Portland State, Western Oregon Pre-Game Notes
Western Oregon leads 11-9-1 • PSU leads 7-5-1 in Portland • WOU leads 6-2 in Monmouth
(PORTLAND, Ore. ) — The Portland State Vikings, who gave the Oregon State Beavers more than they bargained for last Saturday, meet the Western Oregon Wolves Saturday in a home contest in Hillsboro, Oregon.
TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Fox Sports Radio 620 AM, www.foxsportsradio620.com • Pregame Show: 6 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream: www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats: www.vikslive.com, www.viksmobile.com
THE SERIES RECORD: Vikings vs. Wolves
All-Time Series: Western Oregon leads 11-9-1 • PSU leads 7-5-1 in Portland • WOU leads 6-2 in Monmouth
STORYLINES:
• Portland State meets Western Oregon for the first time in six years and only the second time since 1977. The Vikings have won the last six games in the series dating back to 1962.
• In the first 20 meetings between the schools, Western Oregon was known as Oregon College of Education (OCE). PSU and Western Oregon were members of the old Oregon Collegiate Conference beginning in 1950 when they were known as Vanport and OCE through 1964.
• Since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996, Portland State is 13-0 against lower division programs (Division II, III and NAIA).
VIKINGS IN HOME OPENERS:
• PSU is 35-21-1 in home openers dating to 1958 (complete home/away schedules not available prior to '58)
• The Vikings are 14-4 in home openers since moving to the NCAA I FCS level and joining the Big Sky.
• Portland State is 10-8 in Big Sky Conference home opening games.
VIKINGS' HOME OPENER AT HILLSBORO STADIUM THIS SATURDAY:
The Portland State Vikings play the second of four preseason games this Saturday when they host the Western Oregon Wolves. The contest, which will be played at Hillsboro Stadium, is the home opener for the Vikings. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. A fireworks show takes place following the game.
Saturday's game will air on Fox Sports Radio 620 AM and www.foxsportsradio620.com with the pregame show starting at 6 p.m. A live video stream will be available at www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats are online at www.vikslive.com and www.viksmobile.com.
Portland State comes off a 29-14 loss at Oregon State in its season-opener last Saturday. The Vikings were impressive early and led 14-13 at halftime in Corvallis. But they were undone by five second-half turnovers and a stifling OSU defense.
Western Oregon will be playing its season opener against the Vikings. The Wolves were 7-4 last season.
PSU and WOU meet for the first time since 2008. The Vikings won that game, 31-14, at Providence Park. The Wolves lead the all-time series, 11-9-1, getting the better of the matchups as the team's were both members of the old Oregon Collegiate Conference in the 1950s. Western Oregon last beat the Vikings in 1961 when it was still known as Oregon College of Education. PSU has won six in a row since that time.
Since Portland State moved to the NCAA I FCS level in 1996, it has not lost a game to a lower division opponent (13-0) - (see PORTLAND STATE vs. LOWER DIVISION SCHOOLS below). Also, Portland State goes into this home-opening game with a 35-21-1 record in home openers since 1958 (complete home/away schedules not available prior to '58). The Vikings are 14-4 in home openers since moving to the NCAA I FCS level and joining the Big Sky.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Portland State has four games on its preseason schedule. After opening at OSU and Western Oregon, PSU plays at Washington State on Sept. 13 and Cal Poly on Sept. 20.
After the game against Western Oregon, all of PSU's remaining home games are at Providence Park, with the Big Sky Conference opener on Oct. 4 against UC Davis. That game is one of three Big Sky Conference Games of the Week featuring PSU on Root Sports. PSU's home contests with Northern Arizona (Oct. 18) and Eastern Washington (Fri., Nov. 21) will also be televised on Root. The Vikings other Big Sky home game is a Nov. 1 meeting with Idaho State.
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES:
NIGEL BURTON ON THE RADIO:
Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 3:17 p.m. on the Wheels At Work Show on Fox Sports Radio 620 AM. Burton will review and preview Viking football games. This week, due to the Labor Day holiday, Burton will be on Tuesday at 3:17.
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO:
All Portland State football games can be heard on Fox Sports Radio 620 AM and www.foxsportsradio620.com. The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.
VIKINGS ON TELEVISION:
Portland State has five televised games in 2014, three of which are on the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week.
Aug. 30 at Oregon State Pac-12 Network
Sept. 13 at Washington State Pac-12 Network
Oct. 4 vs. UC Davis Root Sports
Oct. 18 vs. Northern Arizona Root Sports
Nov. 21 vs. Eastern Washington Root Sports
TICKETS:
Portland State football tickets can be purchased from the Portland State Box Office, or by going online at www.GoViks.com. The PSU ticket office is located at 1825 SW Broadway on the PSU campus. Call (503) 725-3307 or email tickets@pdx.edu... Single game ticket prices range from $24 to $64 when purchased in advance, $29 to $69 when purchased on game day. Students, seniors and military receive discounted prices. PSU students are free with valid ID.
