Defensive finish Slade Shufelt and linebacker Kayin Booker make a sort out in final Saturday’s sport at Idaho.
Football
by Mike Lund
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-8, 0-4)
at CAL POLY MUSTANGS (3-5, 1-3)
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m., Alex G. Spanos Stadium (11,075), San Luis Obispo, CA
Television: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.livestats.us
HEAD COACHES
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS: Bruce Barnum (Eastern Washington, 1987)
PSU Record: 38-72/eleventh yr • Big Sky Record: 28-48 • vs. Cal Poly: 3-3 • Career Record: 38-72/eleventh yr CAL POLY MUSTANGS: Paul Wulff (Washington State, 1990)
CP Record: 9-21/third yr • Big Sky Record: 36-40 • vs. PSU: 5-5 • Career Record: 71-101/fifteenth yr
VIKINGS SEEKING INITIAL VICTORY AS THEY HEAD TO CAL POLY
The Portland State Vikings proceed their quest to get within the win column this week with a Big Sky Conference sport towards Cal Poly. The Vikings and Mustangs meet up in a Saturday afternoon sport at Alex G. Spanos Stadium that may be seen on ESPN+.
PSU had been enjoying higher in current weeks earlier than getting overwhelmed by Idaho’s passing sport final week in a 45-6 loss. The Vikings at the moment are 0-8 on the season, 0-4 in Big Sky video games.
Cal Poly comes into the competition off three straight losses and is 3-5 on the season, 1-3 in Big Sky video games. A more in-depth take a look at the Mustangs schedule tells a barely totally different story although. The losses had been to 3 top-10 groups in UC Davis, Montana and Montana State. And the newest win was at Sacramento State when the Hornets had been nonetheless nationally-ranked.
The struggles for each CP and PSU have been comparable. They rank eleventh and twelfth, respectively, in speeding offense within the Big Sky Conference. The Mustangs have been more practical within the passing sport (255.9 ypg) as in comparison with the Vikings (199.5). However, the Vikings have thrown 13 interceptions and the Mustangs have thrown 12.
One would possibly suppose an efficient speeding assault and limiting turnovers would be the key to profitable this Saturday’s contest.
The Vikings can be enjoying their sixth street sport in 9 begins this season. PSU’s most up-to-date journey to Cal Poly was a 49-42 loss in 2022. However, the Vikings received the final matchup, 59-21, in 2023 at Hillsboro Stadium.
TEAM LEADERS
PORTLAND STATE: Portland State is averaging 12.5 factors and 284.4 yards of complete offense per sport… the Vikings common 84.9 yards speeding and 199.5 yards passing… PSU is permitting 459.0 yards per sport, together with 265.0 yards speeding, and 42.3 factors… the Vikings have 17 turnovers and have compelled seven turnovers… SO QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele has began the final six video games and is 104-183 for 1,075 yards, 9 interceptions and three touchdowns this season… FR QB Tyrese Smith has performed vital time at quarterback as effectively. He is 21-39 passing for 330 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Smith ranks second on the staff in speeding with 42 carries for 173 yards and two scores… SO RB Delon Thompson has 112 carries for 297 yards and three TDs this season, together with a season-high 88 yards towards Northern Arizona… JR WR Zachary Dodson-Greene has 29 receptions for 258 yards and a landing… SO TE Kristian Ingman has 16 catches for a team-high 292 receiving yards… SO S Isaiah Green leads the staff with 72 tackles, has two tackles for loss and a compelled fumble. FR S Pierce Walker has 49 tackles, two for losses and a team-high 5 go breakups… JR LB Jaxton Helmstetler has 45 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble return for landing… the Vikings have 13 complete sacks with 4.5 from JR DE Spencer Elliott, who has additionally compelled two fumbles… SR P Tony Johnson is averaging 40.7 yards per punt… SR Okay Mathias Uribe is 8-11 on subject objectives, together with making his final eight in a row.
