seconds left.
 
Portland State's win was especially sweet after losing in a controversial finish to ninth-ranked UC Davis last Saturday.
 
"There is a lot to winning, but the defense made some great adjustments at halftime. That was critical," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum. "On a philosophical side, after that snake bite last week, I have a team that believes they can win that kind of game. The culture in the locker room changed last week."
 
By pulling out the win, PSU can also celebrate a tour de force performance by quarterback Dante Chachere. The senior signal caller passed for 216 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the first time in PSU history that a Viking quarterback has had a 200-200 game.
 
"He was fantastic from that very first third down we had. They send six players at him and he runs for a (62-yard) touchdown. That stuff doesn't happen on EA Sports. To see him do that and bring his game. He got us out of a lot of trouble," said Barnum.
 
"The offense was efficient and explosive tonight and was able to burn up a lot of time late and force Idaho State to use their timeouts."
 
There was little resistance on defense for either side at the start of the game as the first three possessions went for scores. Idaho State opened with a field goal and a touchdown. Sandwiched in between was the 62-yard scoring run by Chachere – the longest of the season for the Vikings. ISU led 10-7 at the end of the first.
 
The Bengals had three more lengthy drives in the second quarter, all resulting in touchdowns. The Vikings got a second rushing touchdown from Chachere, and a 31-yard scoring pass from Chachere to Eric Denham. However, the Bengals' flawless half concluded with a 31-21 lead.
 
ISU dominated possession with five drives of 11, 11, eight, 11 and seven plays for scores. That amounted to 20:45 of the 30 minutes of first half possession time. ISU nearly doubled the Vikings in plays run, 47 to 24. In fact, PSU averaged 10.2 yards per play (11.9 rushing) to 7.0 yards per play for the Bengals.
 
Portland State got the momentum swing it needed to start the second half. Beginning with the ball at midfield due to a pair of Idaho State penalties, the Vikings scored almost immediately. Chachere hit Branden Alvarez on a crossing route and the junior wide receiver shook a tackle and went 50 yards for a score.
 
PSU's defense then got its first three-and-out of the game and the offense was back in business. On a third-and-long play near midfield, Chachere scrambled out of the pocket and raced 53 yards for a go-ahead score. PSU now had two TDs in just over four minutes of play in the third quarter and led 35-31.
 
On the Bengals next two series they were stopped again. The second time was on a fourth-and-five play from the Vikings 36. ISU completed a short pass, but linebackers Michael Montgomery and Peyton Wing were there to make the tackle a yard short of the first down.
 
PSU took over with under three minutes left in the third quarter but couldn't move the ball. That allowed ISU to take back the lead early in the fourth at 38-35.
 
Chachere wouldn't be stopped though. He engineered a drive that turned into the game winner. A 34-yard completion to Denham on a third-and-eight play moved the Vikings down to the ISU 24. Two plays later, Denham caught another pass, this time for 21 yards and a score. PSU led 42-38.
 
Portland State would hold that lead for the final 11:34 of the game. In Idaho State's final three possessions, PSU's defense got two three-and-outs, then the decisive stop in the closing seconds.
 
PSU finished the game with 300 yards rushing, 216 passing and out-gained ISU, 516-503.
 
Denham had career-highs of five receptions, 127 yards and two touchdowns. Delon Thompson rushed 14 times for 72 yards.
 
On defense, safety Michael Hurst made a career-high 13 tackles, had two pass breakups, a tackle for loss and defended the final play.
 
Portland State is now 1-5 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Sky. Idaho State is 3-4 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Sky.
 
GAME NOTES

• Cornerback Jamal McMurrin made a season-high nine tackles and a pass breakup… linebacker Michael Montgomery had eight tackles and three pass breakups… PSU's defense broke up eight passes on the game.
• Dante Chachere had runs of 62, 48 and 53 yards, and a pass completion of 50 yards in the game. It was the fourth 100-yard rushing game, and first 200-yard rushing game of his career… Chachere's three rushing TDs give him 27 in his career, moving him into sixth in PSU history… his three touchdown passes give Chachere 44 in his career, tying him for seventh all-time at PSU… with 71 total TDs, he passed Jimmy Blanchard for third all-time behind Neil Lomax and Davis Alexander.
• Chachere's 202-yard rushing game was the second-most by a PSU quarterback. The only other time a Viking QB ran for 200 yards was Connor Kavanaugh with a 211-yard rushing game in a 42-35 win at Idaho State in 2011.
• Portland State has now played Idaho State 48 times in its history – the most of any opponent all-time… PSU leads the Big Sky Conference series, 14-13.
• Portland State returns to Hillsboro Stadium next Saturday to take on third-ranked Montana State. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.