New Era Officially Opens Saturday as Vikings Host UC Davis for First Game Under Head Coach Chris Fisk

KICKOFF
A new era that has been teased for more than eight months will finally kick off for the Portland State football program Saturday, as a noon kickoff against No. 6 UC Davis will officially open the Chris Fisk era for the Vikings.

Fisk and his staff have been building towards this moment since he was introduced as head coach on Dec. 12, 2025.

What the Vikings will look like in their first year under Fisk is a question mark that will begin to be answered Saturday. The Vikings have lots of experience coming back on offense. They returned seven starters, including their leading passer (John-Keawe Sagapolutele, 1,623 yards), leading rusher (Delon Thompson, 662 yards) and leading receiver (Terence Loville, 517 yards). Additionally, the Vikings returned their leader in all-purpose yards in Cru Newman (1,041 yards).

The Vikings will also welcome back team captain Tanner Beaman after the 2024 second-team all-conference tight end missed last season with an injury.

The Vikings even added depth at the skill positions, bringing in transfers Devon Anderson, Darius Bailey and Jason Robinson Jr. at wide receiver, and Nial Raby at running back.

Defensively, it's a different story. The Vikings returned only one starter off last year's team in Jaxton Helmstetler. A team captain this year, Helmstetler ranked third on the team with 71 total tackles last season, while he ranked second with 6.5 tackles for loss.

The Viking defense added two players from Fisk's roster at Central Washington last season in Logan Lisherness and Brogan De'Asis. Lisherness was a second-team All-Lone Star Conference selection when he ranked third on the team with 49 total tackles. Lisherness also ranked tied for second on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss. De'Asis, meanwhile, played in all 12 games, totaling 19 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.

A handful of transfers will help bolster the back of the Vikings' secondary. Terahiti Wolfe (Montana), Isaac Redford (Eastern Washington), Gio Kafentzis (Utah State) and Nash Burkart (Sacramento State) all transferred into the Vikings' program over the offseason. Redford had two interceptions for the Eagles last season, while Kafentzis had a pick for Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Washington State.

UC Davis heads into the season opener with fewer question marks. It's the nature of being a playoff team the past two years, advancing to the FCS Quarterfinals both times. The Aggies head into this year ranked sixth in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and Stats Perform FCS Top 25. That was the Aggies' highest preseason ranking since they started 2019 fifth in the national polls after winning a share of the Big Sky regular-season title the year before.

Even still, the Aggies have their own quarterback battle heading into the season. They lost Big Sky Freshman of the Year Caden Pinnick, who transferred to Washington State after finishing as national runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman player in the FCS. Treynor Cleeland – a Jesuit High School product from Portland – and Minnesota transfer Jackson Kollock are competing to replace Pinnick.

Whoever wins the job will have weapons at their disposal. Samuel Gbatu Jr. returned to the Aggies after leading the Big Sky Conference in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,169) and receiving touchdowns (11). Gbatu Jr. earned All-American Honors from the AFCA and FCS Football Central after his standout year, when he also made the All-Big Sky First Team.

The Aggies also returned All-Big Sky second-team center Zaire Collier, as well as 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Fisher on offense.

Defensively, they get back Rex and Porter Connors after both brothers played in only four games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Rex Connors still became the program's all-time leader in tackles despite his season being cut short. He started this year by being named the third-best returning defensive back in the FCS by Hero Sports.

The Aggies will then provide a good challenge for the Vikings to start their new era. But at the same time, the Vikings may have an advantage in their newness. The Aggies don't know what a Chris Fisk-led Portland State program looks like yet. Neither does anyone else.

They'll have to come out to Hillsboro Stadium Saturday at noon to find out.

