Vikings Ready For First Home Game In 22 Months - Portland State Vikings

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WESTERN OREGON WOLVES (0-2) at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-2)

Saturday, September 18, 2021, 2:05 p.m., Hillsboro Stadium (7,200), Hillsboro, OR

TELEVISION: None
LIVE STREAMING VIDEO: ESPN+ • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Scott Hermo
LIVE STATS: www.ViksLive.com

ALL-TIME SERIES

Tied 11-11-1 • PSU leads 9-5-1 in Portland • WOU leads 6-2 in Monmouth

VIKINGS OPEN AT HOME AGAINST WESTERN OREGON

Portland State will host its 2021 home opener at Hillsboro Stadium this Saturday against Western Oregon. The Vikings and Wolves will kickoff at 2:05 p.m.

PSU comes off a pair of games against FBS-level competition, losing at Hawai'i, 49-35, and at Washington State, 44-24. At 0-2, the Vikings now play an NCAA II-level program. PSU has never lost to a lower division opponent (18-0) since moving to Division I and the Big Sky Conference in 1996.

Western Oregon, similar to the Vikings, is also at 0-2 after a pair of road losses to Colorado School of the Mines (42-3) and Texas A&M-Kinsgsville (24-10). The Wolves are members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Although the all-time series is tied between the schools, PSU has won the last eight meetings dating back to the early 1960s.

Despite a pair of losses this season, Portland State has established a potent passing attack through two games against higher-level opponents. The Vikings are averaging 359.0 yards passing per game and have five touchdown passes. JR WR Beau Kelly has had back-to-back career games in receptions and yards. He has 16 catches for 284 yards and two scores already this season. A pair of redshirt freshmen, Darien Chase and Nate Bennett, have stepped forward to combine for 23 receptions, 326 yards and two TDs.

Turnovers have been a problem as PSU has six through two games. The Viking defense has forced five turnovers and made six sacks through two games. However, the powerhouse FBS programs were able to average 517.5 yards of offense.

STORYLINES

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY?: Although the all-time series is tied 11-11-1, the last time PSU lost to Western Oregon was 1961 when the school was still called Oregon College of Education. Since then the Viking program has won eight straight.
PERFECTO: Portland State is 18-0 in games against lower division opponents since moving to Division I in 1996.
HOME OPENERS: PSU is 19-5 in home openers since moving to the FCS level in 1996. Western Oregon was the home opening opponent in 2015 (a 31-0 PSU win).
VIKING ALUM: Western Oregon Offensive Coordinator Brian Harris is a PSU alum and played for the Vikings from 1995 to 1998. He was also a member of former Coach Tim Walsh's staff.

SCOUTING THE WOLVES

Western Oregon is 0-2 after a pair of road games to open the season. However, the Wolves program has had a lot of success under 16th-year Head Coach Arne Ferguson. Like PSU, WOU did not have a fall 2020 season. In 2019, the Wolves went 7-4 overall.

Through two games, Western Oregon is averaging just 286.0 yards and 6.5 points per game. The Wolves have struggled with the run, totaling only 68 yards, but have been effective through the air, averaging 252.0 yards per game.

Junior Quarterback Ryan Worthley has been accurate, completing 50-77 passes for 463 yards. He does have two interceptions. In fact, Western's biggest issue has been turnovers with six. The Wolves have a -4 turnover margin.

On defense, the Wolves have given up only 314.5 yards per game. Opponents have run well, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 187.0 yards on the ground.

Junior safety Ryan Minniti has a team-high 14 tackles. Junior linebacker Jaylin Parnell has 13 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Freshman linebacker Kenny Brown also has 13 tackles.

