PORTLAND — Despite the lead-colored clouds that hung heavy on Saturday, Portland State’s football team believes the sky is the limit.
After dominating No. 17 Montana 35-16 in a downpour, No. 12-ranked Vikings are setting their sights higher.
No longer a plucky underdog looking to prove it belongs, Portland State thrust itself into the Big Sky Conference title chase by beating a Montana team it hadn’t defeated since 2004.
Portland State improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Sky. With three games to play, the Vikings are behind just Eastern Washington and Southern Utah, which are both 5-0 and remain on Portland State’s schedule.
“The kids are playing hard and they believe,” Vikings coach Bruce Barnum said. “They don’t hope they’re going to win, they expect to win right now. And that’s cool.”
Alex Kuresa threw two long touchdowns and rushed for two more. All five Portland State touchdowns came on plays of 35 yards or longer.
Patrick Onwuasor’s three interceptions highlighted a strong performance by Portland State’s defense. After allowing a combined 77 points in its last two games, the Vikings held Montana to 294 yards and sacked Makena Simis five times.
As the rain fell, Onwuasor should have been called The Umbrella. He caught everything falling from the sky in the first quarter, when his interceptions ended three of Montana’s first four drives.
Onwuasor’s third interception snuffed out a Montana scoring threat at the Vikings 15 yard line. It gave the senior a Big Sky-leading seven interceptions and tied a single-game school record.
“We didn’t do a lot with them as far as points, but the turnovers helped the emotional side of it swing our way,” Barnum said.
Portland State’s suffocating defense gave the offense all the breathing room it needed.
Kuresa completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Carter followed by a 46-yard flea flicker touchdown pass to Darnell Adams. The junior quarterback added a 35-yard touchdown run as the Vikings took a 21-10 lead into halftime.
Kuresa’s legs powered Portland State’s first drive of the second half. He rushed for 65 yards in a seven-play, 79-yard drive that was capped by his 49-yard touchdown run.
Despite completing just four passes for 121 yards, Kuresa rushed for 119 yards on 11 carries. David Jones carried 29 times for 165 yards and a 37-yard touchdown run that gave Portland State a 35-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
“We have some guys who are fast and are special football players,” Barnum said. “Today, a couple of them shined and that allowed us to beat Montana.”
Portland State finishes with a three-game stretch that will determine whether the Vikings can win the Big Sky’s automatic FCS playoff berth or earn an at-large spot.
After traveling to Northern Colorado next week, Portland State finishes with the Big Sky’s two unbeaten teams — Southern Utah and Eastern Washington. Win out and the Vikings win the conference title.
That might not be too much to ask for a team that was picked to finish near the bottom of the conference and has had just one winning season since 2007.
“This momentum, if you could bottle it you’d be a millionaire,” Barnum said. “That group in that locker room has a belief. And that’s fun.”
