# 2016 Portland State Vikings football team

The 2016 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Bruce Barnum and played their home games at Providence Park. They were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 3–8, 2–6 in Big Sky play to finish in a four-way tie for ninth place.

## Preseason
### Big Sky polls

On July 19, 2016, the Big Sky Conference released its preseason coaches' and media polls. The Vikings were predicted to finish tied for second in the coaches' poll and fifth in the media poll.
Coaches' poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Northern Arizona | 132 (8) |
| 2 | Portland State | 121 (2) |
| 2 | Montana | 121 |
| 4 | Eastern Washington | 112 (2) |
| 5 | North Dakota | 105 (1) |
| 6 | Weber State | 83 |
| 7 | Southern Utah | 73 |
| 7 | Montana State | 73 |
| 9 | Cal Poly | 66 |
| 10 | Northern Colorado | 43 |
| 11 | Sacramento State | 30 |
| 12 | Idaho State | 24 |
| 13 | UC Davis | 23 |
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Northern Arizona | 287 (8) |
| 2 | Montana | 283 (7) |
| 3 | Eastern Washington | 269 (5) |
| 4 | North Dakota | 262 (2) |
| 5 | Portland State | 252 (3) |
| 6 | Weber State | 174 |
| 7 | Southern Utah | 162 |
| 8 | Montana State | 157 |
| 9 | Cal Poly | 153 |
| 10 | Northern Colorado | 111 |
| 11 | Idaho State | 58 |
| 12 | UC Davis | 56 |
| 13 | Sacramento State | 50 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 2:30 pm | Central Washington* | No. 17 | Providence ParkPortland, OR | GoViks | W 43–26 | 4,898 |
| September 10 | 1:30 pm | at San Jose State* | No. 16 | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | | L 35–66 | 13,210 |
| September 17 | 5:00 pm | at No. 8 (FBS) Washington* | No. 19 | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | P12N | L 3–41 | 57,151 |
| September 24 | 5:00 pm | at Southern Utah | No. 25 | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | GoViks | L 31–45 | 10,306 |
| October 1 | 2:30 pm | Idaho State | | Providence ParkPortland, OR | Eversport.tv GoViks | W 45–20 | 4,916 |
| October 8 | 6:00 pm | at Weber State | | Stewart StadiumOgden, UT | GoViks KJZZ | L 10–14 | 10,217 |
| October 15 | 2:30 pm | No. 19 Cal Poly | | Providence ParkPortland, OR | GoViks | L 33–53 | 4,019 |
| October 29 | 2:30 pm | Northern Colorado | | Providence ParkPortland, OR | GoViks | L 49–56 $^{OT}$ | 3,446 |
| November 5 | 4:00 pm | at UC Davis | | Aggie StadiumDavis, CA | Eversport.tv | W 51–29 | 5,665 |
| November 12 | 6:00 pm | at Sacramento State | | Hornet StadiumSacramento, CA | Eversport.tv | L 35–42 | 5,086 |
| November 18 | 7:00 pm | No. 3 Eastern Washington | | Providence ParkPortland, OR (The Dam Cup) | RTNW | L 28–35 | 5,669 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Pacific time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Central Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 7 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 26 |
| No. 17 Vikings | 7 | 14 | 0 | 22 | 43 |
| Statistics | CWU | PRST |
| First downs | 25 | 26 |
| Total yards | 445 | 508 |
| Rushing yards | 124 | 286 |
| Passing yards | 321 | 222 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:56 | 31:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Washington | Passing | Justin Lane | 19/37, 321 yards, 3 TD |
| Central Washington | Rushing | Quincy Carter | 19 rushes, 81 yards, TD |
| Central Washington | Receiving | Jesse Zalk | 9 receptions, 181 yards, 3 TD |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 16/26, 222 yards, 2 TD |
| Portland State | Rushing | Nate Tago | 24 rushes, 136 yards, 3 TD |
| Portland State | Receiving | Maximo Espitia | 5 receptions, 88 yards, TD |

