Complete Portland State vs. Montana Game Notes

GAME 9
#5 MONTANA GRIZZLIES (8-1, 4-1) vs.PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-5, 2-3)
Saturday, November 8, 1:05 p.m., PGE Park (19,566), Portland, OR

TELEVISION: KPAX-TV in Montana
RADIO: AM 910 KTRO and www.am910ktro.com ? Pregame Show: Noon ? Kickoff: 1:05 p.m.
Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt ? Analyst: Mike Lund
INTERNET: Live video stream with radio broadcast at www.bigskytv.org.
Live stats are available at www.GoViks.com

THE SERIES RECORD
All-Time Series: Montana leads 24-11 ? Montana leads in Portland 11-8 ? Montana leads in Missoula 13-3
Big Sky Conference Series: Montana leads 10-2 ? Montana leads 6-0 in Missoula ? Montana leads 4-2 in Portland

STREAKS
? Portland State has won three straight at home this year.
? The Vikings have lost five in a row on the road.
? Montana has won three in a row in the series, seven of eight and 11 of 13.
? The Grizzlies have won four in a row overall.

STORYLINE
Portland State has beaten Montana twice in its 12 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference. Both wins have come at PGE Park (1999 and 2004). The Vikings are 0-6 in Missoula in Big Sky games, but took the Grizzlies to the wire in 2007 in a 34-31 loss... Montana has won outright or shared the last 10 Big Sky Conference titles, and 13 of the last 15... the Grizzlies have been nationally-ranked every season the Vikings have played them in Big Sky competition. The Vikings were nationally-ranked four times. The last time the teams met at PGE Park was 2006 - when PSU was ranked 14th and Montana was ranked fourth. The Grizzlies won that game 26-20 in front of 13,156 spectators - Portland State's largest home crowd since 2001.

LAST YEAR
Despite the loss, it was one of Portland State's best performances of the year, as they lost at fourth-ranked and undefeated Montana, 34-31. The first half was full of offense as Montana led 31-24 at intermission. Viking quarterback Drew Hubel already had 318 passing yards at that point. However, Montana had produced 347 yards by halftime. The second half was all defense as the only touchdown was scored on a 24-yard interception return by PSU's Condrew Allen with 6:14 remaining. The Grizzlies were able to run out the clock on the ground though, reeling off 14 plays as the Vikings used up their timeouts and the clock expired.

VIKINGS CAN PLAY THE SPOILER AGAINST MONTANA THIS SATURDAY
As Portland State looks for a signature victory on a season that holds no post-season opportunity, they need look no further than this Saturday's contest against fifth-ranked Montana. The Big Sky Conference's traditional power, Montana is trying to get into position for another league title, but must win out and hope Weber State stumbles down the stretch. The Vikings can wipe out Montana's chance for an automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs (though not a tie for a league title), with a win over the Grizzlies.

When the Vikings and Grizzlies meet this Saturday at PGE Park in a 1:05 p.m. game, PSU will try to end a three-game losing streak to Montana. The last time the Vikings beat Montana was a 35-32 win in 2004 at PGE Park.

Portland State stands at 3-5 on the season, 2-3 in the Big Sky. The Vikings have been good at home this year, going 3-0. However, they come off a 31-21 loss at first-place Weber State last week.

Montana comes into this week's game at 8-1 on the season, 4-1 in the Big Sky Conference. The Grizzlies only loss came against the same Weber State team, 45-28, five weeks ago. Montana will be PSU's fourth nationally-ranked opponent in five weeks.

Portland State has beaten Montana just twice since joining the Big Sky, with both wins at PGE Park. Last year, the Vikings were very competitive in a 34-31 loss in Missoula.

Portland State's regular season concludes with Montana State on the road (Nov. 15), and Northern Colorado at home (Nov. 22).

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Montana has won outright or shared the last 10 Big Sky Conference championships. That streak is in jeopardy this year as the Grizzlies trail Weber State in the standings after losing to the Wildcats in Ogden in late September. If Portland State can pull an upset over Montana this week, the Grizzlies league title hopes will be almost gone.

Sixth-year head coach Bobby Hauck has won 60 games against 15 losses in his tenure, maintaining what has been a nationally-prominent program for nearly two decades.

The fifth-ranked Grizzlies come into this week's game as solid as ever, leading the Big Sky Conference in scoring (35.4 ppg) and pass defense (206.6 ypg allowed). Behind quarterback Cole Bergquist the Grizzlies have the most efficient passing game in the league with 26 touchdown throws against a league-low six interceptions.

Bergquist is second in the nation in pass efficiency, having completed 65% of his passes for 2,106 yards, 22 TDs and just four interceptions.