CAL POLY: The Mustangs common 26.0 factors and 358.1 yards of offense per sport… nearly all of the offense comes within the passing sport at 255.9 yards per sport… Cal Poly has thrown 12 interceptions however has not misplaced a fumble this season… 4 quarterbacks have seen motion led by Bo Kelly, who’s 63-112 for 706 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions… the highest receiver is Michael Briscoe with 34 catches for 617 yards and 7 touchdowns. His seven TDs leads the Big Sky and ranks sixth within the nation… linebacker Mikey D’Amato tops the protection with 95 tackles this season. He additionally has 5.5 sacks. D’Amato leads the Big Sky in tackles and ranks fifth within the nation at 11.9 per sport… the Mustangs protection permits 30.3 factors and 417.9 yards per sport. It has compelled 9 turnovers and made 18 sacks.
STORYLINES
TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE: Always a high-scoring affair, the winner between Portland State and Cal Poly has had at the least 34 factors in all 11 Division I conferences… the 59 factors scored by PSU in 2023 (52 within the first half) was probably the most by both staff on the Division I degree.
FAMILIAR FOE: Cal Poly Head Coach Paul Wulff has confronted the Vikings with three totally different faculties. He was 4-4 vs. PSU whereas Head Coach at Eastern Washington, 1-0 whereas at Washington State, and is 0-1 whereas at Cal Poly.
FAMILIAR FOE, PART II: Both faculties had been members of the Division II Western Football Conference from 1982-1992 the place PSU held a 7-4 benefit over Cal Poly.
SOS: For the second yr in a row, Portland State has probably the most tough schedule within the nation based on the Massey Ratings. In 2024, PSU performed 5 nationally-ranked FCS groups and two nationally-ranked FBS groups. Four of the FCS groups had been within the Top 10… this season, PSU has performed 4 nationally-ranked groups up to now, together with two within the high 10, and two FBS groups (one ranked).
NUMBERS GAME
EIGHT IN A ROW: SR Okay Mathias Uribe made two extra subject objectives at Idaho and has now made his final eight makes an attempt. He missed his first three makes an attempt of the season (two of which had been over 50 yards)… Uribe is 19-23 in his profession on subject objectives, which ranks as a PSU profession report for share (.826). He already holds the season report from final yr (11-12, .917).
1,000: SO RB Delon Thompson handed 1,000 speeding yards in his twentieth profession sport final Saturday at Idaho. Thompson now has 1,012 profession speeding yards.
RUN TO WIN: Coach Bruce Barnum has at all times stated you have to “run to win.” So, to know the Vikings’ report this season, look no additional than working sport statistics. The Vikings rank final within the Big Sky in speeding (84.9 ypg) and final in speeding protection (265.0 ypg)… that stated, the Vikings rushed for 135 yards at Idaho, their most in any sport this season.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
THE NUMBERS: Portland State is averaging 284.4 yards per sport, 84.9 on the bottom, 199.5 by means of the air… the Vikings have 17 complete turnovers… PSU had season-highs of 339 passing yards, 469 complete yards and 27 factors at Eastern Washington (10/4). The Vikings matched it with 27 factors towards Weber State (10/18)… PSU had a season-high 135 speeding yards at Idaho (10/25).
QUARTERBACK SAGA(POLUTELE): PSU had three totally different starters at quarterback within the first three video games of the season. Now Coach Bruce Barnum has decided that SO QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele is his man. JKS has began six video games in a row. He had a season-high 302 passing yards and a landing at Eastern Washington (10/4)… for the season, he’s finishing 57% of his passes for 1,075 yards, three touchdowns and 9 interceptions… Sagapolutele confronted his former staff, Hawai’i, on Sept. 13, finishing 23-35 passes for 189 yards… FR QB Tyrese Smith has performed in all eight video games with no begin. He was 9-14 passing towards Weber State for 170 yards, a TD and an INT, 7-13 passing at Idaho for 141 yards and an interception. He has 42 speeding performs for 173 yards and two TDs.
GET OFF DELON: As anticipated, SO RB Delon Thompson is the important thing again for the Vikings this season. Unfortunately, he has been slowed by a damaged proper thumb that occurred within the first sport of the season. He missed one sport and noticed restricted motion in two others… Thompson had 17 carries for a season-high 88 yards towards Northern Arizona (9/27)… Thompson leads the staff with 112 carries for 297 yards and three touchdowns. He has caught 13 passes for 97 yards… in his 20-game profession, Thompson has 260 speeding performs for 1,012 yards and 11 touchdowns… final season, Thompson posted a career-high 117 yards on 22 carries with one rating at Montana (11/16).
