Hillsboro, OR – You never want a game to come down to the "official review," but Saturday's Portland State clash with ninth-ranked UC Davis did just that, and it didn't go the Vikings way as the Aggies won on the final play, 27-26, at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
As heart-breaking losses go, this one is at the top of the list. Portland State never trailed in the game and was ahead 23-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
UC Davis, behind the stellar play of quarterback Miles Hastings and running back Lan Larison, was able to come back with two fourth quarter scores. The Aggies got a three-yard scoring run by Hastings with 12:48 to go, narrowing PSU's lead to 23-21.
 
The Vikings then drove 80 yards over nearly seven minutes, but were stopped on a third-and-goal play from the six. They settled for a 23-yard field goal from Mathias Uribe and a 26-21 advantage with 5:47 to play.
 
The Aggies came back looking for a go-ahead touchdown and had moved 23 yards up field when PSU's defense came up with a big play. Hastings was picked off by Vikings safety Isaiah Green, who returned the ball to the Aggies 43 with 3:04 remaining.
 
Now with the football, the Vikings had a chance to put the game away. UCD's defense had other ideas and stuffed the Vikings on three plays, forcing a punt.
 
With 1:50 remaining, Hastings led the game's final march from the Aggies six-yard line. UCD was able to run off 13 plays in the final series. With five seconds remaining and the Aggies on the Vikings' 11-yard line, Hastings dropped back, moved right and tossed a ball to the back of the end zone to CJ Hutton. It was tipped and fell incomplete.
 
The scoreboard clock read 00:00 and the celebration was on for a Viking win… until it wasn't. The officials ruled that one second remained in the game, allowing the Aggies one more chance.
 
This time, Hastings rolled right again and zipped a ball to the right goal line pylon and wideout Trent Tompkins. Tompkins made the catch at the goal line and was simultaneously hit by cornerback Bryson Ross, who drove him back to the field of play. The official on the goal line signaled touchdown. Within a moment the play was under review as to whether the receiver had broken the plane of the goal line. After four tense minutes of review the referee stated the call was confirmed as the ball was caught in the end zone.
 
And with that, UC Davis took the come-from-behind victory, and the Vikings took one of the hardest losses possible.
 
"They said they reviewed the timing and the side judge said he still had a second on the clock (for the last play)," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum afterward. "I'm proud of my football team for how much they worked this week and fought. To see them not get any payoff is too bad. Welcome to life, nothing is easy… We just have to come back and get ready for next week."
 
A defense that struggled through the first month of the season had a makeover in the past week leading up to facing the ninth-ranked Aggies, and that led to a good start. The Vikings limited UC Davis to 13 yards on its first two possessions.
 
Given an opportunity to get a lead, the offense produced, with a pair of touchdown passes from Dante Chachere to Quincy Craig of 22 and 24 yards. The Vikings were ahead 14-0 with just over eight minutes to play in the first half.
 
The Aggies offense would not be held down for too long though. A rapid three-play drive – ignited by a 50-yard run from Larison – led to a UC Davis score.
 
After stopping the Vikings on a three-and-out for the first time in the game, the Aggies went on the march again. Their no huddle offense was quick and effective. An eight-play, 61-yard drive was completed on a Hastings to Larison six-yard scoring pass. With two minutes remaining in the half, the game was suddenly tied, 14-14.
 
Portland State could play fast too though. With 1:59 left in the second quarter, Chachere completed passes of 45 yards to Jaylen Lynch and 24 yards to Branden Alvarez. On first and goal from the five, Chachere found Alvarez in the end zone for a third passing TD. The extra point was blocked, but the Vikings led 20-14 at halftime.
 
It went to a two-score advantage for the Vikings early in the second half. Kicker Mathias Uribe completed a PSU drive with a 40-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead.
 
The Aggies then got two touchdowns in the final thrilling, heart-breaking quarter. UCD improved to 5-1 on the season, 2-0 in the Big Sky, and will look to move up in the top 10 rankings. The Vikings dropped to 0-5, 0-2 on the season.
 
Chachere finished the game 17-23 passing for 259 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 38 yards. Delon Thompson had 12 carries for 68 yards. Alvarez made a season-high seven receptions for 63 yards and a score. Craig made four catches for 66 yards and two TDs.
 
Cornerback Tyreese Shakir made 10 tackles, with three tackles for losses. Linebacker Michael Montgomery also made 10 stops.
 
In all, the Viking defense made seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and forced two turnovers.
 
Larison rushed 23 times for 124 yards and caught nine passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. Hastings completed 36-53 passes for 398 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
 

GAME NOTES

• Dante Chachere had his sixth career game with three of more touchdown passes… he went over 6,000 yards of total offense for his career (6,087) and is now ranked seventh in PSU history… with 41 career passing touchdowns he is tied with June Jones for ninth all-time in PSU history.
• With two field goals against UC Davis, kicker Mathias Uribe now has five on the season.
• Due to a September home game cancelation, this was Portland State's last opener since 1971.
• Portland State returns to the road next Saturday with a game at Idaho State. The Vikings and Bengals meet for a 4 p.m. MT/3 p.m. PT kickoff in Pocatello. The game can be seen on ESPN+.