Beaver State News

WASHINGTON IS NEXT UP IN CHALLENGING SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE

Portland State took a heart-breaking 21-17 loss at San Jose State last week after the Spartans scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:11 to play. However, there is no time for PSU to think about "what ifs" as the Vikings move on to face Washington of the Pac-12 Conference this Saturday.

     

The game with the Huskies is part of a very challenging month of play for PSU. The Vikings have the two FBS opponents, a brief respite with a bye on Sept. 17, then travel to open Big Sky Conference play at number-three ranked Montana on Sept. 24.

     

PSU has tremendous positives to take from the contest at San Jose State. Despite being heavy underdogs, the Vikings out-gained the Spartans, 395-288, played tremendous defense that included seven sacks, got 353 yards of total offense from new starting quarterback Dante Chachere, and had the lead for much of the fourth quarter. However, they can also look back at a pair of turnovers, a special teams snafu and some untimely penalties that will need to be cleaned up before facing Washington.

     

Chachere completed 24-37 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career start. His main target was All-Big Sky slot receiver Beau Kelly, who had nine catches for 133 yards and a score. Six different Viking defenders made sacks, including a pair from Tyreese Shakir, while All-American cornerback Anthony Adams made 10 tackles, one for loss and broke up a pair of passes.

     

Washington opened its season with a 45-20 home win over Kent State. The Huskies jumped to a 31-13 halftime lead and never looked back, out-gaining the Golden Flashes 525-340 and making three interceptions. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was 26-39 passing for 345 yards and four touchdowns. The Huskies got two interceptions from defensive back Asa Turner.

     

Saturday's game will be the third meeting all-time between Portland State and Washington. The Huskies had convincing wins in the first two contests (52-13 in 2012, 41-3 in 2016).

     

The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network, and streamed on the Pac-12 Now App. It kicks off at 1 p.m. in Seattle at Husky Stadium. Live stats will be available at www.ViksLive.com.

 

STORYLINES

• Portland State's performance at San Jose State did not go unnoticed. The Vikings were 30th in Monday's AFCA Coaches Poll, receiving 18 polling points. Six Big Sky schools were nationally-ranked, led by #2 Montana.
• The Vikings are 4-43 all-time against FBS-level competition, 1-18 against current members of the Pac-12 Conference. FBS wins have come over Hawai'i (2000), New Mexico (2006), Washington State (2015) and North Texas (2015).
• Washington has won convincingly in two previous meetings. The 2012 game was played at CenturyLink Field while the 2016 game was played at Husky Stadium.
• PSU also played San Jose State and Washington back-to-back in the 2016 season (though in games 2/3).

 

