2015 Portland State Vikings football team explained
| Mode: | football |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Team: | Portland State Vikings |
| Conference: | Big Sky Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Sky |
| Statsrank: | 10 |
| Fcscoachrank: | 10 |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Steve Cooper |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Malik Roberson |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | Pistol |
| Def Scheme: | 3–3–5 |
| Stadium: | Providence Park
Hillsboro Stadium |
| Bowl: | FCS Playoffs Second Round |
| Bowl Result: | L 17–29 vs. Northern Iowa |
The 2015 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Bruce Barnum and played their home games at Providence Park, with one home game at Hillsboro Stadium. They were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 9–3, 6–2 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for second place; this was the program's first winning season since 2011. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, the Vikings first appearance in the FCS playoffs since 2000, where they lost in the second round to Northern Iowa.
On October 10, 2015, the Vikings defeated North Texas, 66–7. The 59 point margin was the largest margin of victory by an FCS team over an FBS team since the split of NCAA Division I football in 1978 into the groupings now known as FBS and FCS.[1] Portland State also became the first FCS team to defeat two FBS teams in the same season since North Dakota State in 2007.[2]
Preseason
Big Sky polls
On July 17, 2015, the Big Sky Conference released its preseason coaches' and media polls. The Vikings were predicted to finish tied for ninth in the coaches' poll and twelfth in the media poll.[3]
Coaches' poll| 1 | Montana State | 134 (6) |
| 2 | Eastern Washington | 133 (6) |
| 3 | Montana | 121 (1) |
| 4 | Cal Poly | 111 |
| 5 | Northern Arizona | 95 |
| 6 | Idaho State | 90 |
| 7 | Sacramento State | 66 |
| 8 | Southern Utah | 64 |
| 9 | Portland State | 51 |
| North Dakota | 51 |
| 11 | Weber State | 43 |
| 12 | UC Davis | 33 |
| 13 | Northern Colorado | 22 | |
Media poll| 1 | Eastern Washington | 553 (17) |
| 2 | Montana State | 541 (17) |
| 3 | Montana | 446 (5) |
| Idaho State | 446 (5) |
| 5 | Cal Poly | 433 (1) |
| 6 | Northern Arizona | 399 (1) |
| 7 | Sacramento State | 278 |
| 8 | Southern Utah | 255 |
| 9 | North Dakota | 226 |
| 10 | Weber State | 160 |
| 11 | UC Davis | 145 |
| 12 | Portland State | 133 |
| 13 | Northern Colorado | 127 | |
Schedule
[4]
Game summaries
At Washington State
See also: 2015 Washington State Cougars football team.
| Statistics | PRST | WSU |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 294 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 233 | 104 |
| Passing yards | 61 | 307 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:48 | 30:12 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 7/12, 61 yards |
| Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 16 rushes, 92 yards |
| Receiving | Thomas Carter III | 4 receptions, 34 yards |
| Washington State | Passing | | 27/41, 289 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Gerard Wicks | 14 rushes, 63 yards |
| Receiving | Dom Williams | 5 receptions, 86 yards | |
At No. 23 Idaho State
See also: 2015 Idaho State Bengals football team.
| Statistics | PRST | IDST |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 15 |
| Total yards | 342 | 242 |
| Rushing yards | 236 | 61 |
| Passing yards | 106 | 181 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 34:24 | 25:36 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 7/16, 106 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | David Jones | 18 rushes, 113 yards |
| Receiving | Trent Riley | 1 reception, 50 yards, TD |
| Idaho State | Passing | Michael Sanders | 20/39, 177 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Xavier Finney | 23 rushes, 87 yards |
| Receiving | Josh Cook | 4 receptions, 75 yards, TD | |
Western Oregon
| Statistics | WES | PRST |
|---|
| First downs | 0 | 18 |
| Total yards | 224 | 383 |
| Rushing yards | 27 | 256 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 127 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:18 | 33:42 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Oregon | Passing | Trey Shimabukuro | 18/35, 182 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Joe Harris | 10 rushes, 31 yards |
| Receiving | Maurice McSwain | 2 receptions, 52 yards |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 8/18, 127 yards |
| Rushing | Nate Tago | 15 rushes, 69 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Darnell Adams | 1 reception, 46 yards | |
North Dakota
See also: 2015 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team.
| Statistics | UND | PRST |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 10 |
| Total yards | 396 | 247 |
| Rushing yards | 260 | 97 |
| Passing yards | 136 | 150 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:36 | 24:24 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Dakota | Passing | Keaton Studsrud | 9/17, 136 yards, INT |
| Rushing | John Santiago | 22 rushes, 111 yards |
| Receiving | Luke Mathewson | 3 receptions, 51 yards |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 9/13, 142 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 15 rushes, 55 yards |
| Receiving | Paris Penn | 4 receptions, 94 yards, TD | |
At North Texas
See also: 2015 North Texas Mean Green football team.
| Statistics | PRST | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 13 |
| Total yards | 670 | 198 |
| Rushing yards | 368 | 76 |
| Passing yards | 302 | 122 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:37 | 26:23 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 11/19, 269 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | David Jones | 9 rushes, 134 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Darnell Adams | 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Andrew McNulty | 10/25, 57 yards |
| Rushing | | 9 rushes, 49 yards |
| Receiving | Carlos Harris | 9 receptions, 57 yards, TD | |
No. 16 Montana State
See also: 2015 Montana State Bobcats football team.