LAST WEEK: VIKINGS TRAIL EARLY AGAIN BUT BATTLE TO THE END

Washington State was not going to be caught off guard by the Vikings this time around. The Cougars defeated Portland State, 44-24, at Martin Stadium six years after the last meeting between the schools – one that ended in a PSU upset. The Cougars moved the ball effectively, made few mistakes and did not allow the Vikings to make a comeback like the one the program pulled off in 2015... WSU gained 462 yards on offense while the Vikings went for 420 yards. The Cougars gained 159 yards on the ground, while the Vikings had 102. However, most of PSU's rushing yards came from SR QB Davis Alexander, often while scrambling out of the pocket... JR CB Anthony Adams picked up his second interception of the season, stopping a WSU drive near the endzone... Alexander ended the game 27-49 passing for 293 yards, two scores and one interception... JR WR Beau Kelly had career highs of 10 catches for 152 yards and a score... FR LB Parker McKenna led the Vikings with 10 tackles. JR DE VJ Malo had 1.5 sacks and now has 3.5 in two games.

IT TAKES A THIEF

All-American JR CB Anthony Adams has his season off to a familiar start. Through two games, Adams has three takeaways - two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Robert Wagner would be proud (old-time TV fan reference).

Adams now has 10 career takeaways (2 FR, 8 INT).
Two of his takeaways - the fumble recovery at Hawai'i and the interception at Washington State - came when the opponent was inside the Vikings' 10-yard line.
In 2019, Adams led the nation in passes defensed at the FCS level in 2019 (5 INT, 19 PBU) earning consensus first team All-American honors.

BEAU KNOWS RECEIVING, PASSING, RETURNING, RUSHING...

JR WR Beau Kelly had an act for all seasons at Washington State, setting career-high for receptions (10) and yards (152) while scoring his second touchdown of the season. Kelly also completed a 25-yard pass and returned a punt 12 yards.

Kelly has had back-to-back career games. He went for 6-132-1 at Hawai'i, then 10-152-1 at Washington State. He leads the Big Sky Conference in receptions (18) and receiving yards (284).
Kelly is now 2-2 passing for 72 yards in his career.
Kelly has 62 receptions for 937 yards and five touchdowns in 23 career games. He also has 118 career punt return yards, 72 career passing yards, and 55 career rushing yards.

WIDEOUT PRODUCTION

Portland State figures to have a very strong wide receiver group in 2021. That has been apparent through two games even with a few of the key members unavailable.

JR WR Beau Kelly leads the Big Sky in receptions (18) and receiving yards (284) and has two touchdowns.
FR WR Darien Chase started in place of JR WR Mataio Talalemotu at Washington State. Chase had six catches for 59 yards. In two games he has 12 catches and 164 yards. Chase is seventh in the Big Sky in receiving yards.
FR WR Nate Bennett has 11 receptions for 162 yards and two TDs after starting the first two games. Bennett is eighth in the Big Sky in receiving yards.
JR WR Mataio Talalemotu was unavailable at Washington State, but he passed 1,000 career receiving yards at Hawai'i. Talalemotu now has 60 receptions for 1,012 yards and eight TDs.
Junior transfer wide receivers Marquis Spiker (Washington) and Job Dockery (Oregon State) each played in their first game at Washington State.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

SR QB Davis Alexander is climbing the charts among Portland State's all-time passing leaders. And that is no small feat when you consider some of the great signal-callers that have gone through the Park Blocks. Here is an example of what Alexander achieved through two games this season and 28 career starts (see page 16 of these notes for career lists).

