There could be fireworks in PGE Park on Saturday afternoon as two of the nation's top three passing attacks will go at it in a Big Sky Conference football game. The Portland State Vikings (1-3) return to their home field, PGE Park, this Saturday when they host the 11th-ranked Eastern Washington Eagles (2-2) in a 1:05 p.m. kickoff.

Saturday's game should be a high-scoring affair as PSU leads the nation with 356.5 yards passing per game, while the Eagles are third at 326.8 per game. Viking quarterback Tygue Howland is coming off a 394-yard, three-touchdown passing game at Sacramento State. Meanwhile, the Eagles are a talented offensive team behind 2007 Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year Matt Nichols. The junior quarterback is averaging a Big Sky-leading 325 passing yards per game and has thrown 10 touchdowns passes.

Eastern Washington leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring at 36.3 points per game and averages nearly 432 yards of offense.

In addition, both teams are giving up more than 35 points a game this season, which means Saturday's game figures to be a shootout. That would follow the trend set in 2007 under Jerry Glanville and Mouse Davis. Although the Vikings went 1-4 at home, they were always exciting at PGE Park. There were 416 points scored in those five games - an average of 83.2 points per game. The Vikings were outscored at home - but by a close margin - 43.4 to 39.8.

In the last three home games 314 points were scored, an average of 104.8 points per game. The average score was: OPP 55.7, PSU 49.0. Part of that three-game stretch was the 73-68 win by Weber State over Portland State on Oct. 27. It was the highest scoring regulation football game in NCAA history (all divisions). The 20 touchdowns scored, and SO QB Drew Hubel's nine TD passes also set NCAA records.

HOME AT LAST
PSU opened the season with a 31-14 win over Western Oregon on Aug. 30, but spent the entire month of September away, with one bye week and three road games. The Vikings have struggled with three road losses as they enter the game at 1-3 on the season. Portland State is 0-1 in Big Sky Conference play after losing its league opener last week at Sacramento State, 41-31.

Portland State will play four of its last seven at home starting with this Saturday's game. The conference-opening loss was PSU's third defeat in a row and has the Vikings behind the eight-ball already in league play. They will try to get well at home against no less a team than the Eagles. It is PSU's first ranked opponent of the season.

Eastern Washington enters the contest at 2-2 on the season, 1-0 in Big Sky play after a home win against Idaho State last week, 45-31. The Eagles two losses have come against FBS schools, Texas Tech (49-24) and Colorado (31-24).

Portland State has the benefit of having won the last two meetings between the schools, including a 28-21 upset last season in Cheney against a team that reached the NCAA FCS quarterfinals.

PORTLAND STATE VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State is 13-19 all-time against NCAA I FCS teams that are nationally-ranked (since joining the Big Sky in 1996). The Vikings are 9-7 at home, 4-12 on the road. PSU is 1-2 against Eastern Washington when it is nationally-ranked. PSU was 1-2 against nationally-ranked teams last year, with the win coming over Eastern Washington.

The Vikings should play at least one more nationally-ranked team this year, Montana, which is currently third in the nation. Northern Arizona is ranked 24th in the nation.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
? THE COORS LIGHT BLOCK PARTY: The Coors Light Block Party begins at 11 a.m. for all Portland State home games. The location is adjacent to PGE Park on SW Morrison between 20th and 21st avenues. All Viking fans are invited.

TICKETS
Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased in prices ranging from $14 to $35, with youth prices as low as $5. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com or at all TicketMaster outlets.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: None
RADIO: Saturday's game can be heard on AM 910 KTRO and www.am910ktro.com. Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action. The pregame show begins at noon.
INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State games against Big Sky Conference opponents can be seen free at www.BigSkyTV.org. Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com.