Sacramento, CA – Sometimes you have to show off a little for big bro.
 
That's the way Vikings quarterback Dante Chachere looked at it as he propelled his Viking team to a 58-38 Big Sky Conference win over Sacramento State at Hornet Stadium.
 
Chachere led an efficient and effective offense that totaled 544 yards - the most points in 15 games - was 11-15 on third-down, 1-1 on fourth down and 7-7 in the red zone. For his part, the senior quarterback rushed 14 times for 165 yards and four scores, and completed 14-27 passes for 245 yards and another touchdown. All in front of his big brother Andre… for the first time.
 
Andre, who has spent the past three seasons in the NFL, was in town to see little brother play a college football game for the very first time. His appearance only begs the question, 'maybe he should show up more often?'
 
"The whole week leading up, I kept asking 'are you going to make it?' I was telling the guys, my brother is coming and I'm going to ball out. He's only seen me play my junior in high school. So, I was very excited for that," a happy Dante said after the game.
 
The youngest Chachere totaled 410 yards and five touchdowns. That qualifies as "balling out." But he was far from the only star. To name just a few:
 
• Kick returner Christian Grubb had a 71-yard return setting up an early rushing touchdown by Chachere.
• The Viking defense got a key three-and-out in the third quarter, allowing the offense to score back-to-back touchdowns and take a two-score lead for the first time in the game.
• Senior nickelback Tyreese Shakir made an important interception in the fourth quarter, leading to another score and an insurmountable 20-point lead.
• Freshman running back Delon Thompson was solid in the backfield with 84 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Quincy Craig added 84 yards rushing and receiving and also scored.
• Wide receiver Branden Alvarez had a career-high 105 yards on six receptions.
 
"In the end, we all came together: offense, defense, special teams… that's how you win the game," said Chachere.
 
After trailing by four points at halftime, PSU outscored the Hornets 41-17 in the second half, including three scores from Chachere.
 
"The consistency of the offense was outstanding," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum. "Particularly 'Chach' and Alvarez made some plays that kept the chains moving. Everybody had a damn good day on offense, but those two were great.
 
"The defensive staff's adjustments at halftime were unbelievable too. I think the kick return by Grubb was big, and we scored after the turnover.
"I always tell the team, 'the game changes' and that's the way we played tonight. I told them we were going to change the game, start attacking more, and that's what I saw tonight with all those key plays.
 
The Hornets led 7-0, 14-7 and 21-17 in the first half, but PSU responded with their best offensive half of the season after intermission.
 
Chachere came out throwing in the second half. He hit wide receiver Eric Denham on a 37-yard completion, then three plays later found tight end Tanner Beaman up the right sideline for an 18-yard touchdown. The Vikings were on top 24-21.
 
Following a tying field goal by Sacramento State, the Vikings created some breathing room. A 12-play, 75-yard march culminated in a one-yard scoring run by Thompson. PSU's defense then stuffed the Hornets on three downs and forced a punt. This time, Chachere let his feet do the work. On a third-down-and-nine play near midfield, he broke out of the pocket on a 54-yard scoring sprint. The extra point failed due to a bad snap, but suddenly the Vikings led 37-24 with just over two minutes left in the third.
 
Again, the Hornets answered back with a score in the span of just 90 seconds. The Vikings would not be stopped, though. On their next series, Chachere completed a 48-yard bomb to Alvarez, who lost his balance just short of the goal. No worries, as Craig rushed it in from two yards out on the next play. The Vikings went back ahead 43-31 with 12:28 left to play.
 
Then came the defensive play of the game. Shakir picked off Conklin on the first play of the ensuing series, returning it to the Hornets 31-yard line.
 
PSU burned four minutes off the clock before Chachere picked up his fourth rushing TD of the night, a two-yard trot into the endzone. PSU led 51-31 with eight minutes to go and it was all over except for the shouting. Each team added a score in the final four minutes but the game was never in doubt.
 
The Vikings rushed for 299 yards and seven touchdowns, had 245 yards receiving with one score, and did not turn the ball over in the game.
 
Hornets quarterback Carson Conklin passed for 325 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
 
The win improves the Vikings' record to 2-6 on the season, 2-3 in the Big Sky. Sacramento State is 3-6, 1-4.
 

GAME NOTES

• Tyreese Shakir's interception with the sixth of his career… the Vikings got eight tackles each from safety Ezriel Vasquez, linebacker Peyton Wing and safety Jaden DaCosta.
• Christian Grubb had a 71-yard kickoff return in the first quarter – the longest of the season for the Vikings. Dante Chachere scored on a 27-yard run on the very next play.
• Mathias Uribe is now 6-7 on field goals this season.
• Chachere's four rushing touchdowns give him 12 on the season and 31 in his career (5^th all-time at PSU)… he is now just seven yards short of 5,000 passing in his career (4,993) and 10 yards short of 2,000 rushing (1,990)… this was the sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career.
• Sophomore Tanner Beaman scored the third touchdown of his career.
• PSU is 24-14 all-time against Sacramento State, 14-9 in Big Sky Conference games… PSU is 11-9 all-time in Sacramento, including 7-6 in Big Sky games.
• Portland State returns to Hillsboro Stadium next Saturday to take on 10^th-ranked Idaho. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN+.