Wide receiver Marc Mariani is having a big year with 45 catches for 923 yards and 13 touchdowns. His counterpart, Mike Ferriter has 34 catches for 619 yards and nine touchdowns.

Tailback Chase Reynolds has been the team's top rusher with 92 carries for 567 yards and nine touchdowns.

Montana averages 415.7 yards per game on offense and converts a league-best 45% of its third-down opportunities. If the Grizzlies have one weakness, it is pass protection, as they have allowed a league-high 34 sacks.

Safety Colt Anderson is the defensive leader with 66 tackles and two interceptions. Jace Palmer leads the team with 4.5 sacks. The Grizzlies give up just 326 yards of offense per game.

Behind Ken Wood's 41.9 punting average, the Grizzlies rank third in the nation in net punting.

PORTLAND STATE VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State is 14-21 all-time against NCAA I FCS teams that are nationally-ranked (since joining the Big Sky in 1996). The Vikings are 10-7 at home, 4-14 on the road. PSU is 2-4 against nationally-ranked teams under Jerry Glanville with both wins coming against Eastern Washington.

Montana comes into this week's game ranked fifth, and has been nationally-ranked every season they have faced the Vikings since PSU joined the Big Sky Conference, including all but one year in the top ten. PSU is 2-10 in those contests.

POINTS IN THE PARK
In 2007, there were 416 points scored in five Portland State homes games at PGE Park - an average of 83.2 points per game. As if on cue, the Vikings' Big Sky Conference opener against Eastern Washington on Oct. 4 resulted in 83 points being scored - and a 47-36 win by the Vikings. What figured to be a big offensive show between the Vikings and Idaho State on Oct. 25 produced a paltry 49 points (but a win Viking win nonetheless).

In six Big Sky Conference games at PGE Park since Jerry Glanville became the Vikings' Head Coach (and Mouse Davis became the offensive coordinator), there has been an average of 83.7 points scored per game. PSU is 3-3 in those games, but has outscored its opponents 262-240 (43.7-40.0). Here is a list of scores of Big Sky Conference games in PGE Park in the Glanville era.
   
9/15/07: Portland State 35, Sacramento State 24
10/6/07: Northern Arizona 44, Portland State 43
10/27/07: Weber State 73, Portland State 68
11/10/07: Montana State 50, Portland State 36
10/4/08: Portland State 47, Eastern Washington 36
10/25/08: Portland State 36, Idaho State 13

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
? VIKINGS SPORTS LUNCHEON: Portland State Athletics will host the Viking Sports Luncheon sponsored by West Coast Bank at Old Spaghetti Factory, every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. The Old Spaghetti Factory is located at 0715 SW Bancroft in Portland. It is an opportunity to meet Viking players, and coaches Jerry Glanville and Mouse Davis as they break down plays on video from each week's game. Cost is $10.
? THE COORS LIGHT BLOCK PARTY: For all home games, Portland State's pregame Coors Light Block Party that takes place on SW Morrison Street between 20th and 21st avenues. The Coors Light Block Party begins at 11 a.m.
? VIKING MEDIA: All Portland State football games can be heard on AM 910 KTRO and www.am910ktro.com.The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Televised games for the 2008 season include Sept. 13 at UC Davis (Comcast Sports Net), Sept. 20 at Washington State (Fox Sports Net), and Nov. 15 at Montana State (Comcast Sports Net). Comcast Sports Net is available on: Comcast Cable Oregon; Verizon FIOS TV (Portland metro area); Scio Cablevision; Ashland TV; Comcast Cable Spokane... 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.
? TICKETS: Tickets for all home games 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. 

QUICK SNAPS ON VIKING FOOTBALL
WINS AND LOSSES
Portland State lost to Weber State for the second year in a row, falling to 3-5, 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play. The Vikings have failed to win a road game this year (0-5), and with five straight road losses, have their longest road losing streak since a stretch of 12 between 1995 and 1997... PSU is 3-0 at home, and last went undefeated at home in 2005 (5-0)... PSU is 1-2 against ranked teams this year, 2-4 against nationally-ranked teams under Jerry Glanville... Glanville is now 6-13 in his second season at Portland State, 4-4 at home, 2-9 on the road... Portland State is 47-49 all-time in Big Sky Conference games, 5-8 in Big Sky games under Glanville.

THIRD DOWN DOWNERS
Portland State had another bad day on third down, converting just 2-13 against Weber State...the Vikings are just 40-118 this season (34%) on third down, which ranks last in the league... the Vikings did a good job against WSU on third down, holding the Wildcats to 5-17 conversions, but it didn't translate, as the Wildcats took advantage of other Viking mistakes to earn a 31-21 win.

