Coach Bruce Barnum lauded the efficiency of his team's offense following Saturday night's 58-38 victory over Sacramento State. You couldn't argue it was the best performance of the season with some eye-popping numbers… and yes, especially efficient. Consider this:
 

• PSU rushed for 299 yards and passed for 245 yards for a season-best 544-yard total.
• The Vikings did not commit a turnover.
• After punting following a 31-yard drive on the first series of the game, PSU scored on every possession (9), except the last of the first half when the clock ran out.
• The Vikings were a remarkable 11-15 on third down conversions, including lengthy conversions of five, six, eight, eight, nine, nine, nine, 13 and 17… PSU was 1-1 on fourth down.
• Portland State was a perfect 7-7 in red zone scoring.
• The 58 points were the most in 15 games (since a 59-21 win over Cal Poly last season).

 
Senior quarterback Dante Chachere had another one of those games… for him. He rushed 14 times for 165 yards and a career-high four touchdowns while completing 14 of 27 passes for 245 yards and another score. That's 410 yards and five total touchdowns. His performance came just two games after a 418-yard, six-touchdown effort in a win at Idaho State that earned him National Player of the Week honors.
 
Make no mistake, Chachere had a tremendous amount of support. Here are some other Viking heroes from the road victory:
 

• Kick returner Christian Grubb had a season-best 71-yard return setting up an early rushing touchdown by Chachere.
• 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.
• The Vikings got eight tackles each from safety Ezriel Vasquez, linebacker Peyton Wing and safety Jaden DaCosta while Shakir had six stops, a tackle for loss and the pick.

 
Chachere is poised to hit some milestones this Saturday when the Vikings take on Idaho. He now has 4,993 career passing yards, 1,990 career rushing yards and 6,983 yards of total offense... and of course 31 rushing TDs (5^th all-time at PSU) and 45 passing TDs (7^th all-time).
 
The Vikings, who are facing the number one strength of schedule in the nation this season, return to Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday to take on the 10^th-ranked Vandals in a 1 p.m. game. It will be the third of four top-10 opponents for Portland State. Tickets are available at GoViks.com and the game can be seen on ESPN+.