Complete Game Notes for Portland State vs. Weber State

GAME 8
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-4, 2-2) vs. #13 WEBER STATE WILDCATS (7-2, 5-0)
Saturday, November 1, 12:05 p.m. PT, Stewart Stadium (17,500), Ogden, UT

TELEVISION: None
RADIO: AM 910 KTRO and www.am910ktro.com ? Pregame Show: 11 a.m. PT ? Kickoff: 12:05 p.m. PT
Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt ? Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream with radio broadcast at www.bigskytv.org.
Live stats are available at www.GoViks.com

THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: Weber State leads 16-12 ? PSU leads in Portland 8-6 ? WSU leads in Ogden 10-4
Big Sky Conference Series: The series is tied 6-6 ? The series is tied 3-3 in Portland and in Ogden

STREAKS
? Portland State has lost four straight road games.
? The Vikings have won two in a row in Ogden.
? Weber State has won four games in a row overall.
? The Wildcats have won six straight home games dating to last season.

STORYLINE
Weber State ended a three-game Viking winning streak in the series last season at PGE Park in the highest-scoring Division I regulation football game in NCAA history, 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 at PGE Park was the previous highest-scoring game in PSU history by two teams, combined... the Big Sky Conference series has been very close, with each team winning three times in each home city for a 6-6 series tie going into 2008... the Vikings have wins in each of their last two appearances in Ogden.

LAST YEAR
In a marathon of offensive football, the Weber State Wildcats defeated the Portland State Vikings, 73-68, at PGE Park. It was the highest scoring regulation game in NCAA history. There was also a record for most touchdowns in a game (20), while PSU QB Drew Hubel set a PSU record and tied an NCAA I FCS record with nine touchdown passes in his first career start... there were a total of 1,189 yards of offense... there were also 485 kickoff return yards on 22 returns... Hubel threw for 485 yards, while WSU QB Cameron Higgins threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 106 yards and three touchdowns... WSU WR Bryant Eteuati had 341 all-purpose yards in the game... PSU's Tremayne Kirkland and David Lewis each had four touchdowns receptions.

VIKINGS TRAVEL TO FIRST-PLACE WEBER STATE
The Portland State football team wants to keep hope alive this Saturday when it travels to first-place Weber State for its biggest Big Sky Conference game of the season. The Vikings, 2-2 and in fourth place in conference, will battle the 13th-ranked Wildcats, 5-0 and the surprise leader in the league, in a game that kicks off at 1 p.m. Mountain, noon Pacific Time.

If the Vikings can upset the Wildcats, they would remain in the chase for a Big Sky Conference title. The two teams between PSU and WSU in the standings, Northern Arizona (4-1) and  Montana (3-1) will meet in Missoula on Saturday. A Montana win in that game would be most beneficial to the Vikings, who will host the Grizzlies at PGE Park on Nov. 8.

But, first-place things first. The Vikings are now 3-4 on the season after a satisfying home win over Idaho State last Saturday, 36-13. However, PSU is 0-4 on the road this year. On the positive side of the ledger, the Vikings have won in their last two trips to Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

Weber State is 7-2 this season, and an impressive 5-0 in Big Sky play. The Wildcats had been tabbed for fifth place in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls. WSU is Portland State's third nationally-ranked opponent in four weeks.

Portland State features the top passing game in the nation at more than 420 yards per game, but Weber State has one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Cameron Higgins. The sophomore ranks third in the country in pass efficiency and sixth in total offense. Higgins has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 2,868 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Vikings return home to face sixth-ranked Montana on Nov. 8. That would make the fourth nationally-ranked opponent in five weeks for the Vikings. Portland State's regular season concludes with Montana State on the road (Nov. 15), and Northern Colorado at home (Nov. 22).

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Weber State, picked for fifth place in the Big Sky Conference this season, has already proven the pundits and coaches in the league to be wrong. The Wildcats stand in first place at 5-0, are 7-2 overall and ranked 13th in the nation. WSU already has its most wins since 2003 (8-4) and stands to have its best season under fourth-year Head Coach Ron McBride.

The Wildcats have a solid all-around team as they lead the Big Sky Conference in points scored (35.0 ppg) and fewest points allowed (19.7 ppg). Weber State also gives up the fewest passing yards (198.8) and total yards (317.0) on defense, which should present a great challenge for the Vikings' Run-and-Shoot offense.

If that weren't enough, Weber State also tops the Big Sky Conference in kickoff return average, pass efficiency, pass efficiency defense, first downs, third-down conversion percentage, and third-down conversion defense.