TURNOVER TABLE
The Vikings have done a good job forcing turnovers this year, but in recent games have suffered from their own giveaways. PSU has 23 turnovers this year, while they have forced a league-high 24 turnovers... last Saturday, Weber State scored 21 points after the Vikings' four turnovers. PSU failed to score on either WSU turnover... opponents have scored 72 points (9 TDs, 3 FGs) off PSU turnovers... the Vikings have scored 69 points (9 TDs, 2 FGs) off opponent turnovers.

RUN-AND-SHOOT NOTES
THE NATION'S BEST
Portland State's passing game leads the nation this season with an average of 413.4 yards per game. QBs Drew Hubel and Tygue Howland have thrown for the bulk of the yards with 3,251 yards combined. They also have 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions between them... for the season, Hubel has six starts and is 164-294 for 2,181 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Howland has two starts and is 72-143 for 1,070 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions... Hubel ranks 7th in the nation in total offense (298.6 ypg)... by reaching 2,000 yards passing, Hubel marks the 27th time in 62 years of Portland State football a quarterback has reached 2,000 yards.

QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL
As Portland State struggled to make things happen offensively in the Vikings' 31-21 loss at Weber State, offensive coordinator Mouse Davis used all four quarterbacks on his active roster. In fact, when the Vikings went scoreless in the first half, it marked the first time that had happened since the second half of game two in 2007 (vs. UC Davis) - a stretch of 32 halves... SO Drew Hubel threw for 208 yards and touchdown, JR Tygue Howland threw for 102 yards, JR Jimmy Collins threw for 36 yards and a touchdown, and FR Connor Kavanaugh completed his only pass for eight yards... Collins and Kavanaugh each led fourth quarter scoring drives for the Vikings... PSU totaled 28-54 for 354 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

MORE ON DREW
With six 300-yard passing games, SO QB Drew Hubel ranks tied for seventh on PSU's career list of 300-yard passing games. Neil Lomax holds the PSU career record with 28... with four 400-yard passing games, Hubel now ranks second all-time at PSU (Lomax, 10)... in 13 career games (the first two of which were brief mop-up efforts), Hubel has 27 touchdown passes and 3,540 passing yards... Hubel now holds school records for passing yards in a game (623), touchdowns in a game (9), and completions in a game (44, tying Neil Lomax)... he has two of the top six passing games - and three of the top nine - in school history... amazingly, his 474 passing yards against Idaho State ranks only ninth best in PSU history.

SUPER MARIO
JR WR Mario D'Ambrosio has put up video-game like numbers this season. He had four receptions for 61 yards at Weber State and leads the Vikings with 56 catches this year. D'Ambrosio has 744 yards and six touchdowns... he ranks 10th in the nation in receptions and 17th in receiving yards, second in the Big Sky in catches and fourth in receiving yards... D'Ambrosio had 16 pass receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns - all career-high numbers - in 47-36 win over Eastern Washington (10/4).

LITTLE BIG MAN
JR WR Aaron Woods is the smallest player on the team at 5-feet, 6-inches tall, but has been one the Vikings' largest players on offense with 47 receptions for a team-high 784 yards and five touchdowns. He leads the team in yards per catch at 16.7... over the past six games, he has averaged 110 yards per game receiving... Woods also leads the team with 23 kick returns for 581 yards (25.3 average). His kick return yardage total already ranks sixth all-time in PSU history for a season... he has a total of 1,381 all-purpose yards for an average of 172.6 per game to lead the conference and rank seventh in the nation... Woods, who has four 100-yard receiving games, ranks seventh in catches, third in receiving yards and first in kickoff returns in the Big Sky Conference.

THE MARSHFIELD MAULER
JR FB Bobby McClintock, who prepped at Coos Bay's Marshfield High School, played maybe his best game of the year at Weber State. McClintock rushed 10 times for a career-high 75 yards. He also caught four passes for 24 yards... with 93 plays from scrimmage this year, McClintock has 556 yards and six touchdowns. His value extends far beyond numbers though, as McClintock is integral in blocking for the quarterback in a passing offense that attempts 56 passes per game... McClintock scored four touchdowns in the season-opening win over Western Oregon, getting a combined 116 yards on 22 touches rushing and receiving. The 5-10, 240-pounder carried it 15 times for 48 yards, and caught seven passes for 68 yards. He was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. It was his first game since tearing his ACL in the 2007 season-opener at McNeese State... McClintock was a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection and College Sporting News second team All-American. He was a first team All-Big Sky selection in 2006, and was rated as the fourth-best fullback in the nation by the Sports Network prior to last year.

