Coming off one of the toughest losses in recent memory, the Portland State Vikings will try to bounce back this week at home against Sacramento State. The Vikings and the Hornets meet in a Big Sky Conference game at PGE Park, Saturday at 1:05 p.m.

The Vikings are 1-3 on the season, 0-2 in the Big Sky, and lost a heartbreaker to 11th-ranked Weber State last Saturday at home. Trailing 28-23 midway through the fourth period, JR QB Drew Hubel led the Vikings on a brilliant drive of 75 yards. Hubel completed five of six passes for 60 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown on a five-yard strike to SR WR Aaron Woods. That gave PSU a 29-28 lead with 1:15 remaining in the game. But, the Vikings allowed WSU to go 84 yards in six plays, giving up a touchdown on a fourth-and-three play from their own 38 with 17 seconds left, losing 36-29.

The defeat leaves the Vikings at a turning point in the season. Although their three toughest foes are already behind them (Oregon State, Montana and Weber State), the Vikings must make a rapid recovery to salvage a successful season.

Portland State is 1-1 at home this season, and still has four home games ahead, including Sacramento State. The Vikings are in the midst of four out of five at home.

With a season-opening schedule that has matched Portland State's for difficulty, Sacramento State has started the year 0-3. The Hornets have losses to a Bowl Subdivision program in UNLV, as well as top-20 ranked teams Cal Poly and Eastern Washington. The Hornets also face a turning point of sorts as they attempt to build on last year's 6-6 record - the program's best mark in several years.

Sacramento State is allowing 493 yards and 44.0 points per game to opponents, while forcing just one turnover through three games. In particular, the Hornets have given up more than 252 yards per game on the ground and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Sacramento State has nine turnovers and a -8 turnover ratio this year.

STORYLINE
Sacramento State broke Portland State's firm grasp on this series with a 41-31 victory last year in Sacramento. It marked the first time this decade the Hornets had beaten the Vikings, stopping an eight-game PSU winning streak. The Vikings had also won four straight in Sacramento... the Vikings have beaten the Hornets 10 straight times at PGE Park. Sacramento State last won in Portland in 1985 when the two teams were members of the old NCAA II Western Football Conference... despite last year's loss, PSU has still won 13 of the last 15 and 18 of 21... the Vikings have played the Hornets 15 straight years and 25 of the last 26 years overall... Head Coaches Jerry Glanville and Marshall Sperbeck came into the league the same year - 2007 - and have split their two meetings.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
TICKET T MEANS A FREE TICKET: For this week's game against Sacramento State, any fan buying the featured “Ticket T” T-shirt and wearing it to the game will get a free general admission ticket.  The shirt is available exclusively at the Portland State Bookstore or on the online store at GoViks.com. Cost is $10.
VIKING MEDIA: All Portland State football games can be heard on 800 AM KPDQ and www.kpdq-am.com.The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games 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. 
THE COORS LIGHT BLOCK PARTY: For all home games, Portland State's pregame Coors Light Block Party takes place on SW Morrison Street between 20th and 21st avenues. The Coors Light Block Party begins at 11 a.m.

FACTS, FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
GAME FIVE RECOVERY?: Portland State has started 1-3 all three seasons under Head Coach Jerry Glanville. In the previous two seasons, the Vikings have won game five to get to 2-3 (Eastern Washington in both instances)... the Vikings are 0-2 in Big Sky Conference play for the first time since 2003.

HOME SORROWS: While the Vikings lost a heartbreaker in the closing seconds to Weber State last Saturday, they weren't the only team to have a bad time at home. All four Big Sky Conference games were won by the road team. Montana beat Northern Arizona 41-34 in overtime, Montana State routed Northern Colorado, 25-7, and Sacramento State was thumped by Eastern Washington, 56-30... in the only non-conference game of the week, Idaho State lost at home to Division II Central Washington, 33-22... amazingly, Big Sky teams had been 1-20 on the road prior to last weekend.

WOODS EARNS BIG SKY AND NATIONAL HONORS: SR WR/KR Aaron Woods had a remarkable 330 all-purpose yards against Weber State, scoring three touchdowns. Woods made five catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned five kickoffs for 202 yards. His 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown late in the third period got the Vikings back into the game. He scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:15 left in the game on a five-yard reception from JR QB Drew Hubel. For his performance, Woods was named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week and the Sports Network's National Special Teams Player of the Week... Woods leads the Big Sky Conference with an average of 192.8 all-purpose yards per game, ranking fourth in the nation in that category.

ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMIN: FR RB Ben Bowen put up 100 against Weber State - yards that is. He reached triple figures on 15 carries. It marked the first time in 19 games a Viking had gained 100 yards. The last time was Olaniyi Sobomehin against Idaho State (10/20/07). Bowen now has 132 yards on 32 carries this season.

WELL GROUNDED: Portland State gained 124 rushing yards on 28 carries against Weber State. That gives the Vikings 397 yards on the ground this season - or an average of just over 99 yards per game. PSU has already passed last year's total for rushing yards for the entire season. Last year, PSU carried 186 times for 322 yards. This year, PSU has 105 carries for 397 yards... SR FB Bobby McClintock has 26 carries for 139 yards (5.3 ypc). FR RB Ben Bowen has 32 carries for 138 yards (4.3 ypc). SO QB Connor Kavanaugh has 11 carries for 107 yards (9.7 ypc).

HUBEL LIKES IT AT HOME: JR QB Drew Hubel had another brilliant performance at home last Saturday despite the Viking loss. Hubel completed 17 of 26 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against Weber State, averaging more than 20 yards per completion. He also engineered a drive in the closing moments that gave PSU a 29-28 lead with 1:15 left. Hubel completed five of six passes for 60 yards on the drive and hit SR WR Aaron Woods on a five-yard go-ahead TD pass... in nine career games at PGE Park (seven starts), Hubel has completed 227-375 passes (.605) for 3,347 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He averages 372 yards per game and has passing games of 623, 484, 474, 370, 353, 343 and 305 yards, as well as games of nine touchdowns and five touchdowns. He has won Big Sky Player of the Week honors three times in seven starts at PGE Park.

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND: JR WR Raymond Fry III had his biggest game as a Viking against Weber State, catching seven passes for a career-high 196 yards. He leads the Vikings with 26 catches for 499 yards this season, averaging 19.2 yards per catch. He also leads the Big Sky Conference with 124.8 receiving yards per game.

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in passing (331.5)... JR QB Drew Hubel leads the conference in passing (325.0) and total offense (322.8), while JR WR Ray Fry leads the league in receiving yards per game (124.8). SR WR Aaron Woods leads the league in kick returns (25.2) and all-purpose yards per game (192.8)... Hubel ranks fourth in the nation in total offense, while Fry is third in the nation in receiving yards. Woods ranks fourth in all-purpose yards.