Vikings prepare for biggest dam game of the season

There’s plenty on the line this weekend for the Portland State football program as they prepare for battle against the Eastern Washington Eagles in a Dam Cup rivalry game. The Vikings will travel to Cheney, Wash., to play on Eastern Washington’s blood-red Inferno Turf this Saturday, and beyond the competitive nature inherent in the rivalry, the winner of the showdown will take a step ahead in the battle for the top of the Big Sky conference.

Portland State (4-3 overall, 2-2 Big Sky) is coming off a 36-10 win over the Division-III Willamette University Bearcats but has not seen as much success recently in conference play. The Vikings have dropped two straight games in the Big Sky, losing nail-biters against top ranked conference foes Montana State and the University of Montana.

On the other hand, Eastern Washington has recently won four straight conference games after enduring a rough start to the season. The Eagles (4-4 overall, 4-2 Big Sky) began their 2011 campaign losing their first four games before going on a winning streak. They are now in fourth place in the Big Sky standings.

Last year, the Vikings hosted Eastern Washington at Hillsboro stadium, but the home field advantage meant little for Portland State. The Vikings were dismantled by the Eagles, losing 50-17 behind a relentless Eastern Washington running attack. Vikings quarterback Connor Kavanaugh went down on the team’s first drive of the game with a broken hand, ending his season.

Despite a 323-yard passing performance by backup quarterback Tygue Howland and 100 yards rushing for running back Cory McCaffrey, the Vikings couldn’t keep up. Eastern Washington accrued a staggering 523 yards of total offense and Eagles running back Taiwan Jones added 198 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Portland State has relied on a variety of players this year on the football field after losing all Big Sky running back McCaffrey to a season-ending injury against Montana two weeks ago. The running game has been a major component for the Vikings as they lead the conference in rushing yards, averaging 270.6 on the ground per game. McCaffrey accounted for 731 yards and 13 touchdowns playing in five of the team’s first six games.

Kavanaugh has been another major rushing threat for the Vikings, averaging 93.3 yards on the ground and running in six touchdowns. The pistol-style offense allowed the quarterback and running back duo to share the carries throughout a game and drive the offensive attack. Freshman tailback Shaquille Richard started in place of McCaffrey against Willamette, managing 85 yards and a touchdown in his first start.

The passing game has not been a major emphasis for the Vikings this season, but in the team’s first game without McCaffrey there seemed to be more focus on throwing the ball. Kavanaugh currently sits at the bottom of the conference in quarterback passing yards, averaging 101.1 yards through the air per game. However, Kavanaugh is coming off his most impressive passing performance of the season, completing nine of 12 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns against Willamette. Justin Monahan is the lone wideout for the Vikings with over 300 yards receiving, adding 325 yards and two touchdowns on 24 receptions.

Eastern Washington has not looked like the dominant team of last year as the Eagles have only averaged 75.5 yards rushing per game after averaging 156 in their 2010 campaign. The drop in production wasn’t a major shock, as leading rusher Taiwan Jones entered the NFL draft. The run game has been put on the back burner since the loss of Jones, but Eagles quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has picked up the slack, throwing for 2,736 yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions through eight games this year. Eastern Washington has averaged 342 yards through the air per game, ranking third in the nation and first in the Big Sky. Wide receiver Nicholas Edwards has caught 64 passes for 842 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead the team, with four of the touchdowns coming in the overtime win against Sacramento State last weekend.

The Vikings defense will have their hands full if they hope to slow down the Eagles passing attack. Strong Safety DeShawn Shead leads the Vikings defensive backs with 37 tackles, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Senior linebacker Ryan Rau has helped control the run game, leading the team in tackles with 68, including 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

The Dam Cup rivalry is only in its second year, but has provided an added competitive spirit between the neighboring states. Football is only one of five sports that compete in the rivalry, which includes women’s soccer, volleyball and basketball as well as men’s basketball. The point-driven competition will be bigger for football as the single game is worth four of the 17 total points from the collective sports. Currently, Portland State holds possession of the cup after a 9-8 points win in the inaugural season.

The greatest task for the Vikings will be to limit their own issues, cutting down on penalties and eliminating unnecessary mistakes. Head coach Nigel Burton has placed a major emphasis on finishing close games, and with momentum slipping slightly in recent weeks, the team’s resolve will be put to the test this weekend. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. this Saturday at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.

The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet and broadcast on Freedom 970 AM. Be sure to checkout post-game interviews and video from Vikings’ games at PSUVanguard.com.