### At San Jose State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Spartans | 7 | 21 | 24 | 14 | 66 |
| Statistics | PRST | SJSU |
| First downs | 17 | 28 |
| Total yards | 458 | 642 |
| Rushing yards | 202 | 409 |
| Passing yards | 256 | 233 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:00 | 35:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Portland State Vikings | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 10/22, 135 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Portland State Vikings | Rushing | Paris Penn | 14 rushes, 137 yards, TD |
| Portland State Vikings | Receiving | Alex Kuresa | 1 reception, 78 yards, TD |
| San Jose State | Passing | Kenny Potter | 14/20, 233 yards, 3 TD |
| San Jose State | Rushing | Deontae Cooper | 18 rushes, 126 yards, TD |
| San Jose State | Receiving | Tre Hartley | 4 receptions, 93 yards, TD |

### At No. 8 (FBS) Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 8 (FBS) Huskies | 14 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 41 |
| Statistics | PRST | WASH |
| First downs | 13 | 20 |
| Total yards | 182 | 407 |
| Rushing yards | 34 | 213 |
| Passing yards | 148 | 194 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:42 | 26:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 11/17, 148 yards, INT |
| Portland State | Rushing | Nate Tago | 12 rushes, 20 yards |
| Portland State | Receiving | Maximo Espitia | 4 receptions, 75 yards |
| Washington | Passing | Jake Browning | 12/19, 163 yards, 4 TD |
| Washington | Rushing | Myles Gaskin | 13 rushes, 93 yards, TD |
| Washington | Receiving | Chico McClatcher | 4 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TD |

### At Southern Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Vikings | 3 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| Thunderbirds | 7 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
| Statistics | PRST | SUU |
| First downs | 25 | 16 |
| Total yards | 509 | 541 |
| Rushing yards | 234 | 292 |
| Passing yards | 275 | 249 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 36:09 | 23:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 15/33, 264 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT |
| Portland State | Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 18 rushes, 133 yards, TD |
| Portland State | Receiving | Maximo Espitia | 7 receptions, 138 yards, TD |
| Southern Utah | Passing | Patrick Tyler | 15/30, 249 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Malik Brown | 15 rushes, 173 yards, TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Mike Sharp | 5 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD |
This matchup quickly became known for the controversial comments made by Coach Barnum leading up to the game when he said, referring to Cedar City, Utah (home of SUU), "I didn’t want to stay in Whoville. We are going to stay up in the Grinch's Castle. We are going to go down, play them Saturday, whoop up on them." SUU fans responded by setting a single-game attendance record, with many students carrying signs mocking Barnum's remarks.

### Idaho State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Vikings | 14 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
| Statistics | IDST | PRST |
| First downs | 24 | 21 |
| Total yards | 370 | 531 |
| Rushing yards | 158 | 531 |
| Passing yards | 212 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:45 | 30:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Idaho State | Passing | Tanner Gueller | 22/39, 212 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Idaho State | Rushing | Jakori Ford | 18 rushes, 78 yards, TD |
| Idaho State | Receiving | K. W. Williams | 10 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 0/5, 0 yards |
| Portland State | Rushing | Nate Tago | 12 rushes, 199 yards, TD |
| Portland State | Receiving | None | |

### At Weber State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Statistics | PRST | WEB |
| First downs | 18 | 15 |
| Total yards | 317 | 271 |
| Rushing yards | 136 | 185 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 86 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:07 | 25:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 14/25, 181 yards |
| Portland State | Rushing | Nate Tago | 12 rushes, 51 yards |
| Portland State | Receiving | Paris Penn | 6 receptions, 65 yards |
| Weber State | Passing | Jadrian Clark | 12/25, 86 yards, TD, INT |
| Weber State | Rushing | Jadrian Clark | 7 rushes, 77 yards |
| Weber State | Receiving | Tui Satuala | 1 reception, 29 yards |