VIKING UPSET BID FALLS JUST SHORT AT SAN JOSE STATE, 21-17

San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro scrambled for a two-yard touchdown with 1:11 to play, boosting the Spartans over Portland State, 21-17, on Sept. 1 at CEFCU Stadium... in a coulda, shoulda, woulda game, the Vikings came up agonizingly short. They outgained the Spartans 395-288 on the field. The defense was resilient in the second half, allowing only 66 yards to San Jose State, forcing a missed field goal and getting a goal line stop with four minutes to play. However, the Vikings couldn't get a needed first down and had to punt it back with just over two minutes left... PSU can look at two turnovers, a special teams miscue and seven costly penalties as big factors in their season opener... new starting quarterback Dante Chachere was up to the moment in his first time leading the team. The sophomore signal caller drove the Vikings 66 yards for a touchdown in his first series. Chachere completed 4-4 passes for 47 yards, including an 11-yard TD toss to senior wideout Maclaine Griffin. That gave the Vikings an early 7-0 lead... the Spartans scored on their next two series and led 14-7 early in the second quarter... PSU had two drives terminated inside the Spartans 10-yard line late in the second quarter. Kenyon Reed intercepted a Chachere pass at the nine-yard line to end a 73-yard PSU drive and scoring threat... PSU's defense held on the succeeding series getting a fourth-down stop on the Spartans at the PSU 43. VJ Malo had a sack, Anthony Adams and Boogie Davis each made tackles for loss, then Jake Porter got the 4th-and-2 stop with another sack... again, the Vikings drove deep into Spartan territory. With the clock winding down, PSU got to first-and-goal at the one-yard line with no timeouts and 4.5 seconds on the clock. With the option of attempting a field goal, the Vikings went for a tying score. But the San Jose State defense stopped Viking back Andrew Van Buren on a dive over the line and the half ran out with the Spartans ahead 14-7... the Vikings closed the gap on a 12-play, 70-yard drive in the third quarter. A pair of SJSU personal fouls helped the cause. Gianni Smith finished the drive with a 35-yard field goal, making it 14-10 Spartans... PSU got a defensive stop on the next series, but the Spartans punted it down to the PSU 1. On the next play, the Vikings ran a flea flicker from their own endzone. The result was a 48-yard completion to Nate Bennett near midfield. Later, the Vikings went for it on 4th-and-2 from the Spartans 43. A wildcat run by Van Buren resulted in a first down... on another 4th-and-2, at the Spartans 19, a Chachere keeper went for eight yards and a first down. Two plays later, Chachere hit Beau Kelly in the middle of the end zone on a go-ahead 12-yard touchdown pass. PSU led 17-14 with 9:57 to play... the Spartans missed a chance to tie with a 37-yard field goal attempt that flew wide right.But a moment later Jordan Cobbs picked off a Chachere pass that was tipped at the line. SJSU took over at the PSU 23 with 6:20 to play... Portland State was able to terminate that drive, making a fourth-and-goal stop with 4:03 left... the Vikings took over at their own one-yard line, but were limited to eight yards and a punt. It was returned to the PSU 32. Six plays and two PSU penalties later Cordeiro made his dash into the end zone with the winning score... PSU had 1:11 to play, but could only get to midfield before a last-second Hail Mary fell short... Chachere completed 24-37 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed 14 times for 83 yards... coming up big again for the Vikings was Kelly with nine receptions for 133 yards and a score... the story was the defense though. PSU did not force a turnover, but stopped two Spartan drives on fourth down, made 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks in the game while allowing just 288 yards to an FBS program. Sophomore roverback Tyreese Shakir had eight tackles, four TFLs and three sacks. Senior cornerback Anthony Adams made 10 tackles, one for loss, and broke up a pair of passes.

 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• Portland State had 395 yards of total offense against San Jose State, 270 through the air and 125 on the ground.
• SO QB Dante Chachere (SASH-er-ay) made his first career start. He completed 24-37 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. In his first series of the game, Chachere was 4-4 for 47 yards, throwing an 11-yard TD pass to SR WR Maclaine Griffin... Chachere had 353 yards of total offense as he was the Vikings leading rusher with 14 carries for 83 yards.
• SR WR Beau Kelly was up to his old tricks, catching nine passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. It was Kelly's sixth 100-yard game in the last 12 contests... last season Kelly led the Big Sky Conference during the regular season in receptions (69), total yards (981) and touchdowns (10).
• SR WR Emmanuel Daigbe, an All-Big Sky Conference wide receiver and special teamer in 2019, played in his first game since that season. His 2020 was wiped out by PSU's COVID-cancelled season, and 2021 was also eliminated as he recovered from a groin injury... Daigbe had five receptions for 27 yards and one rushing play for four yards... Daigbe has 68 career catches for 1,051 yards and 11 touchdowns.
• SR RB Andrew Van Buren started his first game after transferring to PSU from Boise State. AVB had 13 carries for 29 yards. 
• SO WR Nate Bennett, one of PSU's top receivers last season, had five catches for 76 yards.

