2023 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL 4 | 2023 Vikings Football VIKINGS GAME DAY Senior running back Andrew Van Buren celebrates his touchdown against Idaho State last Saturday. Mark Boling Portland State will need to bounce back from a disappointing home loss and continue what has the makings of a promising season today. Perhaps all the Vikings need as inspiration for a better performance is the defense of the Dam Cup Rivalry Trophy that they won last season in Cheney. PSU comes off a 38-24 loss to a surging Idaho State team. It was a downer for the Vikings after a convincing road win at Northern Arizona the prior week had them contending to get to the top of the Big Sky Conference. A lot can still be accomplished for Portland State though. The Vikings come into the game on a five-way tie for fourth at 2-2, 3-4 overall. One of the teams tied at 2-2 happens to be the Eagles, who earned a 31-23 home win last Saturday over Weber State. EWU is also 3-4 on the season. What was a bruising running attack for the Vikings was somewhat stymied against Idaho State. PSU went into the game averaging nearly 250 yards on the ground each Saturday, but was limited to a mere 100 yards by the Bengals. Meanwhile, an efficient ISU offense was able to put up 38 points on the Vikings. The Eagles also have an efficient offense, averaging over 400 yards per game and committing a mere four turnovers all season. Eastern features one of the top quarterbacks in the league in Kekoa Visperas who leads the Big Sky in both pass yards and total offense per game. Portland State won last season’s matchup, 38-35, in Cheney. The Vikings benefited from a big offensive day, with a season-high 628 yards, including 427 on the ground (which ranks as sixth-most in school history). Quarterback Dante Chachere rushed for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, while sophomore running back Jobi Malary went for 148 yards on 19 carries. Chachere also completed 17-22 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. This week’s game is an all-new matchup though. Both teams need a win in pursuit of a winning season with four games remaining. And both entertain an outside shot at reaching the FCS post-season. But a win is essential to the team going forward on that mission. ABOUT THAT DAM CUP The Eastern Washington Eagles and Portland State Vikings began a five-sport rivalry cup called The Dam Cup in 2010-11. The Dam Cup celebrates the friendly rivalry between the states of Oregon and Washington within the Big Sky VIKINGS DEFEND DAM CUP TROPHY THIS WEEK AGAINST EAGLES
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