Vikings prevail

Records were broken, streaks ended and the Portland State football program is still undefeated beginning their 2011 Big Sky campaign with a 2-0 record. The Vikings (3-1 overall, 2-0 Big Sky) took down the Idaho State Bengals (2-3 overall, 1-2 Big-Sky) with a 42-35 win on Saturday at Holt Arena, ending a five-game losing streak in Pocatello. An enormous effort was required, but after setting a single-game school record of 436 yards rushing, Portland State accomplished something they struggled with last year and finished out a close game.

After leading 27-14 in the second half, the Vikings gave up back-to-back touchdowns to the Bengals to lose the lead 28-27. A 23-yard touchdown run from All Big Sky running back Cory McCaffrey allowed Portland State to regain the lead, however, Idaho State drove right back to score and take control of the game 35-34. A second McCaffrey touchdown with 1:52 left in the game and a 2-point conversion by senior quarterback Connor Kavanaugh finally put a stop to the seesaw battle.

With three fumbles and over 200 yards lost on 21 penalties, Portland State appeared to be shooting themselves in the foot in a tough road environment. The Vikings displayed poise and resiliency down the stretch and the triumph only increased head coach Nigel Burton’s confidence in his team’s ability to execute when the game’s on the line.

“In the end, regardless of how the game was called or the situations we put ourselves in, we talk about perseverance being one of our core values and not just something we put on our shirt,” Burton said. “It’s real, and when you are up 27-14 and they storm back and you are on the road, you don’t feel good about how the game is going, but you just kept playing and persevering. I think that is the mark of a team that has a chance to win a championship.”

Despite the flaws in the Viks’ play, the team was able to fall back on their incredibly productive running game. Kavanaugh was impressive running the ball, accruing 212 yards on the ground on 12 carries. The senior quarterback is averaging 111 rushing yards per game this season, putting him at 16th in the nation for rushing. Kavanaugh also set a personal record, running in four touchdowns himself against the Bengals.

Vikings starting running back McCaffrey, returned from injury and didn’t miss a step, rushing for 218 yards on 33 carries including two touchdowns. McCaffrey is coming off his second 200-yard game this season and is currently leading the NCAA I FCS level with a 169.7 yards per game average. Overall, the Viks finished the game with 436 yards total rushing, including 538 yards of total offense, with McCaffrey and Kavanaugh accounting for 45 of 58 total running attempts.

Portland State didn’t run nearly as many plays in the air, but Viking receivers responded when their names were called. Junior wide out Justin Monahan and tight end Gage Loftin each had catches for 30 plus yards, with Loftin adding a 45-yard reception that put the Viks in the red zone. Kavanaugh was 6-11 for 102 yards with no picks or touchdowns thrown, but coach Burton felt the quarterback simply took what the defense gave him.

“Idaho State was throwing gaps and jumping on the dive, forcing [Kavanaugh] to make some decisions,” Burton said. “We have got to continue to improve the passing game, but it was another great performance by the kid.”

Idaho State had a completely different emphasis when moving the ball down field, as junior quarterback Kevin Yost took to the air on most plays, completing 34-53 passes for 367 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The running game was almost non-existent for the Bengals, registering only 30 total yards on 26 attempts.

The role the Vikings’ defense played in closing out Saturday night’s game can’t be dismissed, as the lone interception for Idaho State came on the potential game-tying drive with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Vikings junior cornerback Mike Williams made a good read on the play to pick off Yost’s pass, giving Portland State possession with just over a minute left in regulation. The offense was able to run out the remainder of the clock and hold onto the 42-35 lead in Bengals territory.

The Viks’ defensive front played shutdown defense, stopping the run and managing five total sacks for the game. Two sacks came from sophomore defensive tackle Julious Moore. Linebacker Ian Sluss ended the game with 13 tackles to lead the team, including three for losses. The defense stood tall when it was needed most, making timely stops and holding Idaho State to only six of 17 on third down conversions.

Failing to close out games with leads cost the Viks four games last season, but this time around Burton felt his team showed definite signs of growth.

“When it counted guys stepped up, and that’s the definition of how you persevere when the game is on the line.”

The win is a huge boost of confidence for a Viking squad that hadn’t managed a Big-Sky road victory since 2009. Portland State will continue their undefeated Big Sky season at home this upcoming Saturday against Montana. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at Jeld-Wen Field.