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• Portland State's defense had one of its best performances ever against an FBS-level program. The Vikings allowed only 288 yards in the game, making seven sacks. The most sacks PSU had in a game last season was five, and the seven sacks were the second-most in the nation by an FCS team in week one... the Viking D held SJSU to 66 yards in the second half helping the offense turn a 14-7 deficit into a 17-14 lead... PSU held four of 11 opponents under 300 yards in 2021.
• SR CB Anthony Adams had a team-high 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups. It was the third double-digit tackle game of his career... Adams now has 33 career pass breakups, tying former Viking Rashad Floyd (1997-2000) for the PSU career record... Adams started the 36th consecutive game of his career. He and SR DE Jake Porter have each played in 36 career games, most on the Viking roster. Porter has started 22.
• SO ROV Tyreese Shakir made seven tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks - all career-best numbers for him (initial stats had Shakir credited with three sacks, however one was miscredited and goes to JR ROV David Joseph).
• SO LB Parker McKenna passed 100 career tackles (102) in just 13 career games.
• In his first game as a Viking, SR DT EJ Ane was playing against his former team, San Jose State. Ane played in 28 career games for the Spartans, making 68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Ane had two tackles for the Vikings.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• SR P George Triplett, a transfer from Princeton, had four punts for a 43.8 yard average and a long of 47.
• SO K Gianni Smith made his first field goal attempt of the season, from 35 yards. Smith is now 6-9 on field goals in his career and 31-31 on extra points.
• SO LS Ryan Alvidrez started the 12th consecutive game of his career. He has a perfect long snapping record as a Viking.

 

LET'S OPEN UP THE RECORD BOOK

Three Vikings are having an impact on the Portland State career record book after one game of the season. 

• SR CB All-American Anthony Adams is now tied for first all-time in pass breakups (33 in 36 games) with former Viking All-American Rashad Floyd (1997-2000, 45 games). Adams is two interceptions shy of making the top 10 for picks (9).
• SR WR Beau Kelly now ranks 11th all-time in receptions (124), he is 200 yards shy of the top 10 in receiving yards (1,767), two touchdowns short of the top 10 for receiving touchdowns (14), and ranks 10th all-time in punt return yards (233).
• SR DE VJ Malo now ranks 10th all-time in career sacks with 11.5 in 12 career games.

 

STRAIGHT As: ALL-AMERICAN ANTHONY ADAMS

SR CB Anthony Adams is a two-time All-American - once as a safety and once as a cornerback. He led the nation in passes defended in 2019 (24; 19 PBUs, 5 INTs). He entered the 2022 season as the nation's leader in career passes defended (40; 31 PBUs, 9 INTs, plus 4 FRs).

     

Adams has been selected to five 2022 FCS Preseason All-America teams and was named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for the second time in his career. He was 12th in the balloting in 2019. Adams is also considered one of the top NFL prospects at the FCS level for 2023.

• Adams is now the career record holder at Portland State for pass breakups (33). He is also the leader among active players in total tackles (175).
• Adams had 10 tackles and two pass breakups in the Vikings' opener at San Jose State.

 

BEAU KNOWS RECEIVING, PASSING, RETURNING, RUSHING...

SR WR Beau Kelly has done it all for the Vikings during his career. He had 1,111 all-purpose yards last season, gaining yards receiving, rushing and on punt returns. He was also 2-2 passing for 56 yards.

In game one against San Jose State, Kelly had 144 total yards, including 133 receiving.

 

KELLY'S CAREER NUMBERS

• RECEIVING: 124-1,767-14
• RUSHING: 9-69-0
• PUNT RETURNS: 27-233-0
• PASSING: 3-4-0-103
• TOTAL PLAYS/YARDS: 164-2,172

 

MALO-IFICENT TO OFFENSES

SR DE VJ Malo terrorized opposing quarterbacks in 2021. He made 10.5 sacks (2nd in the Big Sky), 20 tackles for loss (4th in the Big Sky) and forced three fumbles (1st in the Big Sky). His 20 TFLs were the second most for a season in school history, most ever at the Division I level and most since 1987. His 10.5 sacks rank eighth all-time, are the most at the Division I level and most since 1988. Malo was selected to four preseason All-America teams and preseason All-Big Sky.

• Malo picked up where he left off, making a sack in his first game of the season. He now has 11.5 career sacks in 12 games, 10th-most for a career in PSU history.

 

FIRST-TIMERS

Eleven players competed in their first game in a Viking uniform at San Jose State. They were: SR CB Isaiah Avery, SR WR Maclaine Griffin, SR RB Andrew Van Buren, FR CB Ezriel Vasquez, SO LB Jaymason Willingham, JR OL Sebastian Sias, FR WR Taylor Evans, SR P George Triplett, SR DT EJ Ane, FR DT Zane Maningo, JR DT Dino Kahualelio.

     

Six of the players were starters: Avery, Griffin, Van Buren, Sias, Triplett and Ane.

