2023 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL 4 | 2023 Vikings Football VIKINGS GAME DAY Running back Quincy Craig had 109 yards of total offense at Wyoming last Saturday. Jimmy Devine The view changes for the Portland State Vikings in several ways this week as they move away from their FBS road competition to a more user-friendly schedule. The Vikings will host their home opener today against North American University, then host the Big Sky Conference opener next Saturday against Cal Poly. Those two contests start a stretch of four of the next six at home. That will be a welcome sight for the Vikings after a pair of rugged FBS road contests and losses at nationally-ranked Oregon, and Wyoming. PSU saw some positive signs at Wyoming. Despite a 31-17 loss, the Vikings got their offense going and saw a youth-infused defense buckle down in the second half and limit the Cowboys’ ball movement. The Vikings enter this week’s game at 0-2. They will face a first-time opponent in North American University from Stafford, TX as their final non-conference game. The Stallions compete at the NAIA level. PSU has never lost a game to a lower division program since moving to Division I and the Big Sky Conference in 1996 (20-0). NAU is a bit of an unknown, but come into the game at 0-2 as well with losses to Wayland Baptist and Texas Wesleyan. Next week’s game will be the most important of the season by that point as the Vikings open Big Sky play against Cal Poly. Any shot at the post-season will come through success in league play. PSU would also like to avenge a season-ending 49-42 loss to the Mustangs last year. The Cal Poly game begins eight consecutive contests against Big Sky teams. Other Big Sky home games include Idaho State, Eastern Washington (October) and Montana (November). Big Sky road games are at Montana State (September), Northern Arizona (October), UC Davis and Northern Colorado (November). Teams currently nationally ranked are Montana State (3rd), Montana (12th) and UC Davis (16th). TEAM LEADERS • PORTLAND STATE: JR QB Dante Chachere has completed 27 of 52 passes for 249 yards, two touchdowns and one interception... FR RB Quincy Craig has rushed 20 times for 96 yards in two games... SR WR Jermaine Braddock leads the team with eight receptions for 69 yards. JR WR Nate Bennett has six catches for 54 yards... after two games, SO LB Parker McKenna has a VIKINGS COME HOME FOR TWO GAMES, INCLUDING BIG SKY OPENER
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