The Portland State Vikings and World Champion Eater Kobayashi have a strong appetite this week; the Vikings for another home victory, and Kobayashi for Papa John's Pizza.
If the Vikings can beat Northern Arizona on Saturday at Providence Park, they will improve to 2-1 in Big Sky Conference play and remain in contention in the league race. If Kobayashi can eat 16 slices of pizza in two minutes at halftime, fans in attendance will share a $20,000 pizza giveaway.
PSU will try to wash away the sour taste of a narrow loss to North Dakota last Saturday when they take on the Lumberjacks in just their third home game of the year. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. in a game televised on Root Sports.
Saturday's game also airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. The pregame show starts at 3 p.m. Live stats can be found at www.vikslive.com and www.viksmobile.com.
Viking football is part of a week-long celebration on the Park Blocks called Portland State of Mind. PSU vs. Northern Arizona serves as this year's Homecoming Game.
THE GAME
The Vikings are 2-4 on the season, 1-1 in Big Sky play. PSU is 2-0 at home this year, and beat NAU the last time the teams met at Providence Park (31-29 in 2011). Northern Arizona took a 24-10 victory from the Vikings in 2012 in Flagstaff. The teams did not meet last season.
Northern Arizona, ranked in the top 25 earlier in the season, took a surprising loss at Northern Colorado, 24-17, two weeks ago. That knocked the Lumberjacks out of the rankings as they fell to 3-3 on the season, 1-1 in the Big Sky. NAU had a bye last Saturday.
The Lumberjacks are 1-3 on the road this season, but history says they have fared well in the Rose City. NAU is 7-3 in Portland all-time, 5-3 in Big Sky games. Overall, Northern Arizona has won five of the last six meetings and eight of the last 11 against Portland State.
PSU travels to Weber State on Oct. 25 for another Big Sky Conference matchup.
GAME INFORMATION
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.ripcityradio.com. The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.
VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State has five televised games in 2014, three of which are on the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week:Oct. 18 vs. Northern Arizona and Nov. 21vs. Eastern Washington on Root Sports
VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games that are not televised can be seen free at www.WatchBigSky.com... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.vikslive.com and viksmobile.com.
TICKETS: Portland State football tickets can be purchased from the Portland State Box Office, or by going online at www.GoViks.com. The PSU ticket office is located at 1825 SW Broadway on the PSU campus. Call (503) 725-3307 or email tickets@pdx.edu... Single game ticket prices range from $24 to $64 when purchased in advance, $29 to $69 when purchased on game day. Students, seniors and military receive discounted prices. PSU students are free with valid ID.
2014 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL PROMOTIONS
Oct. 18 - Kobayashi
Nov. 1 - Coke Zero $5 Kids Day
Nov. 21 - Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