GAME DETAILS
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-0) vs. UC DAVIS (0-0)
INFO: Saturday, Aug. 29, 12 p.m., Hillsboro, Ore. (Hillsboro Stadium)
TV: ESPN+/Rose City SportsNet (Channel 49.1 with an antenna; Channel 13 or 713 with cable)
LIVE STATS: GoViks.com/LiveStats
SCOUTING UC DAVIS:

The Aggies are coming off a quarterfinal appearance in the FCS Playoffs last season when they were 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Sky play. It was their second straight quarterfinal appearance, though the first time they had ever hosted a quarterfinal game.
The Aggies' two Big Sky losses last season came to eventual national champion Montana State, 38-17, and Idaho State, 38-36.
The Aggies are ranked sixth nationally in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and Stats Perform FCS Top 25. It's the Aggies' highest preseason ranking since they were ranked fifth in the preseason poll in 2019, after winning a share of the Big Sky title the previous year.
Senior Samuel Gbatu Jr. was named to the Walter Payton Preseason Watch List after leading the Big Sky Conference in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,169) and receiving touchdowns (11). He earned All-American Honors from the AFCA and FCS Football Central last year, when he also made the All-Big Sky First Team.
Fifth-year safety Rex Connors – the program's all-time leader in tackles – will make his return after a season-ending injury shortened his 2025 season. Connors was named the third-best returning defensive back in the FCS by Hero Sports.
Junior defensive tackle Rayne Mayo returns after earning All-Big Sky Third Team honors last season when he finished with 29 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Fifth-Year linebacker Porter Connors earned three different preseason All-American honors between the FCS Football Central, Stats Perform FCS and Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American teams.
The Aggies lost starting quarterback Caden Pinnick, the 2025 Big Sky Freshman of the Year and runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman player in the FCS. Sophomore Treynor Cleeland – a Jesuit High School product from Portland – and Minnesota transfer Jackson Kollock are competing for the job.
Jordan Fisher returns after ranking fourth in the Big Sky with 1,121 rushing yards. He was an All-Big Sky honorable mention.
Senior center Zaire Collier returns after making the All-Big Sky Second Team last season.

SERIES NOTES:

The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Aggies, 11-8. The Big Sky series is tied at 3-3.
The Aggies have won the last four in the series, including a last-second win in their last meeting with the Vikings back in 2024.
The Vikings' last win over the Aggies came on the road, 51-29, back in 2016.

LAST MEETING, Oct. 5, 2024, UC Davis 27, Portland State 26
    Hillsboro, OR – You never want a game to come down to the "official review," but Saturday's Portland State clash with ninth-ranked UC Davis did just that, and it didn't go the Vikings way as the Aggies won on the final play, 27-26, at Hillsboro Stadium.
    As heart-breaking losses go, this one is at the top of the list. Portland State never trailed in the game and was ahead 23-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
    UC Davis, behind the stellar play of quarterback Miles Hastings and running back Lan Larison, was able to come back with two fourth quarter scores. The Aggies got a three-yard scoring run by Hastings with 12:48 to go, narrowing PSU's lead to 23-21.
    The Vikings then drove 80 yards over nearly seven minutes, but were stopped on a third-and-goal play from the six. They settled for a 23-yard field goal from Mathias Uribe and a 26-21 advantage with 5:47 to play.
    The Aggies came back looking for a go-ahead touchdown and had moved 23 yards up field when PSU's defense came up with a big play. Hastings was picked off by Vikings safety Isaiah Green, who returned the ball to the Aggies 43 with 3:04 remaining.
    Now with the football, the Vikings had a chance to put the game away. UCD's defense had other ideas and stuffed the Vikings on three plays, forcing a punt.
    With 1:50 remaining, Hastings led the game's final march from the Aggies six-yard line. UCD was able to run off 13 plays in the final series. With five seconds remaining and the Aggies on the Vikings' 11-yard line, Hastings dropped back, moved right and tossed a ball to the back of the end zone to CJ Hutton. It was tipped and fell incomplete.
    The scoreboard clock read 00:00 and the celebration was on for a Viking win… until it wasn't. The officials ruled that one second remained in the game, allowing the Aggies one more chance.
    This time, Hastings rolled right again and zipped a ball to the right goal line pylon and wideout Trent Tompkins. Tompkins made the catch at the goal line and was simultaneously hit by cornerback Bryson Ross, who drove him back to the field of play. The official on the goal line signaled touchdown. Within a moment the play was under review as to whether the receiver had broken the plane of the goal line. After four tense minutes of review the referee stated the call was confirmed as the ball was caught in the end zone.
    And with that, UC Davis took the come-from-behind victory, and the Vikings took one of the hardest losses possible.

