Vikings Travel to San Diego State for Final Non-Conference Game

PSU beat Sacramento State, 35-24, at PGE Park last Saturday, scoring two touchdowns in the final 2:06 of the game.

Tremayne Kirkland had nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown against Sacramento State. Photo courtesy: Portland State Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland State Vikings will play their final non-conference game of the year when they travel to San Diego State for a Saturday afternoon contest at Qualcomm Stadium.

It will be the first meeting ever between the schools when they kick if off at 3:30 p.m.

Portland State goes into the game at 1-2 on the season after an exhilirating second-half comeback win over Sacramento State.

PSU beat the Hornets, 35-24, at PGE Park last Saturday, scoring two touchdowns in the final 2:06 of the game.

The Vikings had trailed 24-14 midway through the third period.

That victory puts PSU at 1-0 in the Big Sky Conference as the Vikings temporarily stand alone at the top of the league. Three Big Sky games are on tap for this weekend.

Portland State has lost its last four non-conference games, albeit to outstanding teams (California, Oregon, McNeese State, UC Davis).

San Diego State will be the Vikings only NCAA I Football Bwol Subdivision opponent this season after PSU played three last year.

The last time PSU played a Mountain West Conference school was the 2006 opener at New Mexico. The Vikings won that game, 17-6.

San Diego State should be charged up for this week’s game as the Aztecs are currently 0-2, and this will be their home opener.

SDSU has road losses to Pac-10 Conference schools in Washington State (45-17) and Arizona State (34-13).

SCOUTING THE AZTECS

San Diego State is 0-2 this season after losing a pair of road games.

The Aztecs, who were 3-9 last season, have lost to Washington State and Arizona State.

SDSU, playing its first home game of the year, won its last two home games of 2006 over UNLV (21-7) and Colorado State (17-6).

The Aztecs have averaged 361 yards per game on offense through two contests, but have allowed a remarkable 566.5 yards on defense.

Washington State passed for 469 yards and five touchdowns in week one. The Sun Devils rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns in week two.

Opponents have thrown for 340 yards per game and completed 78% of their passes.

San Diego State is allowing 6.0 yards per rush and 7.9 yards per play.

The Aztecs have just three tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions through two games.

Defensive backs Aaron Moore an Ray Bass lead the Aztecs with 15 and 14 tackles, respectively.

Quarterback Kevin O’Connell has thrown the ball effectively, completing 61% of his passes.

O’Connell has thrown for 226.5 yards per game. The Aztecs are averaging just 8.9 yards per reception.

Senior wide receiver Brett Swain has a team-high 10 receptions for 112 yards.

Darren Mougey, who has also played quarterback the past two seasons for the Aztecs, has nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Senior tailback Brandon Bornes has carried the ball 19 times for 145 yards (a 7.6 average) and a touchdown.

Head Coach Chuck Long is in his second season at San Diego State. He has a 3-11 record.

WINS AND LOSSES

Portland State’s win over Sacramento State was its eighth in a row and 10th straight at PGE Park.

The Vikings have won 13 of 14 and 18 of 20 in the series.

PSU extended its’ Big Sky Conference winning streak to five games - the longest in 11 years as a member of the Big Sky.

PSU is 43-41 all-time in Big Sky games.

PSU avoided going 0-3 for the first time since 1997.

The Vikings are 36-10 at home over the last eight years, 14-3 since the start of the 2004 season.

NEW LOOK VIKINGS

Add two more to the list: SO WR Matt Smith and JR CB Adarrious Ross each started for the first time as a Viking in Saturday’s game against Sacramento State.

That makes 20 new starters this year in the first three games.

THE CHANGES CONTINUE

Portland State moved SR Dave Howell from DE to OT in the game against Sacramento State.

The move was meant to fortify a struggling offensive line.

Howell saw some backup duty on the OL in the second half.

He previously played one season on the offensive line at Miami.

SR DT Casey Tyler and SO DE Mark Lucas also practiced with the OL last week, but did not play there against Sacramento State.

SO Tristan Patin, who made four receptions as a wide receiver in the first two games, moved back to cornerback.

JR Ronnie Fa’avae, who started the season at linebacker, has moved to backup fullback.

He had four carries for 29 yards in his debut. The oldest Viking, Fa’avae turned 26 on Sunday.

CAN YOU GO HOME AGAIN?

JR LB Andy Schantz is a transfer from this week’s opponent, San Diego State.

Schantz has filled in well with the Vikings, starting all three games at middle linebacker and making 24 tackles this year.

In two seasons as an Aztec, Schantz had 60 tackles.

Another connection between the schools occured when PSU offensive coordinator Mouse Davis coached SDSU Head Coach Chuck Long briefly in Detroit in the late 1980s.

NO SURPRISE HERE

The Portland State passing game is starting to put up some big numbers - as expected - in the Run-and-Shoot.

The Vikings, behind SR QB Brian White, passed for 363 yards against Sacramento State - the most in four years by a Viking team.

White was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week after completing 26 of 37 for two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had a two-yard rushing touchdown.

After three games, PSU leads the Big Sky in passing yards (306.0 per game) and ranks fifth in the nation.

SAD SACKS

A function of passing more often is getting sacked more often.

However, the Vikings weren’t expecting this.

Sacramento State had 10 sacks against the Vikings, and PSU has now given up 25 sacks in three games.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Portland State’s win over Sacramento State was due to a strong passing game and effective third and fourth down conversions.

PSU was 9-16 on third down, and 1-1 on fourth down.

The Vikings had been just 8-31 on third down going into the game, 1-4 on fourth down.

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