Weber State's success has begun with a balanced offensive attack. The Wildcats feature the league's top rusher in junior Trevyn Smith (869 yards, 10 touchdowns) and top passer in sophomore Cameron Higgins (202-292 passing for 2,868 yards and 29 touchdowns).

Wide receiver Tim Toone leads the receiving corps with 49 receptions for 825 yards and five touchdowns. Smith also has 426 yards receiving for 1,295 yards of total offense. With 15 total touchdowns, Smith leads the Big Sky in scoring.

The Wildcats will miss star kick returner/receiver Bryant Eteuati, who has been suspended from the team for a violation of team rules.

Junior defensive back Beau Hadley has a team-leading 70 tackles, four forced fumbles and three interceptions this season. Senior linebacker Biff Swan has 61 tackles. Junior defensive lineman Kevin Linehan has 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss this season.

PORTLAND STATE VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State is 14-20 all-time against NCAA I FCS teams that are nationally-ranked (since joining the Big Sky in 1996). The Vikings are 10-7 at home, 4-13 on the road. PSU is 2-3 against nationally-ranked teams under Jerry Glanville with both wins coming against Eastern Washington.

Weber State is currently ranked 13th in the nation, and this marks the first time the Vikings have ever played the Wildcats when they were nationally-ranked. The Vikings are unranked.

Portland State will play at least one more nationally-ranked team this year when sixth ranked Montana comes to PGE Park (Nov. 8).

WEBER STATE = CRAZY SCORES
Portland State once beat Weber State, 75-0. That was in 1980 when a guy named Mouse Davis was the Head Coach of the Viking football program. Amazingly, that is only the fourth-highest scoring output by a Viking team in history (Davis coached the other three as well: 105, 93 and 87 - all wins, by the way).

On the other side of the ledger, Weber State has posted the two highest point totals ever against a Viking football team. The Wildcats had a 74-6 win over PSU in 1965, then a 73-68 win last season.

Oh yeah, last season...

On Oct. 27, 2007, Portland State and Weber State took part in the highest-scoring, NCAA Division I regulation football game in history. Final score: Weber State 73, Portland State 68. Prior to that, the highest scoring game in Portland State history - both teams, combined - also involved Weber State. It was a 65-43 PSU victory over Weber State in 2001 at PGE Park.

Now, if you really want to talk about crazy scores, consider this: On Jan. 10, 2008, the two schools met in basketball at Ogden for the first time since Weber State's record-setting 73-68 football win. No records fell in the basketball game, but the final score was Weber State 73, Portland State 68. Now that's crazy.

For good measure, when the basketball teams met again last Feb. 16 in Portland, Weber State scored 73 points. This time the Vikings had 76, and a win.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
? VIKING SPORTS LUNCHEONS: Portland State Athletics will host the Viking Sports Luncheon sponsored by West Coast Bank at Old Spaghetti Factory, every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. The Old Spaghetti Factory is located at 0715 SW Bancroft in Portland. It is an opportunity to meet Viking players, and coaches Jerry Glanville and Mouse Davis as they break down plays on video from each week's game. Cost is $10.
? THE COORS LIGHT BLOCK PARTY: For all home games, Portland State's pregame Coors Light Block Party that takes place on SW Morrison Street between 20th and 21st avenues. The Coors Light Block Party begins at 11 a.m.
? VIKING MEDIA: All Portland State football games can be heard on AM 910 KTRO and www.am910ktro.com.The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Televised games for the 2008 season include Sept. 13 at UC Davis (Comcast Sports Net), Sept. 20 at Washington State (Fox Sports Net), and Nov. 15 at Montana State (Comcast Sports Net). Comcast Sports Net is available on: Comcast Cable Oregon; Verizon FIOS TV (Portland metro area); Scio Cablevision; Ashland TV; Comcast Cable Spokane... Live streaming video of all Portland State games against Big Sky Conference opponents can be seen free at www.BigSkyTV.org. Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com.
? TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $14 to $35, with youth prices as low as $5. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com or at all TicketMaster outlets.

QUICK SNAPS ON VIKING FOOTBALL

WINS AND LOSSES
Portland State defeated Idaho State for the fifth straight time in PGE Park, raising its record to 3-4, 2-2 in Big Sky Conference play. PSU is 3-0 at home, and last went undefeated at home in 2005 (5-0)... the Vikings have lost four straight on the road for the first time since 2005. You have to go back to a stretch from 1995 to 1997 to find a longer road losing streak for the Vikings (12 games)... PSU has won its last two games in Ogden, but lost to the Wildcats last year at PGE Park in the highest scoring Division I regulation game in NCAA history (73-68)... PSU is 1-1 against ranked teams this year, 2-3 against nationally-ranked teams under Jerry Glanville... Glanville is now 6-12 in his second season at Portland State, 4-4 at home, 2-8 on the road... Portland State is 47-48 all-time in Big Sky Conference games, 5-7 in Big Sky games under Glanville.