QUICK STORYLINES

NEW ERA: Saturday's season opener will mark the start of a new era for the Portland State football program as the first game under head coach Chris Fisk.
RANKED OPPONENT: The UC Davis opens the season ranked sixth in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The Aggies are one of four teams ranked in both polls that the Vikings will play this season. Between the AFCA and Stats Perform polls, the Vikings will play Montana (2nd/2nd), UC Davis (6th/6th), North Dakota (10th/10th) and Northern Arizona (24th/25th). Additionally, Idaho State received votes in both polls while Southern Utah received votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
NEW JERSEYS: The Vikings will have be wearing new uniforms this season designed in collaboration with Van Horne Brands. Founder Todd Van Horne has designed every Oregon Duck uniform since 1997 as well as the 1990s rebrand of the Denver Broncos. He also served as Creative Director for the new Hayward Field in Eugene, and led the team for the 2015-20 Nike Campus Expansion which included the creation of the Seb Coe Building, Serena Williams Building, Lebron James Building and Coach K Fitness Center. Van Horne described his work for the Vikings as being "for Chris" in reference to Chris Crawford – the Vikings' quarterback for the 1987 and 1988 NCAA Division II championship games and a PSU Hall of Famer who passed away in 2019 from Leukemia. Van Horne worked with Crawford at Nike.
CERTAIN SET OF SKILLS: The Vikings returned their leading passer (John-Keawe Sagapolutele, 1,623 yards), leading rusher (Delon Thompson, 662 yards) and leading receiver (Terence Loville, 517 yards) from last season. Additionally, the Vikings returned their leader in all-purpose yards in Cru Newman (1,041 yards). All told, the Vikings have seven returning starters on offense.
NEW FACES ON DEFENSE: The Vikings returned only one starter on defense in senior linebacker Jaxton Helmstetler. Unsurprisingly, Helmstetler is the Vikings' top returning tackler from last season when he ranked third on the team with 71 total tackles. He also ranked second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss a year ago.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: The Vikings named their five captains for the season on their second day of fall camp. Tanner Beaman and Terence Loville will captain the offense. Jaxton Helmstetler and Brogan De'Asis will captain the defense, while Brock Fleming will captain the special teams.
MEN OF STEELE: Five Vikings made the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Sky teams announced in early August. Cru Newman made the list three different times, earning second-team honors as a kick returner to go with third-team honors as a wideout and all-purpose player. Terence Loville joined Newman on the second team as a wideout, while Delon Thompson, Tanner Beaman and Brock Fleming earned third-team honors at running back, tight end and long snapper, respectively.
THE ROSTER: Portland State returned 41 players from the 2025 roster, including 29 letterwinners… seven starters return on offense and one starter returns on defense… 12 redshirts return, including five with game experience… the new coaching staff has signed 67 newcomers, 34 freshmen and 33 transfers.
STARTING OVER: Portland State will strive to be healthier than it was in 2025. The Vikings have eight returning players on the roster for 2026 who never had a chance to compete in 2025 due to preseason injuries. Included in that group were returning lettermen tight end Tanner Beaman, linebacker Davin Beason and defensive end Elijah Eason, all of whom were projected to start last season.