BUILT FORD TOUGH
JR WR Tracy Ford has been all over the field this year for the Vikings, playing some at wide receiver, punt and kick returner, and cornerback. He has also been integrated at running back to give the Vikings a different look from the bruising Bobby McClintock. Ford is just 5-7, 175, but has some wiggle in his game. He carried the ball three times for 48 yards, including a 43-yarder late in the fourth period. Two plays later, Ford scored from one yard out. His performance, combined with 75 yards from Bobby McClintock, allowed the Vikings to have their first 100-yard rushing game of the year.. Ford has yardage rushing, receiving on kick and punt returns, as well as five tackles this year.

3-4 NOTES
THE BEST DEFENSE
Despite losing 31-21 at 13th-ranked Weber State, the Viking defense can take some solace in the fact that they held the Wildcats below their season averages for points and total offense... SR ILB Andy Schantz had 15 tackles in the loss at Weber State and now has 31 in the past two weeks.... JR ILB Erik Pedersen had a big game with nine tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery... SR OLB KJ McCrae added 10 tackles with two for losses... FR CB DeShawn Shead made his fifth interception of the year as he is tied for fourth in the nation in that category, and leads the Big Sky.

A GAME OF TAKEAWAY
Portland State's two starting cornerbacks, SR CB Reggie Jones and FR CB Deshawn Shead are among the nation's leaders in interceptions this year. Shead had another pick at Weber State, his fifth. The last time a Viking had more than five interceptions in a season was 1997, when another redshirt freshman, Rashad Floyd, had six interceptions... Jones has four interceptions and two fumble recoveries for six takeaways. Shead has one fumble recovery, giving the tandem a combined 12 takeaways.

SCHANTZ ON THE BUCK BUCHANAN LIST
SR ILB Andy Schantz, a Buck Buchanan Award candidate and preseason second-team All-American, had a team-high 15 tackles at Weber State. That gives him 31 tackles over the last two games... he has team-highs of 81 tackles and 11 tackles for loss, as well as six pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery... Schantz ranks second in the Big Sky Conference and 21st in the nation in tackles... Schantz has seven double-digit tackle games in 17 starts at Portland State... Schantz was been tabbed as a second-team preseason All-American by The Sports Network - the main news-gathering source and sponsor of post-season awards for NCAA I FCS football - and selected to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch list as one of the top 20 defensive players in the nation.

HI-YA-CKA! NOTES
URREGO-GO
SR K/P Danny Urrego was 0-2 on field goals at Weber State, but is still 12-19 this season, and is only two short of the Portland State record (14), held by three players... perhaps more impressive, Urrego ranks seventh in the nation in field goals (1.50 made per game) and first in the Big Sky Conference... Urrego kicked a career-long 49-yard field goal at Northern Arizona (10/11)... he is 20-28 in his Portland State career to rank seventh all-time... Urrego is also averaging 41.3 yards per punt this season... Urrego's 41.8 yard average per punt last year was the best mark by a Viking in seven years, and ranked 18th in the nation. He also made 8-9 field goals and set a new record at Portland State for field goal percentage (.889).

FINALLY, A FAILED FAKE ON FOURTH
Portland State finally failed on a fake punt at Weber State. SR P Danny Urrego tried going for in the first period on a fourth and three play,  but was stopped. PSU had been 3-3 on fake punts in the Jerry Glanville era, including 2-2 this season.

MORE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The Vikings failed to make a field goal for the first time all season when they went 0-2 at Weber State. A 29-yard attempt by SR K Danny Urrego was blocked in the first period. Then, in the third period, Urrego kicked the ball into the line on a 44-yard attempt. Still, PSU leads the Big Sky in field goals made per game this year (1.50).

OTHER SEASON NOTES
GOOD STARTS
Fourteen Vikings got their first career starts against Western Oregon in the season opener. On offense: JR WR Daniel Wolverton, JR WR Aaron Woods, SR WR Ty Coleman, JR OL Matt Leunen, JR C Tyler Staley, SR OL Landan Laurusaitis. On defense: SO DE Travis Beckley, FR DT Josh Manupuna, JR DE Joe Ma'aseia, JR ILB Erik Pedersen, SR CB Reggie Jones, FR CB Deshawn Shead, SO SS Michael Wightman, JR FS Chris Assily... in game two, a 15th Viking made his first start, JR WR Lavonte Kirven... game three saw SO ILB Rory Richards get his first career start in place of injured JR ILB Erik Pedersen... SR FS Aaron Dickson made his first career start at Sacramento State (though he has played in every game over four years)... in game five against Eastern Washington, JR DT Jermaine Jacobs made his first career start... that raises the total of first starts this season to 18... in comparison, 29 Vikings made their first career starts over the course of the 2007 season.