2014 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL PROMOTIONS:
Sept. 6 – Honor Roll Night/Fireworks
Oct. 4 – Car Giveaway Game
Oct. 18 – Kobayashi
Nov. 1 – Turkey Bowl Giveaway
Nov. 21 – Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader/Fireworks
LAST WEEK: VIKINGS ONLY GET HALFWAY TO A BIG WIN:
Portland State took a 14-13 lead and hope for one of the biggest wins in school history into halftime at Oregon State last Saturday. But five second-half turnovers, leading to 13 Oregon State points, cost the Vikings in a 29-14 loss.
SO QB Paris Penn was the offensive star with a career-high 112 rushing yards and two touchowns on nine carries. However, the Beaver defense - after a number of early penalties - buckled down to hold the Vikings to 215 yards, with only 40 coming after halftime.
OSU quarterback Sean Mannion led the Beavers to the win, completing 26-45 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown. The Beavers had 505 yards of total offense and ran 31 more plays than the Vikings (82-51).
PSU's defense made six pass breakups and three sacks in the game. JR LB Anthony McNichols led the way with nine stops for the Vikings.
All-American SR P Kyle Loomis picked up where he left off last season, compiling a 48.5 yard average on six boots.
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON:
Western Oregon, located in Monmouth, Ore., is an NCAA II member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wolves come off a 7-4 season in 2013 and were 7-3 in GNAC play. Fourteen starters and 41 letterwinners return from last year's team.
Head Coach Arne Ferguson, a 1991 WOU alum, begins his 10th year at the helm with a 58-39 record.
The Wolves averaged 412.2 yards on offense while scoring 30.4 points per game last season. The defense allowed 389 yards and 26.1 points per game. Western Oregon forced 33 turnovers in 11 games, but also gave up 30 turnovers.
Senior quarterback Ryan Bergman returns to lead the offense. Bergman completed 232 of 425 passes for 3,225 yards and 27 touchdowns. He threw 13 interceptions.
The top two rushers return in Joe Harris (133-672-6) and Devauntee Hoffman (61-362-3) and the top receiver is back in Tyrell Williams (49-849-6).
On defense, the team's top two playmakers are also back. Linebacker Shane Kuenzi had a team-high 105 tackles last year while lineman Kraig Akins made 70 tackles with 16 tackles for loss, eight sacks and forced four fumbles.
Kicker Jesse Correa made 10-15 field goals in 2013. The punter, Alexander Bradt, had a 38.7 average.
PORTLAND STATE vs. LOWER DIVISION SCHOOLS (Big Sky era):
1996: PSU 25, Sonoma State 7*
1996: PSU 32, UC Davis 27*
1999: PSU 48, Western Washington 28
2000: PSU 37, Western Washington 20
2003: PSU 34, Texas A&M-Kingsville 21
2004: PSU 38, Western State (CO) 0
2008: PSU 31, Western Oregon 14
2009: PSU 34, Southern Oregon 10
2011: PSU 52, Southern Oregon 0
2011: PSU 36, Willamette 10
2012: PSU 38, Carroll 20
2013: PSU 57, Eastern Oregon 17
2013: PSU 43, Humboldt State 6
*PSU was only a provisional Division I program)
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE: VIKING QUICK NOTES:
THE 2014 VIKINGS: A BREAKDOWN:
• Portland State has 47 returning letterwinners.
• The Vikings have 14 returning starters, seven on offense, four on defense and three special teams.
• A total of 26 players return that have started games.
• There are 28 redshirts returning.
• 46 players hail from the state of Oregon, 35 are from the Portland metropolitan/SW Washington area, and 63 are from the Pacific Northwest.
WINS AND LOSSES:
• Portland State is 0-1 this season, 0-0 at home, 0-1 on the road.
• PSU was 6-6 last season, 4-2 at home and 2-4 on the road.
• The Vikings are 10-7 at home since the start of 2011, 6-12 on the road.
• Head Coach Nigel Burton now has a 11-10 home record, 7-18 road record.
• The Vikings have eight winning records in 18 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU is 61-36 in home games since moving to the NCAA I level, 31-73 on the road.
• PSU is 60-79 all-time in Big Sky Conference games in 18 seasons as a member. The Vikings are 37-33 at home, 23-46 on the road in BSC games.
