Cedar City, UT – When the chips were down, the Viking defense stepped up. They made the difference in the game, and led Portland State to a 20-13 Big Sky Conference road win at Southern Utah.
Neither team held more than a one score lead the entire game. When Portland State went up 20-13 with just over nine minutes to go in the game, they needed to rely on their defense to make it stand up.
Southern Utah made its first significant ball movement of the second half, driving to a first and goal at the PSU nine-yard line. With third-and-goal at the four, the Vikings forced two incompletions. The fourth down play was swatted away in the end zone by cornerback Xavier Bell and the Vikings took over with 3:05 left in the game.
"That was fun," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "That stand from the nine-yard line won the football game.
"When you get in the redzone it is not as easy for an offense to make plays. Speed helps in that condensed area and our speed in the back end made a difference. You saw it with Xavier Bell coming off his guy and making that breakup on the last play.
"I liked how cool the coaches were and how disciplined the players were. They made plays in their coverage."
PSU was able to run out the clock for its first road win and first Big Sky win of the year, improving to 2-3 overall, 1-1 in conference play.
In all, the Viking defense held Southern Utah to 267 yards – its best performance of the season. PSU's offense, held in check in the first quarter, totaled 307 yards and produced 20 points the rest of the way.
Southern Utah took the opening kickoff on a 68-yard drive. The Thunderbirds opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal by Noah Alejado.
The Thunderbirds continued to move the ball effectively through the first quarter, running 21 plays, gaining 64 yards on the ground and 67 in the air. But a Bell interception of Justin Miller at the PSU 15 thwarted the T-Birds second drive.
Portland State was stymied early, running only six plays for five yards in the first quarter. The second quarter was different though. On PSU's first touch, they drove 70 yards for a touchdown. Malik Walker rushed it in from two yards out. Alexander was 4-5 passing for 58 yards in the drive.
Southern Utah took advantage of a big kick return and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Vikings in the next possession. They needed only 36 yards of total offense for a touchdown. It came on a 19-yard pass from Miller to Ethan Bolingbroke.
Portland State drove for a tying field goal just before halftime. Gianni Smith booted a 35-yarder to tie the game at 10-10.
After a sluggish start, PSU's defense held the Thunderbirds to only five yards rushing and 40 total yards in the second quarter. After getting just five yards in the first quarter, PSU gained 132 in the second quarter.
Portland State was driving in the third quarter when Alexander was picked off near the endzone. Kobe Singleton returned it 48 yards. A penalty on the Vikings moved the ball all the way to the PSU 35.
The T-Birds drove to the Viking five-yard line before a Noah Yunker sack set them back. They settled for a 29-yard field goal from Alejado, taking the lead back at 13-10.
The Vikings came right back to tie. After going a methodical 54 yards on 14 plays, Smith booted a 28-yard field goal. That made the score 13-13 with 1:09 to play in the third quarter.
PSU was driving in the fourth but suffered another turnover near the goal line. Jalynnee McGee went up the middle on second-and-goal and the ball came out. Originally ruled down, after a review it was given to Southern Utah.
Although the Vikings didn't score, they survived the mistake. The defense forced a three-and-out, then Beau Kelly returned the ensuing punt 30 yards to the Southern Utah 20. A late-hit penalty moved the ball down to the 10.
On the next play, Alexander rushed in for a 10-yard touchdown and a 20-13 PSU lead. That set up SUU's final drive and the Vikings' big stop on defense.
The Vikings finished with a season-high 156 rushing yards. Seventy-eight yards came from McGee, a freshman, and 71 yards came from Walker. The Vikings had 151 yards in the passing game with seven receptions from Beau Kelly. PSU's 307 yards was a season-low.
"(Southern Utah Head Coach) Demario Warren is one of the best defensive minds on the west coast," Barnum said. "He had a plan that stopped us. It wasn't our guys. He had a scheme. It was a scramble to get some points of it."
Freshman linebacker Parker McKenna had nine tackles, including one for loss, to lead the defense. Bell had six tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. Defensive end Noah Yunker had three tackles for loss and a sack.
GAME NOTES
• SR P Seth Vernon had his longest punt of the season – a 65-yarder – in the first quarter.
• FR K Gianni Smith kicked two field goals. He is 3-3 on field goals and 5-5 on extra points since replacing the injured Cody Williams.
• SR QB Davis Alexander's rushing touchdowns was his second of the season and the 21st of his career. With 151 passing yards, he moved into third place all-time at PSU (7,545 yards), passing Chris Crawford (7,543).
• This was the final Big Sky Conference football game played between the schools. Southern Utah will move to the Western Athletic Conference next year. PSU leads the all-time series 11-4. The Big Sky series ends in a tie at 3-3.
• This was PSU's first road win since Oct. 19, 2019, a span of five road games.
• Portland State is on the road again next Saturday at Idaho. The Vikings play the Vandals in a 2 p.m. contest televised on ESPN+.
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Defense Stands Up To The T-Birds, Leads Vikings to 20-13 Win - Portland State Vikings
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