PERSONNEL IS AN ISSUE: PSU has been hindered with 4 of its high 5 receivers lacking video games already this season (Tanner Beaman (out for season), Branden Alvarez (out for season), Terence Loville, Chance Miller) and high again Delon Thompson additionally lacking a sport. PSU has additionally misplaced large receiver Eddy Schultz (who had been second in receptions on the time of his harm) for the season.
THAT SAID… LOCAL BOY DOES GOOD: JR WR Zachary Dodson-Greene has stepped into the void of accidents within the Vikings receiving corps. ZDG, a switch from Montana State who hails from close by Salem, grabbed 10 passes for 83 yards at Eastern Washington (10/4). It was the primary 10-catch sport by a Viking in 4 seasons… Dodson-Greene additionally caught 9 passes for 78 yards at Hawai’i (9/13)… he now leads the staff with 29 catches for 258 yards and a landing.
CATCHING UP: SR WR Terence Loville had career-highs of seven receptions for 114 yards and a landing at Eastern Washington (10/4). It was the primary 100-yard sport by a Viking since final season… SO TE Kristian Ingman has taken over capably within the absence of Tanner Beaman, catching 16 passes for a team-high 292 yards (18.1 laptop). He moonlights because the staff’s occasional lengthy snapper… in all, 15 gamers have already got receptions for the Vikings this season.
WRECKING CRU: FR WR/KR/QB Cru Newman is doing all of it for the Vikings. He has 25 kick returns for 443 yards, three punt returns for 18 yards, 14 receptions for 138 yards and 5 rushes for 29 yards and is 1-1 passing for 5 yards. Newman has a team-leading 628 all-purpose yards.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
THE NUMBERS: Portland State has allowed 459.0 yards per sport, together with 265.0 on the bottom and 194.0 by means of the air… the Viking protection performed its greatest sport towards FBS Hawai’i (9/13), holding the Rainbow Warriors to 357 yards, together with 107 on the bottom, and 23 factors – fewest in all classes this season… the Vikings have compelled and recovered 5 fumbles, have two interceptions, 13 sacks and 22 go breakups.
GREEN DAY: SO S Isaiah Green made a career-high 15 stops towards BYU (8/30) and leads the staff with 72 tackles this season. He ranks fourth within the Big Sky Conference with 9.0 tackles per sport… Green is PSU’s high returning tackler after making 50 as a redshirt freshman in 2024.
ACTION JAXTON: JR LB Jaxton Helmstetler made a career-high 9 tackles in consecutive weeks towards BYU (8/30) and North Dakota (9/6). He has 45 for the season in addition to 4 tackles for loss and two sacks… at North Dakota, he posted 9 stops, two tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry, and returned a fumble 70 yards for a landing. It was PSU’s first FR TD in 4 years.
SPENCER FOR HIRE: JR DE Spencer Elliott has been rising as a high go rusher. He made two sacks at Eastern Washington (10/4) and now has 4.5 on the season, rating fourth within the Big Sky. That is already probably the most sacks by a Viking in three seasons… Elliott has 27 complete tackles, seven tackles for loss, two compelled fumbles and two quarterback hurries.
NO FLY ZONE: The Vikings held Eastern Washington (10/4) to an opponent season-low 128 passing yards. Weber State (10/18) totaled solely 150 yards passing… Portland State allowed 250 passing yards to Hawai’i’s Run-and-Shoot assault (9/13). That wasn’t a foul complete and it took the Rainbow Warriors 45 makes an attempt to get it. Noticeably, the Vikings broke up eight passes, together with three by FR NICK Pierce Walker and two from SO CB Dionte Thornton… the Vikings have 22 go breakups this season with 5 every from Walker and SO CB Bryson Ross.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
FOOTWORK: SR Okay Mathias Uribe is 8-11 on subject objectives this season, together with making his final eight in a row. Two of his three misses have been from 50+ yards this season… Uribe was 11-12 on subject objectives final season and his .917 subject aim share was a PSU report… now at 19-23 in his profession (.826), Uribe is on tempo for a profession share report as effectively.