YOUTH SHALL SERVE
With a huge recruiting class and 49 newcomers overall to the 2008 roster, Head Coach Jerry Glanville is playing a lot of new players. He is also playing an unprecedented number of true freshman. In game one, the Vikings had 12 freshmen, including seven true freshmen play. Those numbers have risen to 18 and 11 after eight games. Redshirt freshmen who played in game one were: OL Adam Kleffner, OL Jasper Croome, DT Josh Manupuna, OLB Quinn Stewart and CB Deshawn Shead. The true freshmen were: WR Cory McCaffrey, FB Josh Nakamoto, FB Nick Kalpin, LB Eloka Anyaorah, K Robert Truax, LS Braedyn Eagle, OL Dustin Waldron... true freshmen who played in game two were LBs Jordan Beltz and Ryan Rau and FS Cody Worthen... redshirt freshman CB Onu Onu saw his first action in the third game... in the Viking win over Eastern Washington, true FR WR Keith Franklin played for the first time, returning four punts...  QB Connor Kavanugh became the most recent freshman to see action, leading one drive for a touchdown against Weber State... an example of the youth movement at PSU has six freshman playing on the kickoff team. 

INJURY REPORT
FR K Robert Truax suffered a torn ACL at Washington State and is out for the season... SO OLB Jake Fetzer is out for the season with back problems... JR ILB Logan Dose is out for the season with a hand injury... JR OL Zach Dias is out for the season with a labrum injury... SR CB Stanley Jackson is out for the season with a right knee injury.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
BIG MACK IS BACK
JR FB Bobby McClintock made a triumphant return from injury in the season-opening 31-14 win over Western Oregon (8/30). McClintock scored four touchdowns, getting a combined 116 yards on 22 touches rushing and receiving. The 5-10, 240-pounder carried it 15 times for 48 yards, and caught seven passes for 68 yards. He was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. It was his first game since tearing his ACL in the 2007 season-opener at McNeese State.

BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
SO QB Drew Hubel, who tied a national record with nine touchdown passes and 485-yard passing day in his starting debut in 2007, was at it again the Vikings' 47-36 win over #11 Eastern Washington (10/4). Hubel completed 44 passes in 73 attempts for 623 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Hubel set a PSU record for passing yards, coming one short of the national record. He also tied the PSU record for completions, tied the Big Sky record for attempts, and set a national record for most attempts without an interception. To no one's surprise, Hubel was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.   

THE ITALIAN STALLION
JR WR Mario D'Ambrosio tied a Portland State record with 16 pass receptions in the win over Eastern Washington (10/4). He also had career-highs of 192 yards and three touchdowns in the game.

THE VIKINGS 4 X 100 RELAY
In order to have big passing numbers, you have to have a fleet of receivers to throw to, and the Vikings have just that. In PSU's 47-36 win over 11th-ranked Eastern Washington (10/4), the Vikings had four receivers eclipse 100 yards receiving. They were: JR WR Mario D'Ambrosio (16-192-3), JR WR Aaron Woods (8-146-1), SO WR Ray Fry (7-102-0) and JR WR Daniel Wolverton (5-109-0). There is no official documentation available, but it is believed to be the first time a PSU has had four 100-yard receivers in a game.

HUBEL'S HOUSE: PGE PARK
Drew Hubel continued his dominance at PGE Park, throwing for 474 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings' 36-13 win over Idaho State (10/25). Hubel is now 161-269 passing for for 2,109 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in five games at PGE Park. That is 422 yards passing and nearly four touchdowns per game... Hubel came within one yard of a national record, throwing for 623 yards in a win against Eastern Washington (10/4)... last year, he threw for 485 yards and a national-record tieing nine touchdowns against Weber State.

SCHANTZ AND THE VIKINGS PUT THE HIT ON THE BENGALS
Portland State allowed the fewest points in the Jerry Glanville era when it defeated Idaho State 36-13 at PGE Park (10/25). After giving up an opening drive touchdown, the Vikings did not allow the Bengals in the end zone again. SR ILB Andy Schantz led the way with a career-high 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup... SR CB Reggie Jones returned an interception for a touchdown.

KICKING IT UP A NOTCH
SR K/P Danny Urrego was named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in a win over Idaho State (10/25). Urrego was 3-3 on field goals and 3-3 on extra points in the game. He also had two punts for a 35.5 yard average, with one coming on a short field in which he pinned Idaho State back at the seven-yard line. Urrego, a senior, made field goals from 29, 36 and 23 yards in the game.