No. 21 Vikings Capitalize On Crucial Bears Mistakes
Sept. 9, 2006
Sept. 9, 2006
PORTLAND, Ore. - Costly turnovers plagued the University of Northern Colorado football team for the second straight week as it fell 45-3 to No. 21 Portland State in the year's first Big Sky Conference game on Saturday night at PGE Park.
The Vikings (2-0 overall, 1-0 Big Sky Conference), who defeated Division I-A New Mexico 17-6 last week, took advantage of a gritty defense and efficient offense to overpower the Bears. PSU turned five Northern Colorado turnovers into 24 points.
Bears junior quarterback Dominic Breazeale threw two interceptions on the night - both of which were tipped in the air by intended receivers - and also fumbled the ball in a botched exchange from junior center Jake Gable. Breazeale finished 10-of-25 for 112 yards and rushed for a team-high 63 yards.
Northern Colorado's trouble with taking care of the ball put the Bears in a tough position from the get-go. Breazeale led Northern Colorado to a first down on its first drive of the game, but on the next play Breazeale's pass went through sophomore tight end Ryan Chesla's hands and into the arms of Portland State's Jordan Senn, who returned it 22 yards. Vikings senior quarterback Sawyer Smith led PSU on a three play, 35-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Portland State senior wide receiver Brendan Ferrigno.
On the Bears' next drive, Breazeale led Northern Colorado to the PSU 39-yard line before his pass to sophomore wide receiver T.J. Swanson was tipped in the air and intercepted by PSU's Dominic Dixon. It took the Vikings eight plays, 78 yards and 4:13 to go up 14-0. The Vikings' Kalena Ho'okano capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
PSU's next score came on a 37-yard field goal with 14:06 remaining in the second quarter that extended its lead to 17-0. The Vikings were helped by Breazeale's fumble caused by his errant center exchange. The Bears helped the Vikings capitalize on mistakes again, as sophomore running back Patrick Ealy fumbled the ball at Northern Colorado's 13-yard line with 12:54 left in the quarter. PSU then went 13 yards on three plays to go up 24-0.
After a three-and-out by the Bears, the Vikings marched 70 yards and scored on a 13-yard catch by Matt Nelson to go up 31-0 before going into the locker room for halftime.
It took Portland State four plays, 67 yards and 1:22 into the third quarter to extend its stranglehold on the Bears to 38-0. The drive was highlighted by Smith's 38-yard pass to Ferrigno, which set up an 11-yard touchdown run by Ho'okano.
Northern Colorado's only points of the night came with 6:51 left in the quarter, as senior kicker David Dyches put it through the uprights from 28 yards out. The Bears had a shining opportunity to do damage, as junior linebacker Asa Matthews recovered a PSU fumble that put the ball on the Vikings' 22-yard line. Northern Colorado was able to take it down to the 10, but two rushing attempts and an incomplete pass forced the Bears to kick the field goal.
The Vikings put together another long drive and upped the score to 45-3 with 50 seconds left in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by James Magee.
Bears sophomore linebacker Cristian Sarmento finished with a career-high nine total tackles. Sophomore linebacker Joe Kenney pitched in with seven tackles.
Northern Colorado (0-2, 0-1 Big Sky) will roll on with its challenging schedule with a trip to San Marcos, Texas, next Saturday against No. 22 Texas State, who was a 2005 I-AA semifinalist. The kickoff is set for 5 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on 1310-AM KFKA in Greeley and 1510-AM KYOL in Denver.