PLACEMENT POLICY: JR P Tony Johnson is averaging 40.7 yards per punt with 38 tries this season… 11 have been positioned contained in the 20-yard line, 9 honest caught with solely three touchbacks. Johnson unleashed a career-long 75-yard punt at Eastern Washington (10/4).
YARD BOYS: RS FRs Cru Newman and Andre Miller are each from Portland and have their very own yard care enterprise in the summertime to make somewhat additional money; C and D Landscaping. Now they’re teaming up as kick return companions for the Vikings. Newman has 461 return yards, whereas Miller has 58 return yards. They additionally each play slot receiver for the Vikings and have mixed for 21 receptions for 250 yards.
JORDAN RULES: RS FR Jordan Herron was inserted as a punt returner and working again towards Northern Arizona (9/27). That was a great transfer as Herron delivered an electrical 57-yard punt return for landing – the primary by a Viking in two seasons.
MORE FUN FACTS AND MEANINGLESS TRIVIA
TOUGH SCHEDULE: Seven of Portland State’s eight dwelling opponents between the beginning of 2024 and Sept. 27, 2025 had been nationally ranked, together with 4 within the high 10: UC Davis (ninth), Montana State (third), Idaho (ninth), Tarleton State (Tenth)… up to now, 4 opponents this season have been nationally-ranked; Tarleton State (Tenth), BYU (twentieth FBS), North Dakota (twentieth), Northern Arizona (fifteenth)… PSU had probably the most tough energy of schedule in 2024 based on the Massey Ratings. So far this season, PSU as soon as once more has probably the most tough energy of schedule.
BYE-BYE: Due to the Week 0 sport with Tarleton State, Portland State can have two byes this season: Sept. 20 and Oct. 11.
SUMMER FOOTBALL: There had been quite a few milestones within the dwelling opener towards Tarleton State: 1) The temperature at kickoff was 96 and crossed 100 levels by late within the third quarter, making it the most popular dwelling sport on report in Portland State historical past; 2) The August 23 date was the earliest begin at school historical past; 3) It was Portland State’s first opener at dwelling because the 2016 season; 4) The Vikings had been enjoying Tenth-ranked Tarleton State for the primary time at school historical past; 5) The final time a Portland State staff was shut out by an FCS program was a 14-0 loss at Montana State on Oct. 7, 2006.
FREQUENT FLYER MILES: On the Vikings’ run of three straight street video games, Aug. 30-Sept. 13, they cross one time zone and again, two time zones and again, then three time zones and again, enjoying at BYU, North Dakota and Hawai’i successively. It can be a complete of 8,906 air miles (RTs of 1,332; 2,424; and 5,206). The transition from North Dakota to Hawai’i in consecutive video games is 5 time zones… PSU can have performed in 4 totally different time zones within the first 4 video games of the season.
CROWDED: The introduced attendance of 64,494 at BYU was the most important crowd for a Portland State sport in historical past. The earlier largest was 61,082 for a sport at Cal in 2006… PSU’s largest all-time dwelling crowd is 26,102 in a sport towards Oregon State in 1983.
YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN: SO QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele did not have to attend lengthy to play his former staff. A switch from Hawai’i to Portland State within the low season, JKS began towards the Rainbow Warriors, finishing 23-35 passes for 189 yards and one interception.
I REMEMBER YOU: Despite being long-time Big Sky Conference opponents, PSU and Northern Arizona have solely performed six instances within the final 13 seasons.
QUARTERBACKS EVERYWHERE: Portland State has FR QB Cru Newman enjoying kick returner and slot receiver. FR QB Tyrese Smith has performed at quarterback and working again. JR TE Brooks Ferguson is a former quarterback transformed to tight finish. He has 4 receptions, but additionally threw the primary go of his PSU profession at Eastern Washington (10/4), a 37-yard completion to SO TE Kristian Ingman, on a trick play.
ONE MAN WRECKING CRU: RS FR WR/QB/KR Cru Newman did all of it towards Weber State (10/18). He returned 5 kicks for 91 yards, accomplished one go try for 5 yards, rushed twice for 12 yards and caught three passes for 50 yards. He had 153 all-purpose yards and did I point out he additionally made a sort out?