Road woes continue

A look at the boxscore of Portland State’s matchup with Weber State Saturday would likely result in this kind of reaction.

“Wow. The Vikings took down the Big Sky’s best team on the road. That’s incredible.”

And this sentiment is completely understandable.

Portland State amassed over 60 more yards of total offense, picked up nine more first downs than the Wildcats, and won the penalty battle, committing three less than Weber State’s seven transgressions for 75 yards.

But the gloomy, morose expression head coach Jerry Glanville had plastered on his face following the game explained what had really happened.

The Vikings had been outplayed, outsmarted and outhustled to the tune of a 31-21 final score that appears to be much closer than the game played on the field.

With that said, Glanville found little positive to take away from the trip to Ogden, Utah.

“The positive is, and I asked the team this when we were in the locker room, ‘Did you see anyone who quit trying? Let’s have his name and we’ll leave him here,'” Glanville said. “And nobody gave me anybody’s name, so. I didn’t see anyone who wasn’t trying.”

Throughout the game, the Portland State defense was solid. The Vikings held Weber State to just seven points in the first quarter, and it appeared Portland State would have an opportunity to hang with the first-place Wildcats.

But then the second quarter rolled around, and the madness came along with it.

After Weber State added a field goal to extend its lead to 10-0, sophomore quarterback Drew Hubel tossed an interception that was returned 41 yards for a touchdown.

Moments later the Vikings defense bent to its breaking point, allowing junior running back Trevyn Smith to scamper 70 yards for the score. Smith finished with 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

With Smith’s touchdown, a manageable two-score game suddenly transformed into a 24-0 blowout, and Weber State had all of the momentum and another half to polish its growing lead.

“Unfortunately, we can’t throw it to them, and then get two long runs on us-that should be five-yard runs that aren’t,” Glanville said.

Following an interception on Portland State’s first play of the third quarter, Weber State once again cashed in with a touchdown, making the score 31-0.

Behind an inspired effort from the Vikings defense and some newfound success on offense, Portland State reeled off 21 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters to shrink Weber State’s lead to 31-21.

But it was not enough.

“I thought at times they held them in check,” Glanville said of his defense. “But it’s a team game.”

Offensive coordinator Mouse Davis continued to mix up the lineup in search of a personnel grouping that was effective. The majority of this mixing and match came at the quarterback position, as all four of Portland State’s active signal callers saw playing time.

Hubel started the game under center, but was replaced after leading the Vikings to zero points and tossing a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown. Then, Davis opted to bring in junior Tygue Howland early in the second quarter.

Howland completed seven of 12 passes for 102 yards, but also threw a pick of his own at the end of the first half. As the third quarter began, Hubel was once again under center.

In his two stints, Hubel completed 17 of 35 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown. And in the fourth quarter, he was removed in favor of junior Jimmy Collins, who efficiently brought the Vikings into the end zone only to become ineffective on the next drive.

Redshirt freshman Connor Kavanaugh was the final quarterback summoned from the Portland State bench. Kavanaugh blended in some of his quickness on option plays with the elusiveness of junior Tracy Ford, and the Vikings captured their third and final score.

“It’s always between the four of them,” Davis said in response to a question about which quarterback will start next week. “It’s scary how badly we’ve played on the road.”

Portland State’s record provides some evidence for Davis’ statement. The Vikings have amassed three wins on the season, with each coming in the confines of PGE Park. On the other hand, the Vikings have lost all five of their road games this season.

On Saturday, Portland State was delivered maybe its most disheartening road defeat of the year.

“I told them that I could not walk out of there and say I’m proud of you. I cannot walk out of there saying what a great comeback. I can’t walk out of there saying everybody played hard,” Glanville said.

And as if that was not enough, Glanville added.

“This is about winning, and unfortunately we’re not doing enough of it.”