PENN ULTIMATE:
SO QB Paris Penn was the lone star in a difficult offensive day for the Vikings at Oregon State. Penn rushed for a career-high 112 yards on nine carries, scoring touchdowns on runs of 58 and 11 yards in the first half. That gave the Vikings to a 14-13 halftime lead.
SPLIT DUTY:
JR QB Kieran McDonagh and SO QB Paris Penn shared quarterbacking duties at Oregon State. McDonagh started, as expected, and had a little more success passing with 7-16-1 for 52 yards. Penn was only 2-9 for 25 yards, but rushed for 112 yards and had 137 yards of total offense.
TURNOVER TALK:
Portland State went into 2014 wanting to turn around a turnover issue it dealt with in 2013. The Vikings had 29 turnovers last year in 12 games and a -8 turnover margin. After a half against Oregon State, the Vikings were mistake-free. Then a four-turnover third quarter wiped away some good work by the offense in the first half. PSU finished with five giveaways (matching last year's season high in a loss at Southern Utah) and a -4 turnover margin against the Beavers. Worse yet, all five turnovers came on the Viking side of the field.
HE'S NOT GETTING OLDER, HE'S GETTING BETTER:
SR P Kyle Loomis is the oldest Viking at 26 (and will soon be 27). But the All-American proved he is aging well, averaging 48.5 yards on six punts against OSU. Loomis averaged 46.5 yards per punt last year to lead the nation and set a new PSU record.
UP TO THE CHALLENGE:
Portland State gave up 505 yards of offense to Oregon State, but a closer look reveals its was a pretty good defensive effort. Consider:
• Oregon State ran 31 more offensive plays than the Vikings (82-51).
• OSU took over in PSU territory five times in the second half - and at least the 35-yard line or closer - but the Viking defense forced a punt, a fumble and a missed field goal, allowing only a touchdown and a field goal.
• The Vikings allowed only two touchdowns in the game, forcing seven field goal attempts. The 29 points allowed is the fewest in the last 11 games against FBS programs.
• PSU's D got to the quarterback for three sacks, had six pass breakups and forced two fumbles, recovering one.
• Although he didn't start, JR LB Anthony McNichols led the Vikings with nine tackles and a pass breakup in his first game for PSU.
TASTY, YET INSIGNIFICANT, TIDBITS:
• Portland State is now 29-37-2 all-time in season-opening games.
• Portland State has appeared on television locally in Portland 55 times since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996. PSU is 19-36 in those games, 12-11 at home, 7-25 on the road... PSU is 0-1 in televised games this season and will play at least four more.
• The 57 points scored by the Vikings against Eastern Oregon in last year's season-opening game was the most in a season-opener in the 67-year history of the PSU program.
• The Vikings are 13-0 against lower division teams since moving to the Big Sky Conference in 1996. PSU hosts NCAA II Western Oregon on September 6.
• PSU has played two Big Sky Conference schools in non-conference games in the past two seasons. The Vikings lost at North Dakota, 45-37, in 2012, and won at UC Davis, 41-10, in 2013. PSU will play a non-conference game at Cal Poly on September 20.
• Head Coach Nigel Burton is 3-0 at UC Davis and the Vikings have averaged 43.7 points in those games. The Vikings host UC Davis on October 4.
• The Vikings' 14-10 win against North Dakota were the fewest points in a win since PSU beat Sacramento State, 13-7, on Nov. 11, 2006. PSU plays at UND on October 11.
• The 2007 meeting between Portland State and Weber State is the highest-scoring Division I regulation football game in college 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 was the highest-scoring game in PSU history by two teams, combined, until the 2007 contest. PSU plays at Weber State on Oct. 25.
• PSU has averaged 422.7 rushing yards and 52.2 points per game over its last three meetings with Idaho State. The Vikings face ISU on November 1 in Portland.
• Portland State is 4-1 all-time in Thursday games. The Vikings have one Friday game this year, November 21 vs. Eastern Washington.
• PSU has won the Dam Cup - a multi-sport competition with Eastern Washington - in three of the four years of the existence of the competition.
LATE ADD:
FR WR Joshua Smith joined the Viking team last week. He is from Cascade High School in Washington where he played quarterback. Smith originally signed with South Alabama last February, but did not play there and was released from his scholarship.
VETERANS:
SR RB Shaq Richard has the most playing experience on the Viking team, competing in 33 career games. SR DE Brandon Tobias is second on that list with 31 games played, followed by SR LB Corey Crowder (28) and SR OL Cornelius Edison (27)... players with the most career starts are Edison (24), JR QB Kieran McDonagh (21), JR LS Kameron Canaday (18) and JR CB Aaron Sibley (16).
Source: goviks.com