### No. 19 Cal Poly

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Mustangs | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 55 |
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | CP | PRST |
| First downs | 32 | 18 |
| Total yards | 658 | 347 |
| Rushing yards | 462 | 72 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 275 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 38:45 | 21:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Cal Poly | Passing | Dano Graves | 12/13, 166 yards, 3 TD |
| Cal Poly | Rushing | Kyle Lewis | 11 rushes, 158 yards, 2 TD |
| Cal Poly | Receiving | Carson McMurtrey | 2 receptions, 44 yards, TD |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 19/30, 275 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Portland State | Rushing | Paris Penn | 14 rushes, 68 yards |
| Portland State | Receiving | Josh Kraght | 6 receptions, 83 yards |

### Northern Colorado

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bears | 3 | 10 | 29 | 7 | 7 | 56 |
| Vikings | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Statistics | UNCO | PRST |
| First downs | 28 | 25 |
| Total yards | 558 | 549 |
| Rushing yards | 245 | 371 |
| Passing yards | 313 | 178 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 23:53 | 36:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern Colorado | Passing | Kyle Sloter | 20/31, 313 yards, 3 TD |
| Northern Colorado | Rushing | Trae Riek | 12 rushes, 90 yards |
| Northern Colorado | Receiving | Stephen Miller | 7 receptions, 143 yards |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 11/22, 178 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Portland State | Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 22 rushes, 130 yards, 2 TD |
| Portland State | Receiving | Josh Kraght | 4 receptions, 100 yards |

### At UC Davis

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 10 | 20 | 14 | 7 | 51 |
| Aggies | 6 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 29 |
| Statistics | PRST | UCD |
| First downs | 25 | 21 |
| Total yards | 602 | 408 |
| Rushing yards | 177 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 425 | 218 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:38 | 27:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 16/20, 384 yards, TD |
| Portland State | Rushing | Paris Penn | 15 rushes, 53 yards, 2 TD |
| Portland State | Receiving | Austin Holman | 3 receptions, 108 yards |
| UC Davis | Passing | Ben Scott | 8/22, 118 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UC Davis | Rushing | Joshua Kelley | 10 rushes, 91 yards |
| UC Davis | Receiving | Keelan Doss | 4 receptions, 91 yards, TD |

### At Sacramento State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Hornets | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Statistics | PRST | SAC |
| First downs | 21 | 20 |
| Total yards | 522 | 519 |
| Rushing yards | 424 | 324 |
| Passing yards | 98 | 195 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 11/24, 98 yards, TD |
| Portland State | Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 15 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD |
| Portland State | Receiving | Josh Kraght | 3 receptions, 35 yards, TD |
| Sacramento State | Passing | Nate Ketteringham | 10/17, 195 yards, 2 INT |
| Sacramento State | Rushing | Jordan Robinson | 23 rushes, 262 yards, 4 TD |
| Sacramento State | Receiving | Jaelen Ratliff | 4 receptions, 103 yards |

### No. 3 Eastern Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Eagles | 7 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
| Vikings | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Statistics | EWU | PRST |
| First downs | 22 | 26 |
| Total yards | 442 | 471 |
| Rushing yards | 138 | 213 |
| Passing yards | 304 | 258 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:15 | 34:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Washington | Passing | Gage Gubrud | 24/41, 304 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Eastern Washington | Rushing | Antoine Custer Jr. | 13 rushes, 69 yards |
| Eastern Washington | Receiving | Shaq Hill | 7 receptions, 124 yards, TD |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 22/33, 252 yards, TD, INT |
| Portland State | Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 13 rushes, 93 yards |
| Portland State | Receiving | Charlie Taumoepeau | 2 receptions, 71 yards |

## Ranking movements

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | 17 | 16 | 19 | 25 | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | 12 | 14 | 17 | 25–T | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |