WEBER STATE WILDCATS (2-4, 0-2)
at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-6, 0-2)

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m., Hillsboro Stadium (7,600), Hillsboro, OR
Television: ESPN+ • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Scott Hermo
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.livestats.us
Game presented by OnPoint
 

HEAD COACHES

Portland State: Bruce Barnum (Eastern Washington, 1987) • PSU Record: 38-70/11th year • Big Sky Record: 28-46 • vs. Weber State: 1-4 • Career Record: 38-70/11th year
Weber State: Mickey Mental (Baldwin-Wallace, 2008) • WSU Record: 12-17/3rd year • Big Sky Record: 7-11 • vs. Portland State: 1-0 • Career Record: 28-19/5th year
 

BIG SKY BREAKTHROUGH ON THE DOCKET FOR VIKINGS, WILDCATS

Portland State hosts Weber State in a Big Sky Conference matchup this Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium as both programs are looking for their initial league win of the season. The game, sponsored by OnPoint, kicks off at 2 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
     
The Vikings (0-6, 0-2) come off a bye week following a solid but unsuccessful performance at Eastern Washington, losing 35-27, on Oct. 4. PSU had its best offensive outing in terms of points and yardage (469). The defense forced three turnovers but couldn't overcome 333 rushing yards by the Eagles.
     
The Wildcats (2-4, 0-2) took a 55-27 home loss to Sacramento State on Saturday. WSU has lost two in a row and is 1-3 on the road this season.
     
Portland State has not won either of its first two home games but will not be playing a nationally-ranked team at home for the first time this season (PSU has played seven nationally-ranked teams in its last eight home games).
     
The two teams come into the game with some remarkably similar statistics. They are both allowing 41 points per game on defense. They both have 10 turnovers and have forced six turnovers. They both are tied for fewest penalties in the league (28 each). They both have 10 defensive sacks. And of course, they are both 0-2 in Big Sky play.
     
The disparate stats between the teams are what should make the game interesting. PSU has allowed the fewest passing yards in the Big Sky (183.2 yards per game) while WSU has the fewest offensive passing yards per game (147.8). That should put some emphasis on the Vikings' run defense against the Wildcats. Meanwhile, PSU has struggled with the run (79.8 yards per game) on offense, but WSU has given up 246.5 yards per game on the ground - 11th in the Big Sky. The number 12 team? PSU at 289.5 rushing yards allowed per game.
     
By the end of the day on Saturday, the most important number for one of the teams will be in the win column for conference games in the Big Sky standings: 1.
 

STORYLINES

• SOS: Among PSU's last eight home opponents, seven were nationally-ranked, five of which were in the top 10... for the second year in a row, Portland State has the most difficult schedule in the nation according to the Massey Ratings. In 2024, PSU played five nationally-ranked FCS teams and two nationally-ranked FBS teams. Four of the FCS teams were in the Top 10... this season, PSU has played four nationally-ranked teams so far, including two in the top 10, and two FBS teams (one ranked). 
• ON THE OTHER HAND: This is the first time in the last five meetings with Weber State that the Wildcats have NOT been ranked.
• HERE'S THE SCORE: The 2007 meeting between the teams in Portland is the highest-scoring Division I regulation football game in history with Weber State winning, 73-68. Amazingly, that was NOT the most points by either team in the series. Weber State earned a 74-6 win in 1965. A Mouse Davis-coached Portland State team won 75-0 in 1980. A 65-43 win by the Vikings in 2001 in Portland was the highest-scoring game in PSU history by two teams, combined, until the 2007 contest.

 

NUMBERS GAME

• CATCHING ON: SR WR Terence Loville's seven-catch, 114-yard, 1-TD game at Eastern Washington was a career best. It was also PSU's first 100-yard receiving game since November of last season... JR WR Zachary Dodson-Greene made 10 receptions for 83 yards. His 10 catches were the most in a game since Mataio Talalemotu had 10 in a game against Eastern Washington on Nov. 21, 2021 - a span of nearly four seasons... Dodson-Greene now leads the Vikings with 25 catches, 22 of which have come in the past three games.
• 1,000: SO RB Delon Thompson needs just 55 more rushing yards to pass 1,000 in his career. This Saturday will be his 18th game as a Viking.
• IN PASSING: Portland State's offense has passed for 1,101 yards through six games. The Vikings' defense has allowed 1,101 yards passing through six games... PSU is number one in passing defense in the Big Sky (183.5 pg).

