It may have only been the first win of the season for the Portland State Vikings, but it was very satisfying indeed. The Vikings went on the road to defeat Cal Poly, 40-35, in a Big Sky Conference game on Saturday in an impressive performance.
 
PSU set season highs for points (40), total offense (502) and rushing yards (242). The Vikings led virtually the entire way and only a final-minute touchdown by the Mustangs made the game close.
 
Sophomore running back Delon Thompson, who has been slowed by a broken thumb this
season, had the breakout performance the Vikings' coaching staff has been expecting. Check this out: Thompson set new career highs for rushes (26), rushing yards (184), rushing touchdowns (3), long run (77), receiving yards (54), long reception (30), all-purpose yards (238) and total touchdowns (4). That's a pretty good day.
 
On the other side of the ball, junior cornerback Carsten Mamaril was just as valuable. Mamaril intercepted two passes - including one that set up PSU's final fourth-quarter touchdown - had three pass breakups and made two tackles.
 
"It's very satisfying getting this win," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum after the game. "These guys have been going to work for quite a while and not getting paid. It's like a government shutdown. But they got paid today and I'm really proud of them. Delon and Carsten really shined among all the others.
 
"We needed this. I'm proud of the program. A lot goes into this and these guys deserved the win."
 
Other highlights included:

• Senior kicker Mathias Uribe made two more field goals and has now made 10 in a row in the past six games.
• Sophomore quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele had another solid day, passing for 252 yards and a touchdown.
• Freshman receiver/returner/quarterback Cru Newman continued his multipurpose role with 102 total yards, and senior wide receiver Terence Loville caught four passes for 86 yards.
• Sophomore safety Isaiah Green led the Vikings with nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Green leads PSU with 72 tackles this season and ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Viking defense forced three total turnovers and had four three-and-outs, including two in the fourth quarter.

 
Having played six of their first nine games on the road, the Vikings return home for the next two weeks to face a pair of big challenges. PSU hosts Sacramento State (5-4, 3-2), a team on the edge of a national ranking, next Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. Then, the home finale comes Nov. 15 at Providence Park as the Vikings host third-ranked Montana (9-0, 5-0) in PSU's first home game downtown in seven years.