COACHES NOTES

NEW CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP: Chris Fisk was named the 15th Head Coach in Portland State Football history when his hiring was announced on Dec. 12, 2025. Fisk comes to Portland State following seven seasons as Head Coach at Central Washington University. While in Ellensburg, Fisk compiled a 48-22 record, including 38-7 in conference play. He won three conference titles (Great Northwest Athletic Conference and Lone Star Conference) and led four teams to the NCAA playoffs. Fisk was named GNAC Coach of the Year twice and selected as the NCAA II Region IV Coach of the Year in 2025 after leading the Wildcats to a 10-2 record, including 9-0 in Lone Star play… in all, Fisk spent 10 years at Central Washington. Prior to that he worked at Southern Oregon (2011-15) where he was Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. From 2002-10, Fisk coached at the University of Mary as Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. He is a 2001 graduate of Jamestown University.
FIRST MATES: Joining the Portland State Football staff are five coaches who worked for Fisk at Central Washington. They include: Grant Torgerson (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers), Alex Kastens (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line), Jared Gallatin (Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties), Patrick Belony (Defensive Line), and Brady Crane (Director of Player Personnel)… Matt Adkins (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) joins the Vikings after working at Arizona. He coached with Fisk at Southern Oregon… Kiante Goudeau (Cornerbacks) comes to PSU from Montana State. He worked for Fisk in similar role in 2023… Caleb Moore (Wide Receivers) worked previously at Arizona as an Offensive Assistant and in conjunction with Vikings OC Matt Adkins… Nick Kernaghan (Defensive Quality Control) comes to PSU after coaching linebackers for three seasons at Linfield… Dominick Mazotti (Tight Ends) worked last season as an Offensive Analyst at Mercyhurst. He played previously under Vikings Coach Alex Kastens at San Jose State… Chase Coalson (Defensive Quality Control) played under Fisk at Central Washington and finished his All-Conference career in 2025… CJ Jordan (Offensive Quality Control) spent the last two seasons on the Vikings team and is joined by Travis Fenton (Offensive Quality Control) on the offensive side.
OLD AND NEW: Portland State Football has added the role of General Manager in 2026. Taking charge is Rashad Floyd, a former Viking All-American and PSU Athletics Hall of Famer. Floyd, a private businessman and founder of Emmy-Award Winning Heart and Hustle Productions, will spearhead efforts in NIL development, branding, strategic planning for the football program and creating a long-term vision.
BABY BOOM: The Portland State has expanded over the past year. Not just with new coaches and players, but with seven new babies born to Portland State coaches since Jun 2025. Five of the seven babies were their family's first child, and three of those were born to coaches who followed Fisk from Central Washington. The full list of new babies is below:
- Defensive Coordinator Grant Torgerson and wife Olivia had baby boy Cooper, their first child together.
- Offensive Coordinator Matt Adkins and wife Krista had baby girl Lily, their third child together.
- Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties Coach Jared Gallatin and wife Miranda had baby boy Colby, their first child together.
- Cornerbacks Coach Kiante Goudeau and girlfriend Alexis Hernandez had baby boy Trey, their third child together.
- Defensive Qualify Control and Assistant Defensive Line Coach Nick Kernaghan and girlfriend Ashley Doldolea had baby boy Niko, their first child together.
- Director of Player Personnel Brady Crane and wife Isabella had baby girl Franklin, their first child together.
- Associate Director of Sports Medicine and Head Football Athletic Trainer Max Munson and wife Teresa Wong had baby boy Caleb, their first child together.