 
 

TEAM LEADERS

• PORTLAND STATE: Portland State is averaging 11.2 points and 263.3 yards of total offense per game... the Vikings had their best offensive output against Eastern Washington with 469 total yards and 27 points... PSU is allowing 473.0 yards per game, including 289.5 yards rushing, and 41.7 points... the Vikings have 10 turnovers and have forced six turnovers... SO QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele has started the last four games and is 86-147 for 896 yards, five interceptions and three touchdowns this season... SO RB Delon Thompson has 78 carries for 230 yards and three TDs, including a season-high 88 yards against Northern Arizona... JR WR Zachary Dodson-Greene has 25 receptions for 194 yards. SO TE Kristian Ingman leads the team with 236 receiving yards and a 19.7 average per catch... SO S Isaiah Green leads the team with 57 tackles, has two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. JR LB Jaxton Helmstetler has 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble return for touchdown... the Vikings have 10 total sacks with 4.5 from JR DE Spencer Elliott, who has also forced two fumbles... SR P Tony Johnson is averaging 41.5 yards per punt... SR K Mathias Uribe is 4-7 on field goals.
• WEBER STATE: The Wildcats are averaging 22.0 points and 305.8 yards of offense per game... Weber State allows 41.2 points and 454.7 yards per game on defense... WSU has committed 10 turnovers and forced six through six games... quarterback Jackson Gilkey has completed 59-115 passes for 693 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is also a run threat with 51 carries for 227 yards... Davion Godley is the team's leading rusher with 86 carries for 417 yards and three scores... Jayleen Record is the top receiver with 15 catches for 174 yards and one TD... on defense, linebacker Mayson Hitchens has a team-best 38 tackles and three tackles for loss... safety Angel King has 36 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery... Sloan Calder is 9-11 on field goals, including a pair over 50 yards.

 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• THE NUMBERS: Portland State is averaging 263.3 yards per game, 79.8 on the ground, 183.5 through the air... the Vikings have 10 total turnovers... PSU had season-highs of 130 rushing yards, 339 passing yards, 469 total yards and 27 points at Eastern Washington (10/4).
• QUARTERBACK SAGA(POLUTELE): PSU had three different starters at quarterback in the first three games of the season. Now Coach Bruce Barnum has determined that SO QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele is his man. JKS has started four games in a row and is trending upward. He had a season-high 302 passing yards and a touchdown at Eastern Washington (10/4)... for the season, he is completing 58% of his passes for 896 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. He averages 210 passing yards in his starts... Sagapolutele faced his former team, Hawai'i, on Sept. 13, completing 23-35 passes for 189 yards... FR QB Tyrese Smith has played in all six games with one start. He has 26 rushing plays for 93 yards.
• GET OFF DELON: As expected, SO RB Delon Thompson is the key back for the Vikings this season. Unfortunately, he has been slowed by a broken right thumb that occurred in the first game of the season. He has missed one game and seen limited action in two others. The good news is, he is trending the right way just like his quarterback. Thompson had a season-high 17 carries for 88 yards against Northern Arizona (9/27)... Thompson leads the team with 78 carries for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He has caught six passes (despite the cast) for 45 yards... in his 18-game career, Thompson has 226 rushing plays for 945 yards and 11 touchdowns... last season, Thompson posted a career-high 117 yards on 22 carries with one score at Montana (11/16).
• PERSONNEL IS AN ISSUE: PSU has been hindered with four of its top five receivers missing games already this season (Tanner Beaman (out for season), Branden Alvarez (out for season), Terence Loville, Chance Miller) and top back Delon Thompson also missing a game.
• THAT SAID... LOCAL BOY DOES GOOD: JR WR Zachary Dodson-Greene has stepped into the void of injuries in the Vikings receiving corps. ZDG, a transfer from Montana State who hails from nearby Salem, grabbed 10 passes for 83 yards at Eastern Washington (10/4). It was the first 10-catch game by a Viking in four seasons... Dodson-Greene also caught nine passes for 78 yards at Hawai'i (9/13). In the last three games he has 22 receptions... he now leads the team with 25 catches for 194 yards.
• LOVIN' T-LOVE: SR WR Terence Loville finally appears to be getting back to full health. In two seasons as a Viking he has appeared in only five games. His appearance at Eastern Washington (10/4) was welcome as he had career-highs of seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. It was the first 100-yard game by a Viking since last season.
• CATCHING UP: Other Vikings are making big contributions in the receiving game in lieu of the injuries... JR WR Eddy Schultz has caught 13 pass for 99 yards and a score and has seven rushing plays for 56 yards... SO TE Kristian Ingman has taken over capably in the absence of Tanner Beaman, catching 12 passes for a team-high 236 yards (19.7 pc)... in all, 14 players already have receptions for the Vikings this season.
• WRECKING CRU: FR QB Cru Newman may yet play at quarterback this season. In the meantime, he will do other things. Newman has 17 kick returns for 308 yards, three punt returns for 18 yards, eight receptions for 56 yards and one rush for 11 yards. That makes a team-leading 385 all-purpose yards.

