VikThunder
Active member
PSU 24 - WSU 17 Awesomeness!!! This is just what the program needed! What a morale booster!!!
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PSU 24 - WSU 17 Awesomeness!!!
- Thread starter VikThunder
- Start date
VikThunder
Active member
Seattle Times:
WSU stumbles at home to Portland State in opener, 24-17
Originally published September 5, 2015 at 2:10 pm | Updated September 5, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Washington State opens the season with its first loss to a team from the Big Sky Conference since 1947 as Portland State beats the Cougars, 24-17. Quarterback Luke Falk injured his throwing shoulder late in the game.
By Stefanie Loh
Seattle Times staff reporter
For the first time since 1947, Washington State lost to a Big Sky school.
The Cougars fell, 24-17, to Portland State at Martin Stadium on Saturday and saw starting quarterback Luke Falk suffer a shoulder injury in the process.
Falk injured his throwing shoulder when he was upended on the end of a fourth-down scramble late in the game, with WSU trailing PSU by a touchdown.
WSU’s defense couldn’t stop the Vikings late in the fourth quarter, and running back Stevan Long punched in a touchdown from a yard out with 6:46 remaining that proved to be the difference.
WSU’s first score was a 21-yard field goal from Erik Powell on the opening drive. Falk drove the offense to the Portland State 4-yard line but the drive stalled after Gerard Wicks was stopped for no gain on third-and-goal.
Then, the Cougars had a 22-yard field goal attempt from Powell blocked by Portland State’s Walter Santiago – the first special teams gaffe by WSU, but not the worst.
Redshirt freshman running back Keith Harrington gave WSU its first touchdown of the season when he caught a screen pass and completed a 24-yard play to extend the Cougs’ lead to 10-0.
But thereafter, WSU let the Vikings back in the game.
Portland State came out focused after the half and used a combination of Alex Kuresa and Paris Penn at quarterback to mount a 10 play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard touchdown run from Penn.
After a three-and-out from the Cougars’ offense, the Vikings got going again, and their second drive after the half yielded a 42-yard field goal that tied the score, 10-10.
The Vikings made it 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter when they capitalized on a fumbled punt return by Kyrin Priester and ultimately scored on an 8-yard rush from Nate Tago.
WSU tried to respond – Falk led a drive that resulted in a Gabe Marks touchdown to tie things at 17-17.
Stefanie Loh
WSU stumbles at home to Portland State in opener, 24-17
Originally published September 5, 2015 at 2:10 pm | Updated September 5, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Washington State opens the season with its first loss to a team from the Big Sky Conference since 1947 as Portland State beats the Cougars, 24-17. Quarterback Luke Falk injured his throwing shoulder late in the game.
By Stefanie Loh
Seattle Times staff reporter
For the first time since 1947, Washington State lost to a Big Sky school.
The Cougars fell, 24-17, to Portland State at Martin Stadium on Saturday and saw starting quarterback Luke Falk suffer a shoulder injury in the process.
Falk injured his throwing shoulder when he was upended on the end of a fourth-down scramble late in the game, with WSU trailing PSU by a touchdown.
WSU’s defense couldn’t stop the Vikings late in the fourth quarter, and running back Stevan Long punched in a touchdown from a yard out with 6:46 remaining that proved to be the difference.
WSU’s first score was a 21-yard field goal from Erik Powell on the opening drive. Falk drove the offense to the Portland State 4-yard line but the drive stalled after Gerard Wicks was stopped for no gain on third-and-goal.
Then, the Cougars had a 22-yard field goal attempt from Powell blocked by Portland State’s Walter Santiago – the first special teams gaffe by WSU, but not the worst.
Redshirt freshman running back Keith Harrington gave WSU its first touchdown of the season when he caught a screen pass and completed a 24-yard play to extend the Cougs’ lead to 10-0.
But thereafter, WSU let the Vikings back in the game.
Portland State came out focused after the half and used a combination of Alex Kuresa and Paris Penn at quarterback to mount a 10 play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard touchdown run from Penn.
After a three-and-out from the Cougars’ offense, the Vikings got going again, and their second drive after the half yielded a 42-yard field goal that tied the score, 10-10.
The Vikings made it 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter when they capitalized on a fumbled punt return by Kyrin Priester and ultimately scored on an 8-yard rush from Nate Tago.
WSU tried to respond – Falk led a drive that resulted in a Gabe Marks touchdown to tie things at 17-17.
Stefanie Loh
VikThunderous said:
Absolutely agree. Congrats to Barnum, his staff and the players!!!! What a great win!!!!! love listening the Pac-12 commentators dismiss the Big Sky or other "lesser opponents" and leave with egg on their face! Go Viks!
A great win. Total team effort. In recent years we haven't been able to make the adjustments at halftime. Looks different at this point this year. Cheers for both players and coaches! That win was no fluke!
Hope the WSU fan who blogged that the only thing PSU would be useful for was to test their special teams does more homework from now on before blathering on.
If we can take care of Idaho State next week, looks like "Game On" for the Viks this year.
Again, a great, great win for team and fans.
Hope the WSU fan who blogged that the only thing PSU would be useful for was to test their special teams does more homework from now on before blathering on.
If we can take care of Idaho State next week, looks like "Game On" for the Viks this year.
Again, a great, great win for team and fans.
GreenGiant
Active member
In previous years I have been critical of Barnum. No more. I have been optimistic since he took over, because the players seemed to completely buy into him as head coach and his system. His game plan today was sound. The play calling was sound. Having his team come out in the second half ready to play was a turnaround from previous years. 5 penalties for 6o something yards (that would have been a first half stat under Burton) shows that this team is more focused.
Do I think we can beat the top 4 in the big sky? I don't think we can win out, but I will not be surprised to win one of those games.
Congratulations to the players, the coaching staff and the fans that have stuck by this team......you deserve it.
GG
Do I think we can beat the top 4 in the big sky? I don't think we can win out, but I will not be surprised to win one of those games.
Congratulations to the players, the coaching staff and the fans that have stuck by this team......you deserve it.
GG
Should make that trip home seem not that long. 
We still have a really hard schedule ahead of us, but damn, what a great start to the season.
I was really impressed with the focus of the team today.
We still have a really hard schedule ahead of us, but damn, what a great start to the season.
I was really impressed with the focus of the team today.
bigskyconf
Active member
martymoose said:Should make that trip home seem not that long.
Just someone needs to make sure to pick up the check before we leave. And then, queue Steve Miller "Go on, take the money and run!" :lol:
PSUVikings2
Active member
Amazing accomplishment. Big Sky came to play today.
bigskyconf
Active member
AdminVik said:
Yes, for sure. Not just us but the whole conference. Check out these scores, Big Sky vs FBS...
Utah State 12, Southern Utah 9
Oregon State 26, Weber State 7
Nevada 31, UC-Davis 17
North Dakota 24, Wyoming 13
and in progress, Oregon 44, Eastern Washington 28 (3rd)
2 wins and really no FBS blowouts. This conference is going to be wild.
EasternDopa
Active member
Congrats to the Portland State team and fans from Eastern Washington! That was a GUTTY performance to come back like that. I hope it helps build some momentum for your program!
DustRunner
Active member
Even if the rest of the season doesn't go nearly as well as this past week, this is definitely a win to hang the hat on.
