Portland State University Athletics

EUGENE, Ore. — The Portland State football absorbed the punch Oregon couldn't land the previous week, as the Ducks scored early and often against the Vikings en route to an 84-0 victory Friday night at Autzen Stadium.
 
The Ducks (2-1) were coming off a surprise loss to Oklahoma State, 39-31, last week that dropped them from sixth in the AP poll to 21st. The Vikings (0-4) appeared to be the unfortunate recipients of the Ducks' lingering anger from that game.
 
Oregon scored touchdowns on 12 of its 13 possessions, including the first eight straight. The Ducks finished with a 726-to-103 advantage in total yards, while recording 43 first downs to the Vikings' five.
 
The Vikings' best chances to score came on two drives in the third quarter. Tanner Beaman caught a ball in the flat, broke a tackle, and rumbled for 21 yards to give the Vikings some juice on their opening drive of the second half. A penalty put the Vikings past midfield for the first time, but the drive stalled from there.
 
Two drives later, Gabe Downing connected with Terence Loville for a 39-yard reception that got the Vikings out to midfield again. But an interception gave the ball back to the Ducks, who scored four plays later.
 
The Vikings didn't do themselves any favors with four turnovers. One came off a fumble on a kickoff return in the first quarter that gave the Ducks a short field already up 14-0. Three third-quarter interceptions then slammed the door shut.
 
Downing finished 8-for-20 for 101 and three interceptions. Loville finished with two catches for 50 yards to lead the Viking receivers. The Vikings couldn't do anything on the ground, finishing with just two net rushing yards.
 
Defensively, Jaxton Helmstetler led a group of three Vikings with 10+ tackles. Helmstetler set a career high with 11 tackles, while Isaac Redford and Deryk Farmer followed with 10 each. Javon Taylor and Logan Lisherness combined for a nine-yard sack in the third quarter that led to the Vikings' lone defensive stop in the game. Kekama Cosma also had a sack in the first half.
 
Friday's game against the Ducks ends a four-game gauntlet to start the season for the Vikings. Between two games against FBS opponents in Oregon and San Diego State, the Vikings also opened their season with two games against FCS top 10 teams in UC Davis and North Dakota. Their best result of the bunch came against UC Davis, who they led 21-0 at halftime before falling 31-24.
 
The schedule lightens up for the Vikings a bit next week when they return to Big Sky play at Weber State on Sept. 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT.
 
GAME NOTES:

• The Vikings are 0-7 all-time against the Ducks.
• The Vikings are 4-52 all-time against FBS opponents. Friday's loss was their 20th in a row against FBS teams, with their last win coming over North Texas in 2015.
• The Vikings had won the time of possession battle in each of their first three games, but the Ducks dominated the ball Friday, out-possessing the Vikings 40:59-to-19:01. The Ducks ran 94 total plays to 37 for the Vikings.
• The 84 points the Ducks scored are the most by a PSU opponent, surpassing the 81 points the Ducks scored on the Vikings in 2023.
• The Vikings were shut out for the first time since a 69-0 loss to then-No. 23 BYU last season.

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