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
1Montana State134 (6)
2Eastern Washington133 (6)
3Montana121 (1)
4Cal Poly111
5Northern Arizona95
6Idaho State90
7Sacramento State66
8Southern Utah64
9Portland State51
North Dakota51
11Weber State43
12UC Davis33
13Northern Colorado22
Media poll
1Eastern Washington553 (17)
2Montana State541 (17)
3Montana446 (5)
Idaho State446 (5)
5Cal Poly433 (1)
6Northern Arizona399 (1)
7Sacramento State278
8Southern Utah255
9North Dakota226
10Weber State160
11UC Davis145
12Portland State133
13Northern Colorado127

Schedule

[4]

Game summaries

At Washington State

See also: 2015 Washington State Cougars football team.

Statistics PRSTWSU
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 PRSTIDST
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 WESPRST
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 UNDPRST
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 PRSTUNT
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 MTSTPRST
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 PRSTCP
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 MONTPRST
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 PRSTUNCO
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 SUUPRST
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 PRSTEWU
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 UNIPRST
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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Web site: EWU, MSU Top Football Preseason Polls . July 17, 2015 . September 12, 2023.
  4. Web site: Football Schedule. Portland State University Department of Athletics. March 13, 2014.