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• THE NUMBERS: Portland State has allowed 473.0 yards per game, including 289.5 on the ground (last in the Big Sky) and 183.5 through the air (first in the Big Sky)... the Vikings played their best game against FBS Hawai'i (9/13), holding the Rainbow Warriors to 357 yards, including 107 on the ground, and 23 points - fewest in all categories this season... the Vikings have forced and recovered five fumbles, have one interception, 10 sacks and 17 pass breakups.
• GREEN DAY: SO S Isaiah Green made a career-high 15 stops against BYU (8/30) and leads the team with 57 tackles this season. He ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference with 9.3 tackles per game... Green is PSU's top returning tackler after making 50 as a redshirt freshman in 2024.
• ACTION JAXTON: JR LB Jaxton Helmstetler made a career-high nine tackles in consecutive weeks against BYU (8/30) and North Dakota (9/6). He has 38 for the season. At North Dakota, he posted nine stops, two tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry, and returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown. It was PSU's first FR TD in four years.
• SPENCER FOR HIRE: JR DE Spencer Elliott has been emerging as a top pass rusher. He made two more sacks at Eastern Washington (10/4) and now has 4.5 on the season, ranking third in the Big Sky. That is already the most sacks by a Viking in three seasons... Elliott has 20 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries.
• NO FLY ZONE: The Vikings held Eastern Washington (10/4) to an opponent season low 128 passing yards... Portland State allowed 250 passing yards to Hawai'i's Run-and-Shoot attack (9/13). That wasn't a bad total and it took the Rainbow Warriors 45 attempts to get it. Noticeably, the Vikings broke up eight passes, including three by FR NICK Pierce Walker and two from SO CB Dionte Thornton... the Vikings have 17 pass breakups this season with four each from Walker, Thornton and SO CB Bryson Ross... the 183.5 passing yards allowed per game is the fewest in the Big Sky.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• FOOTWORK: SR K Mathias Uribe is 4-7 on field goals this season. Two of his three misses have been from 50+ yards this season... Uribe was 11-12 on field goals last season and his .917 field goal percentage was a PSU record.
• PLACEMENT POLICY: JR P Tony Johnson is averaging 41.5 yards per punt with 29 tries this season... 10 have been placed inside the 20-yard line, nine fair caught with only two touchbacks. Johnson unleashed a career-long 75-yard punt at Eastern Washington (10/4).
• YARD BOYS: RS FRs Cru Newman and Andre Miller are both from Portland and have their own yard care business in the summer to make a little extra cash; C and D Landscaping. Now they are teaming up as kick return partners for the Vikings. Newman has 326 return yards, while Miller has 58 return yards. They also both play slot receiver for the Vikings and have combined for 10 receptions.
• JORDAN RULES: RS FR Jordan Herron was inserted as a punt returner and running back against Northern Arizona (9/27). That was a good move as Herron delivered an electric 57-yard punt return for touchdown - the first by a Viking in two seasons. He had 72 all-purpose yards on the day... Herron has seven career punt returns for 114 yards.