THIRD DOWN SUCCESS
Portland State entered the Idaho State game ranking last in the league in third down conversion, making 30-91 (33%). An 8-14 performance on third down against the Bengals went a long way toward the Viking victory as they were able to sustain drives.

RUN-AND-SHOOT NOTES

THE NATION'S BEST
Between QBs Drew Hubel and Tygue Howland, the Vikings have the top passing offense in the nation, averaging 421.9 yards per game. The tandem has thrown for 2,953 yards, 16 TDs and 11 interceptions in seven games... in the game against Idaho State, the tandem threw for 535 yards, with Hubel getting the first 474 yards... for the season, Hubel has five starts and is 147-259 for 1,973 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Howland has two starts and is 65-131 for 968 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions... Hubel ranks fourth in the nation in total offense (315.7 ypg). If he reaches 2,000 yards passing for the season this week, it will mark the 27th time in 62 years of Portland State football a quarterback has reached 2,000 yards.

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE PARK FOR DREW
Last Saturday, SO QB Drew Hubel completed 27 of 46 passes for 474 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions at PGE Park. Now, in five career games played at the Park, Hubel is 161-269 passing for 2,109 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. That is 422 yards passing and nearly four touchdowns per game... Hubel came within one yard of a national record, throwing for 623 yards in a win against Eastern Washington (10/4)... last year, he threw for 485 yards and a national-record tieing nine touchdowns against Weber State.

MORE ON DREW
With six 300-yard passing games, SO QB Drew Hubel ranks tied for seventh on PSU's career list of 300-yard passing games. Neil Lomax holds the PSU career record with 28... with four 400-yard passing games, Hubel now ranks second all-time at PSU (Lomax, 10)... in 12 career games (the first two of which were brief mop-up efforts), Hubel has 26 touchdown passes and 3,332 passing yards... Hubel now holds school records for passing yards in a game (623), touchdowns in a game (9), and completions in a game (44, tying Neil Lomax)... he has two of the top six passing games - and three of the top nine - in school history... amazingly, his 474 passing yards against Idaho State ranks only ninth best in PSU history. He came close to being the first Viking with two 500-yard games in his career. However, he gave way to JR QB Tygue Howland for the final series against Idaho State.

SUPER MARIO
Despite having his least productive day of the season against Idaho State (three catches, 37 yards, one touchdown), JR WR Mario D'Ambrosio has put up video-game like numbers this season. D'Ambrosio leads the Vikings with 52 catches for 683 yards and six touchdowns... he ranks seventh in the nation in receptions and 15th in receiving yards... D'Ambrosio had 16 pass receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns - all career-high numbers - in 47-36 win over Eastern Washington (10/4)... in his defense, D'Ambrosio was battling a groin injury all week that slowed his performance on the field against Idaho State.

LITTLE BIG MAN
JR WR Aaron Woods is the smallest player on the team at 5-feet, 6-inches tall, but has been one the Vikings' largest players on offense with 40 receptions for 679 yards and four touchdowns. He leads the team in yards per catch at 17.0... over the past five games, he has averaged 111 yards per game receiving... Woods also leads the team with 20 kick returns for 512 yards (25.6 average)... he has a total of 1,207 all-purpose yards for an average of 172.4 per game to rank second in the conference and eighth in the nation... Woods, who has three 100-yard receiving games, ranks sixth in catches, fourth in receiving yards and second in kickoff returns in the Big Sky Conference.

THE MARSHFIELD MAULER
JR FB Bobby McClintock, who prepped at Coos Bay's Marshfield High School, has been solid after returning from injury last season. With 79 plays from scrimmage this year, McClintock has 457 yards and six touchdowns. His value extends far beyond numbers though, as McClintock is integral in blocking for the quarterback in a passing offense that attempts 56 passes per game... McClintock scored four touchdowns in the season-opening win over Western Oregon, getting a combined 116 yards on 22 touches rushing and receiving. The 5-10, 240-pounder carried it 15 times for 48 yards, and caught seven passes for 68 yards. He was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. It was his first game since tearing his ACL in the 2007 season-opener at McNeese State... McClintock is a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection and College Sporting News second team All-American. He was a first team All-Big Sky selection in 2006, and was rated as the fourth-best fullback in the nation by the Sports Network prior to last year.