 

VETERANS

• CAREER GAMES PLAYED: Jake Porter, DE, 36; Anthony Adams, CB, 36; Beau Kelly, 33; Mataio Talalemotu, WR, 31; David Joseph, LB, 29; Shiloh Ta'ase, OL, 28; Malik Thirdgill, TE, 27; Robert Holt, LB, 26
• CAREER STARTS: Anthony Adams, CB, 36; Beau Kelly, WR, 32; Mataio Talalemotu, 25; Jake Porter, DE, 22; Shiloh Ta'ase, OL, 21
• CONSECUTIVE STARTS: Anthony Adams, CB, 36; Beau Kelly, WR, 25; Tyson Pauling, OL, 13; Parker McKenna, LB, 13; Ryan Alvidrez, LS, 13

 

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

The Portland State Football team has selected its captains for the 2022 season. In a vote of the players, seniors Anthony Adams, Beau Kelly, VJ Malo, Tyson Pauling and Mataio Talalemotu were named team captains.

 

VIKING TRIVIA

• BUY LOCAL: Portland State has 28 players on the roster from the state of Oregon, plus seven others from just across the river and the Vancouver, WA area.
• REMEMBER ME?: SR WR Emmanuel Daigbe was born in Liberia. Originally he wrestled in college at Highline and Green River CCs. He has not played since 2019 due to a groin injury, but was an All-Conference wide receiver and special teams performer that season.
• THE ADAMS FAMILY: SR CB Anthony Adams is the brother of former Vikings WR Darnell Adams. Anthony is a key player on the Viking defense this season. Darnell finished his career in 2017 (99 receptions, 1,568 yards, 12 touchdowns) which was Anthony's redshirt freshman season. This season Darnell has returned as the wide receivers coach.
• LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: JR WR Mataio Talalemotu is the son of Ina Talalemotu, who played in 1987-88 on Portland State's two NCAA II National finalist teams. He is also the cousin of former Viking DL Savali Talalemotu.
• OH, BROTHER: SO QB Dante Chachere's brother, Andre, is a cornerback for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
• FAMILY AFFAIR: SR DE Jake Porter's father, Jason, was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at Portland State (1991-94). A cousin, FR OL Braylon Cornell, signed with the Vikings in 2022. Another cousin, Ellie Snook, is an All-Conference libero on the Viking volleyball team.
• 19 DEGREES: Nineteen Portland State players have already earned their degrees, and/or are working on advanced degrees. They are: Anthony Adams, Shea Carstens, Emmanuel Daigbe, Boogie Davis, Isaiah Henry, Robert Holt, Beau Kelly, Deion Malone, Tyson Pauling, Jake Porter, Mataio Talalemotu, Malik Thirdgill, Nathan West, Isaiah Avery, Xavier Bell, Broderick Harrell, Mike Irwin, Jaylen Larry and George Triplett.
• FROM THE FIELD TO THE SIDELINE: Offensive Line Coach Matt Leunen (OL/TE, 2005-09) is a PSU alum who played for the Vikings... Quarterbacks Coach Kieran McDonagh (2012-15) is also a PSU alum who was recruited by and played for Bruce Barnum... Wide Receivers Coach Darnell Adams (2012-17) joined the Viking staff this season.
• GOING PRO: Former Viking QB Davis Alexander finished his Portland State career in 2021 ranked number two in virtually every PSU passing category behind only Neil Lomax. Alexander is currently a member of the Montreal Alouettes.
• SUPER PLAYERS: Portland State had a pair of former players meet in the Super Bowl for the first time in history in February 2014. TE Julius Thomas ('10, Denver) and DB DeShawn Shead ('11, Seattle) both played in Super Bowl XLVIII. Shead returned to the Super Bowl in 2015 with the Seahawks. He joins Clint Didier and Ted Popson as former Vikings with Super Bowl rings. Thomas was named a Pro Bowl tight end in 2013 and 2014. In the 2014 off-season, he signed the richest tight end contract in the NFL to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas retired in the 2018 off-season after a seven-year career that included 71 games, 226 receptions, 2,406 yards and 36 touchdowns. Shead, a starting corner with the Seahawks in 2016, missed 2017 due to an ACL injury, then signed and played with Detroit in 2018. Shead is now an assistant coach with the Seahawks.

Original source can be found here.