Vikings look to stay undefeated

Portland State football returns to conference play as they take on Idaho State this weekend

Location will be a major factor this weekend for Portland State football. The topic will likely be on the minds of both Portland State and Idaho State this weekend, as neither team has won a game at the other’s home field since 1999. The Viks are set for travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to take on the Idaho State Bengals (2-2 Overall, 1-1 Big-Sky) this Saturday as Big Sky play picks up again.

Portland State football returns to conference play as they take on Idaho State this weekend

Location will be a major factor this weekend for Portland State football. The topic will likely be on the minds of both Portland State and Idaho State this weekend, as neither team has won a game at the other’s home field since 1999. The Viks are set for travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to take on the Idaho State Bengals (2-2 Overall, 1-1 Big-Sky) this Saturday as Big Sky play picks up again.

Head coach Nigel Burton discusses the game plan
Adam Wickham / Vanguard Staff
Strategy session Head coach Nigel Burton discusses the game plan from the sidelines with his team. The Viks head to Pocatello to play Idaho State on Saturday.

Defeating Idaho State will be no easy task, as the Vikings (2-1 Overall, 1-0 Big-Sky) will try to end their five-game losing streak in Idaho and move to 2-0 in conference play.

The Viks are coming off a 55-13 loss at TCU last week and, despite the game being highly in favor of the Horned Frogs, Portland State football head coach Nigel Burton felt the loss was a wake up call for his players.

“We need to improve all around,” Burton said. “We have to get back in the direction we were heading special-teams wise…guys just need to do their jobs. It’s no magic formula.”

Last season the Vikings attained their only conference triumph of the year in a match-up against the Bengals at Hillsboro Stadium. In a convincing 38-3 victory, All Big-Sky running back Cory McCaffrey dissected the Idaho State defense to add 166 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Quarterback Connor Kavanaugh also put up big numbers, completing 15-19 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Kavanaugh used his running ability to add another 125 yards on the ground for the Viks. In total, Portland State racked up 531 yards of offense, including 315 yards rushing.

Offensively, Portland State will likely see similar success this Saturday, as the team has used the power of the pistol formation to gain 1,319 yards of total offense already in 2011. Despite the fact that the Vikings are the only Big Sky team with a bye week thus far, the team is still second in the conference in rushing yards with 815 and first in average rushing with 271.7 yards per game. McCaffrey tops the team with 293 yards total rushing in two contests and a 145.5 average per game.

The passing game has seen moderate success this year for the Vikings, as starting quarterback Kavanaugh has thrown for 217 yards on 22-38 passing and two interceptions. With most of the focus on the running backs however, Kavanaugh has become the second threat in the Vikings’ run attack, rushing for 255 yards total in three games.

Idaho State’s football program hasn’t faired much better than the Vikings in recent years, as the Bengals have only won a single game in each of the last three seasons. The team did make major changes this offseason, hiring new head coach Mike Kramer, who aims to turn around a program that has gone 3-31 in the past three years.

This season has started off much differently for the Bengals as they have already doubled their wins from last season, including a 50-20 demolition of Northern Colorado. The win was monumental for a team with a new coach that is rebuilding around its 16 returning starters. Wins over Northern Colorado and Western State University were positive signs, but after falling flat on the road against Washington State and Northern Arizona, there’s uncertainty about which team will show up to play against Portland State this weekend.Idaho State has placed big emphasis on the passing game this season, as freshman quarterback Kevin Yost has thrown for a conference leading 1,346 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 394 yards passing per game. The running game however has seen less success for Idaho State this season as the Bengals have averaged only 38 yards per game throughout the first four matches.

In 2010, the Portland State defense held the Bengals to 195 total yards, including a dismal three yards rushing on 20 attempts. However, most of the emphasis for the Vikings’ defense has been on the ability to stop the run, but with a pass-happy Bengals offense, the Portland State defensive backs will have their work cut out for them this weekend. Senior All Big-Sky cornerback DeShawn Shead will be relied on heavily this weekend to help patrol against the Bengals pass attack. Shead has posted 13 tackles, four pass break ups and a forced fumble in 2011.

Other major players have boosted the Vikings defense in 2011, including senior linebacker Ryan Rau, the team leader in tackles this season, who has
averaged 10 tackles per game and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to his stats as well. The addition of Texas Tech Transfer Myles Wade to the defensive lineman crew has also helped stabilize the Vikings defensive line, bringing quality depth as well as a veteran presence to the roster. Wade was responsible for blocking the potential game winning field goal by Northern Arizona to end Portland State’s seven game conference losing streak.

This weekend’s match-up should be a high scoring affair, as Idaho State has given up nearly 800 yards rushing this season and the Vikings defense struggled against Northern Arizona’s passing attack, giving up 323 yards through the air. If the Viks want to stay undefeated in conference play they will need to put their foot down on defense. Kickoff is set for this Saturday, Oct. 1 at 12:30 p.m. in Pocatello, Idaho.