3-4 NOTES

THE BEST DEFENSE
Portland State had its best defensive performance against a Division I team this year as the Vikings held Idaho State to 383 yards, forced three turnovers, had seven tackles for loss and allowed the fewest points in the Jerry Glanville era (13). After an opening drive for touchdown by the Bengals, the Vikings did not let ISU into the endzone again... SR ILB Andy Schantz made a career-high 16 tackles, with an interception, pass breakup and two tackles for loss... JR ILB Erik Pedersen had 11 tackles for his third double-digit tackle game in six starts this year... SR CB Reggie Jones made his fourth interception in six starts this year. He returned the pick 33 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown and essentially put the game out of reach... the bad news for the Viking defense was the loss of SR CB Stanley Jackson, who suffered a season-ending right knee injury in the fourth period. Jackson has not missed a game in his career up to this point, competing in 40 contests and starting six games. Jackson has 50 career tackles, six interceptions and nine pass breakups. Jackson had a team-leading five interceptions in 2007. He tied a PSU record with three interceptions in one game against Montana State (11/10/07).

A GAME OF TAKEAWAY
Portland State's two starting cornerbacks, SR CB Reggie Jones and FR CB Deshawn Shead still rank in the top eight in the nation in interceptions... Jones and Shead each have four interceptions, with Jones doing it in six games played, while Shead has played in seven. Jones also has two fumble recoveries for six takeaways in as many games. Shead has one fumble recovery, givng the tandem a combined 11 takeaways... Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference with 22 takeaways in seven games (11 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries)... PSU has scored 69 points on those possessions (9 TDs, 2 FGs)... the Vikings have commited 19 turnovers this year, and have now given up 51 points (6 TDs, 3 FG) on those giveaways... Portland State has forced three or more turnovers in five of seven games.

SCHANTZ ON THE BUCK BUCHANAN LIST
SR ILB Andy Schantz, a Buck Buchanan Award candidate and preseason second-team All-American, had his biggest week of the season against Idaho State. Schantz made a career-high 16 tackles, with two tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup... this season he has team-highs of 66 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six pass breakups.... he also has two takeaways and a forced fumble... Schantz has six double-digit tackle games in 16 starts at Portland State... Schantz has been tabbed as a second-team preseason All-American by The Sports Network - the main news-gathering source and sponsor of post-season awards for NCAA I FCS football - and selected to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch list as one of the top 20 defensive players in the nation.

HI-YA-CKA! NOTES

URREGO-GO
SR K/P Danny Urrego continued has stellar season by kicking three field goals in as many attempts and going 3-3 in extra points against Idaho State. Urrego has now made five field goals in a row and nine of his last 10... Urrego was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance... with a 12-17 field goal kicking mark this year, he is only two short of the Portland State record (14), held by three players... perhaps more impressive, Urrego ranks fourth in the nation in field goals (1.71 made per game) and first in the Big Sky Conference... Urrego kicked a career-long 49-yard field goal at Northern Arizona (10/11) and is now 20-26 in his Portland State career to rank seventh all-time... all of his misses are from 43 yards or longer, with one field goal blocked from 36 yards... Urrego is also averaging 41.9 yards per punt this season to rank 17th in the nation. That is the best mark by a Viking in 10 years... Urrego's 41.8 yard average per punt last year was the best mark by a Viking in seven years, and ranked 18th in the nation. He also made 8-9 field goals and set a new record at Portland State for field goal percentage (.889).

FALSIFYING FOURTH DOWN
Portland State is two-for-two on fake punts this season, converting at Sacramento State and at Northern Arizona... on a 4th-and-10 play at Sacramento State's 40-yard line in the fourth period of that game, SR K/P Danny Urrego rushed left for 23 yards and a first down. Six plays later, Urrego was able to kick a 30-yard field goal... on a 4th-and-4 play in the third period against Northern Arizona, upback Rory Richards took a direct snap and rushed 14 yards to the NAU 40 for a first down... the Vikings are now 3-3 on fake punts in the Jerry Glanville era, including a successful fake at Montana in 2007.

MORE AND MORE SPECIAL
Good special teams play has been a trademark of Coach Jerry Glanville's career everywhere he has been. With excellent field kicking and punting, and some big plays on fake punts already, the Vikings added another mark to the special teams ledger against Idaho State. FR FS Cody Worthen recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage in the third period. The Vikings took over at the Idaho State 28 and proceeded to score a touchdown on the next play... in a backup and special teams role this year, Worthen has two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.