Chattanooga, TN – A hurricane passed through the southeast in recent days, with only remnants impacting the Chattanooga area. Rain and wind had mostly subsided by the time Portland State got to town. But the Vikings had to deal with an offensive hurricane from the Chattanooga Mocs, as the home team rolled over PSU, 45-30, at Finley Stadium.
 
Chattanooga's offense, which was slumbering through the first three games of the season, awoke against the Vikings. They scored on all four full possessions in the first half and never punted in the game. Chattanooga totaled 567 yards to 463 for the Vikings.
 
The loss dropped Portland State to 0-4 on the season, while Chattanooga, a playoff team in 2023, improved to 1-3.
 
"Chattanooga showed glimpses of doing things in their earlier games," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum. "Their offense came out with a spark tonight and was outstanding on third downs. It really won the game for them."
 
In the first quarter alone Chattanooga scored 21 points and gained 217 yards. The Vikings averaged nearly 11 yards per play in the quarter - more than the Mocs - but only ran half as many plays and committed one turnover. Dante Chachere scored on a three-yard run in the middle of the first, but the Vikings trailed 21-7 after 15 minutes.
 
By the closing seconds of the half, the Mocs only had the ball four times but they made the most of it. Chattanooga put together drives of 65, 62, 85 and 83 yards, all resulting in touchdowns. The Mocs out-gained the Vikings, 316-251, in the half, but with PSU committing one turnover and punting once, they trailed 28-14.
 
Perhaps the best example of the effectiveness of Chattanooga's offense was its third-down conversion rate. The Mocs were 8-8 on third down before the Vikings finally got a stop. That stop led to a field goal and a 31-14 Chattanooga lead with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.
 
Late in the third, the Vikings completed a 50-yard scoring drive, set up by a big kickoff return by Christian Grubb. Quincy Craig completed the series with a one-yard scoring run. Still, the Vikings trailed, 38-20.
 
The Vikings finally got a key defensive stop on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jayden House pressured Mocs QB Chase Artopoeus, deflecting a pass out of his hands. Spencer Elliott picked off the ball as it fluttered in the air over the line of scrimmage. From, there PSU drove for a quick 35-yard field goal from Mathias Uribe. That cut the deficit to 38-23 with 10:12 to play.
 
Unfortunately, Chattanooga recovered an ensuing onside kick and was able to drive for another score.
 
PSU added another touchdown with 6:15 remaining in the game. Chachere was 5-6 passing in the 82-yard series, and completed a scoring toss of eight yards to Craig.
 
It was too little, too late though as Chattanooga finished with the 45-30 win.
 
Artopoeus finished with 396 yards passing and four touchdowns. For the Vikings, Chachere was 19-30 for a career-high 306 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
 
"I saw confidence grow on offense tonight, and that really showed in the last drive. Now they think they can go score against anyone and that's what we need going forward," said Barnum.

GAME NOTES

• Dante Chachere went over 4,000 career passing yards in the game… with his two rushing TDs, Chachere now has 24 in his career, tying Jeff Salta for ninth in PSU history.
• Quincy Craig had the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career in 14 total games played. Craig went for 103 rushing yards on 10 carries, and had four receptions for 24 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
• Peyton Wing led Viking tacklers with 10 stops, including one for a loss. Michael Montgomery made nine tackles.
• Portland State was playing on the second game in program history in the Eastern Time Zone (2000, at Delaware), and facing Chattanooga (or any Southern Conference team) for the first time in program history.
• The game also marked the first time since 1989 that PSU has played four games in a row on the road.