Through two games, Alexander is 50-96 passing for 693 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Alexander leads the Big Sky in passing yards per game (346.5) and total offense (378.0). He ranks fourth in the nation in both categories.
Alexander passed Chris Crawford (1985-87, 7,258 yards) for third place all-time in total offense behind only Neil Lomax (1977-2000, 13,345) and Jimmy Blanchard (1997-2000, 8,509) in Portland State history. Alexander now has 7,990 yards.
Alexander has passed for 693 yards through two games. He went by Drew Hubel (2007-11, 6,678) for fourth place in passing yards in PSU history. He trails only Neil Lomax (1977-1980, 13,220), Jimmy Blanchard (1997-2000, 8,455) and Chris Crawford (1985-87, 7,543). Alexander has 6,833 passing yards.
With five passing touchdowns, Alexander is now sixth all-time with 47 in his career at PSU. He has accounted for 67 career touchdowns (including 20 rushing).
Alexander passed Kieran McDonough (2012-15, 446-837) for seventh in completions in Portland State history. He is now 492-886 in his career.
Alexander had the seventh 300-yard game of his career at Hawai'i. That total is tied for sixth all-time at PSU with June Jones (1975-76) and Jimmy Blanchard (1997-2000). He had his second career 400-yard game.

DIAMONDS ON DEFENSE

Some top performances by the Viking defense through two games.

JR CB Anthony Adams has three takeaways with a recovered a fumble and two interceptions. He leads the Big Sky and ranks fourth in the nation in picks.
JR DE VJ Malo has five tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks. He is third in sacks and second in tackles for loss in the Big Sky.
FR LB Parker McKenna leads the Vikings with 17 total tackles. FB LB Justice Pagan has 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
The Viking defense has forced five turnovers and made six sacks.

EXTRA SPECIAL TEAMS

Vikings special teams are strong once again in 2021:

SR P Seth Vernon continues to impress. In two games he has punted 10 times for a 47.7 yard average. Vernon had a long of 59 yards at Hawai'i and 56 yards at Washington State. Vernon ranks sixth in the nation.
JR K Cody Williams has made 8-8 extra points, extending his school-record streak to 91 in a row... Williams hit a 46-yard field goal at Washington State. That was the 27th successful three-pointer in his career, tying him for seventh all-time in PSU history (Mike Cajal-Willis, 2001-02).
FR CB Tyreese Shakir recovered a pair of fumbles at Hawai'i. The first came in the third quarter when Shakir recovered a muffed kickoff return by the Rainbow Warriors in the endzone. Later in the fourth, when the Vikings were attempting a desperate comeback, Shakir recovered a fumbled onside kick.

NEW VIKINGS ALL OVER THE FIELD

At Hawai'i, Portland State had six players competing in their first game as a Viking. JR OL Brandon Mello, JR CB Xavier Bell, FR CB Tyreese Shakir, JR DB Shea Carstens, SR LB Alex Lozano, and FR CB Michael Jackson all played in their first games as Vikings. Bell and Mello each got the start.

At Washington State, Portland State had eight players competing in their first game as a Viking. JR WR Marquis Spiker, JR WR Job Dockery, SO RB Ahmir McGee, JR TE Kole Allen, FR DT Martin Salazar, JR LB Broderick Harrell, SO LB Ian Crocker and FR DB Semaj Bolin.

Eleven Vikings had played one counting game previously last spring at Montana as their first game as Vikings. They include FR WR Darien Chase, FR RB Jalynnee McGee, JR TE Anthony Rodriguez, FR WR Nate Bennett, FR CB Day Day Bright, JR CB Evan Camarena, JR DE VJ Malo, JR LB Tevita Tuitavake, FR LB Parker McKenna, SO LB Levi O'Connell and JR DT Holden Williams. Among that group, Bennett, Camarena and McKenna all got the start.

FRESHMEN IMPACT

Portland State started five freshmen at Washington State, and all have become key players for the Vikings. FR OL Richard Estrella starts at right tackle and Head Coach Bruce Barnum believes he can become the Vikings top man up front with a little experience. FR LBs Parker McKenna and Justice Pagan not only started, but rank 1-2 in tackles for the Vikings (McKenna 17, Pagan 14). FR WRs Darien Chase and Nate Bennett also started and rank 2-3 in receptions for the Vikings (Chase 12-164-0, Bennett 11-160-2).

A total of 16 freshmen - true or redshirt - have seen action in the first two games.

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