| Statistics | MTST | PRST |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 32 |
| Total yards | 440 | 682 |
| Rushing yards | 229 | 465 |
| Passing yards | 211 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 21:49 | 38:11 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Montana State | Passing | Dakota Prukop | 14/25, 211 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Dakota Prukop | 14 rushes, 102 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | Chad Newell | 4 receptions, 70 yards |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 10/14, 217 yards, TD |
| Rushing | David Jones | 23 rushes, 285 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | Trent Riley | 1 reception, 44 yards | |
At Cal Poly
See also: 2015 Cal Poly Mustangs football team.
| Statistics | PRST | CP |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 27 |
| Total yards | 386 | 536 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 420 |
| Passing yards | 232 | 116 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 25:03 | 34:57 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 16/25, 232 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Alex Kuresa | 18 rushes, 101 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Trent Riley | 5 receptions, 88 yards, TD |
| Cal Poly | Passing | Khaleel Jenkins | 3/14, 59 yards |
| Rushing | Kori Garcia | 18 rushes, 131 yards |
| Receiving | Kyle Lewis | 1 reception, 57 yards, TD | |
No. 17 Montana
See also: 2015 Montana Grizzlies football team.
| Statistics | MONT | PRST |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 294 | 460 |
| Rushing yards | 160 | 339 |
| Passing yards | 134 | 121 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:03 | 33:57 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Montana | Passing | Makena Simis | 15/36, 134 yards, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Makena Simis | 22 rushes, 62 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Ben Romain Roberts | 7 receptions, 37 yards |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 4/12, 121 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | David Jones | 29 rushes, 165 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Darnell Adams | 1 reception, 46 yards, TD | |
At Northern Colorado
See also: 2015 Northern Colorado Bears football team.
| Statistics | PRST | UNCO |
|---|
| First downs | 26 | 20 |
| Total yards | 493 | 483 |
| Rushing yards | 243 | 213 |
| Passing yards | 250 | 270 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:15 | 28:45 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 18/27, 250 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | David Jones | 25 rushes, 110 yards |
| Receiving | Darnell Adams | 3 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD |
| Northern Colorado | Passing | Jacob Knipp | 18/30, 270 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Trae Riek | 25 rushes, 145 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Alex Wesley | 3 receptions, 89 yards, TD | |
No. 18 Southern Utah
See also: 2015 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team.
| Statistics | SUU | PRST |
|---|
| First downs | 30 | 15 |
| Total yards | 562 | 389 |
| Rushing yards | 178 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 384 | 203 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:27 | 32:33 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southern Utah | Passing | Ammon Olsen | 28/47, 384 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Malik Brown | 21 rushes, 93 yards |
| Receiving | Mike Sharp | 10 receptions, 197 yards, 2 TD |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 12/20, 196 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Nate Tago | 15 rushes, 69 yards |
| Receiving | Thomas Carter III | 4 receptions, 88 yards, TD | |
At No. 18 Eastern Washington
See also: 2015 Eastern Washington Eagles football team and The Dam Cup.
| Statistics | PRST | EWU |
|---|
| First downs | 25 | 18 |
| Total yards | 397 | 390 |
| Rushing yards | 250 | 175 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 215 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 34:35 | 25:25 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 11/24, 142 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | David Jones | 27 rushes, 152 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Chase Loftin | 2 receptions, 41 yards |
| Eastern Washington | Passing | Reilly Hennessey | 17/27, 215 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Jabari Wilson | 14 rushes, 85 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 8 receptions, 136 yards, TD | |
FCS Playoffs
No. 15 Northern Iowa (Second Round)
See also: 2015 Northern Iowa Panthers football team.
| Statistics | UNI | PRST |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 17 |
| Total yards | 432 | 285 |
| Rushing yards | 401 | 180 |
| Passing yards | 31 | 105 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:06 | 29:54 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Oregon | Passing | Aaron Bailey | 7/14, 34 yards |
| Rushing | Tyvis Smith | 21 rushes, 207 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Logan Cunningham | 1 reception, 8 yards |
| Portland State | Passing | Alex Kuresa | 8/22, 105 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Nate Tago | 15 rushes, 60 yards |
| Receiving | Darnell Adams | 3 receptions, 34 yards | |
Ranking movements
See also: 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings.
Statistics
Scoring
- Scores against non-conference opponents
- Scores against the Big Sky Conference
- Scores against all opponents
Notes and References
- News: North Texas' Dan McCarney Fired Following Mean Green's 66–7 Loss to FCS School. Brett. Vito. The Dallas Morning News. October 10, 2015. October 11, 2015.
- Web site: FCS Portland State Beat North Texas So Badly, the Mean Green Immediately Fired Their Head Coach. Rodger. Sherman. SB Nation. October 10, 2015. October 11, 2015.
- Web site: EWU, MSU Top Football Preseason Polls . July 17, 2015 . September 12, 2023.
- Web site: Football Schedule. Portland State University Department of Athletics. March 13, 2014.