OFFENSE NOTES

EXPERIENCE IS A PLUS: On offense, the Vikings have experience. In fact, all three quarterbacks who saw significant action, the top running back, two of the top three receivers and top tight end return. In addition, three starters on the offensive line and one part-time starter are back… Junior quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele (148-261-16-1,623-4TD), sophomore quarterback Tyrese Smith (40-69-4-551-2TD, 98-405-6 rushing) and junior quarterback Gabe Downing (15-26-2-140-0) are experienced signal callers… Junior running back Delon Thompson (191-662-7 rushing, 22-217-1 receiving) led the Vikings in rushing and has over 1,300 career yards on the ground… Senior wide receiver Terence Loville (33-517-1) was given an NCAA waiver for an additional year of eligibility after leading the Vikings in receiving yards last year… Sophomore wide receiver and kick returner Cru Newman (29-302-0, 12-70-1 rushing, 669 return yards) proved to be the Vikings top all-purpose player, earning Freshman All-American and Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors… Junior tight end Tanner Beaman was a 2024 second team All-Big Sky Conference selection and preseason All-Big Sky choice in 2025. Unfortunately, a foot injury ended his season before it started. He will be back to full health in 2026… the offensive line senior returning starters senior James Minot (12 starts), sophomore Pule Leatigaga (11 starts), senior Semisi Latu (8 starts) and redshirt freshman Juan Pasillas-Stanton (4 starts).
QB BATTLE: Coach Fisk has said that the Vikings won't name a starting quarterback until five minutes before kickoff against UC Davis. He has his options open to him as the Vikings returned three of the four quarterbacks who started a game for them last season. John-Keawe Sagapolutele led the group with nine starts, while Tyrese Smith and Gabe Downing started a game each.
A LYNCH-PIN: Senior wide receiver Jaylen Lynch is the active career leader for the Vikings in games played (36) and games started (17). Lynch ranks second among active players for the Vikings with 518 career receiving yards.
DEPEND ON DELON: An Iron Man for the Vikings in the backfield, Delon Thompson heads into his junior season with 1,377 career yards and 15 career rushing touchdowns. Thompson posted his biggest game in the Vikings' win over Cal Poly, totaling 184 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to go with 54 yards and a score through the air. He led the Vikings with 662 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns last season. He ranked in the top 10 of the Big Sky in total rushing yards (ninth) and rushing yards per game (eighth, 60.2).
BEAMAN IS BEEMING: Junior tight end Tanner Beaman proposed to girlfriend Tori Forst – herself a member of the Portland State track & field team – a week before fall camp. Beaman proposed to Forst on the same beach that Forst's parents got engaged in Longboat Key, Florida. Beaman is also making his return to the football field this season after suffering a broken foot during the first week of practice last fall. Beaman had 21 receptions for 257 yards in his last fully healthy season as a redshirt sophomore in 2024.
NEW WEAPONS: As experienced as the Vikings are on offense, they added some firepower, especially on the edge. Joining the team's returning wide receivers, the Vikings added transfers Devon Anderson (sophomore, Mt. San Antonio College), Jason Robinson Jr. (sophomore, North Carolina), Darius Bailey (junior, Puget Sound) and Jeremiah Hill (junior, College of San Mateo). The Vikings also added freshmen Kaleb Jammer, Zui Shelton, Oteko Mwamba, Lucas Whitehall-Gilkes and Skyler Ormita at wide receiver.

DEFENSE NOTES

NEW LOOK DEFENSE: On defense, the Vikings lost a number of players to graduation and the transfer portal, particularly on the line. Including redshirts, 20 players return on that side of the football… leading the way is veteran senior linebacker Jaxton Helmstetler (71 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, fumble recovery for touchdown), a starter in all 12 games… the Vikings return eight defensive backs… three of the eight returning defensive linemen were redshirts in 2025… two of the six returning linebackers were also redshirts.
CENTRAL MEN: The Vikings added two transfers from Fisk's former team at Central Washington that figure to make an impact on defense. Junior linebacker Logan Lisherness and senior defensive end Brogan De'Asis both followed Fisk to Portland State. Lisherness was a second-team All-Lone Star Conference selection last season when he ranked third on the team with 49 total tackles. Lisherness also ranked tied for second on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss. De'Asis, meanwhile, played in all 12 games last season, totaling 19 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
SAFETY MEASURES: The back of the Vikings' secondary will be a sea of new faces as the Vikings added transfers Terahiti Wolfe (Montana), Isaac Redford (Eastern Washington), Gio Kafentzis (Utah State) and Nash Burkart (Sacramento State). Redford had two interceptions for the Eagles last season. Kafentzis recorded a pick for the Aggies against Washington State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
D3 TO D1 ON D: The Vikings added three additions on defense from NCAA Division III schools in the Portland area. Two came from Lewis & Clark in Solomon McDaniel and Kekama Cosma, while a third came from Pacific (Ore.) in Quincy Springs.