The history is daunting. The Vikings are 0-3 lifetime facing Oregon, having lost games by 41, 42, and 43 points. The Ducks have won 18 in a row at home. Goviks.com reiterates the stark picture:
Portland State is 2-26 all-time against teams from the NCAA FBS level. PSU is 0-9 against teams from the Pac-10, including a 54-9 loss at Arizona State on Sept. 4: (0-3 vs. Oregon, 0-3 vs. Oregon State, 0-1 vs. Washington State, 0-1 vs. California, 0-1 vs. Arizona State). The Vikings have wins over Hawaii of the WAC (2000) and New Mexico of the Mountain West Conference (2006).
After two convincing victories Oregon is all over the NCAA statistical leaderships in scoring, yards, and individual glory. 120 points in two games. Three punt returns for touchdowns. A defensive back who has scored every time he's gotten the ball. The best running back in the country, and a quarterback who gets better with every series of downs.
But the Vikings are not intimidated. The history and reputations won't matter Saturday. They are prepared to compete, and Oregon will get their expected one-sided win only if they are prepared also.
The Viking defense holds the key to PSU's slim chances on Saturday. They have to stand up to Oregon's formidable speed and talent, force some turnovers, and surprise the Ducks with their hitting and determination. Here's a look at Portland State's key players on defense:
Manoa Latu #15 6-1 205
The first player Nigel Burton signed last winter was a clone of himself, a hard-hitting safety who makes plays all over the field.
Latu, from East St. Louis High in Hawaii, the school of Jeremiah Masoli and Marcus Mariota, led the defense with 20 tackles in his first two games in a Viking uniform. A transfer from Mt. San Antonio Junior College, Latu and his teammates won the Junior College National Championship last year. He was first team all-conference as a sophomore, after making 68 tackles and six interceptions his freshman year.
Latu is active and smart as the leader of the secondary, and Burton said he has the skills to play at any level. He's a big safety, combining the skills of Duck tandem John Boyett and Eddie Pleasant, bigger than Boyett but similar in his instincts and agression, not as fast as Pleasant but with the same knack for playmaking in space.
DeShawn Snead #24 CB 6-2 195 Jr.
Snead is another player Burton says could play at any level in college football, better than any defensive back he had at Nevada, a team that went 8-5 in FBS competition last year. The veteran corner has started every game of his PSU career, 22 consecutive starts since stepping on campus as a freshman, honorable mention all-league both years. Also a big for a defensive back, Snead has nine interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 14 pass breakups in two seasons, according to the PSU media guide.
The 6-2 corner is also an excellent track athlete, competing in the decathlon for PSU. He set the record for the pole vault at Highland High in Palmdale California.
With his size, athleticism and cover skills, Snead rivals any of the cornerbacks in the Ducks secondary. He has 8 tackles this season, and six of those came against Arizona State. He had a fumble recovery in the victory over UC Davis.
Ryan Rau #56 jr mlb 6-1 230
The Vikes moved to a 4-3 defense in this first year under Burton, and one of the advantages of this alignment for them is that it highlights the talent and aggression of Rau, their leading tackler last year with 72 along with four sacks. Goviks summarizes: "Honorable mention all-Big Sky in 2009. Season highlights last year included a 27-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against UC Davis and a career-high 12 tackles versus Northern Arizona."
His coaches describe Rau as "fast and tough, always around the ball." So far this season he has 15 tackles, including one tackle for loss. He averaged 17 tackles a game his junior year at Folsom High School in the Sacramento area's Delta River League, the DRL's defensive player of the year as a senior.
Rau is similar in size and style to Oregon's Casey Matthews, and he'll be highly motivated to prove he belongs on the same field with FBS competition. Against Washington State as a backup, playing as a true freshman, Rau made six tackles. He's not likely to back down Saturday, although no one he's faced in the Big Sky will have prepared him for LaMichael James. Few players in the country would.
Carl Sommer DE #93 DE 6-4 260 Jr.
A Wilsonville high grad, Sommer transferred from Oregon State after his redshirt freshman season. He has 7 tackles this season, including 3 for loss, and one sack.
Travis Beckley DT #92 6-4 285 Sr.
Beckley has started 22 straight games for the Vikings, making 29 tackles in 2009 with 6 tfls. He had sacks in 3 of last four games last year. He got a sack last week against UC Davis also. He's played in 35 straight games at PSU, with 24 starts, leading the team in both categories.
To accomodate the change to the 4-3 Beckley moved inside to tackle this season after starting the last two years at defensive end. He's from Thurston High in Eugene, an all-league player both ways in high school.
Beckley and Sommer give the PSU coaches two big, active bodies up front. Each has a sack so far in the 2010 campaign, and both will command the attention of Oregon's offensive line.
Football games are not won in the papers. They're not won with polls or stat sheets or reputations. Oregon has all the advantages going to Saturday's game, but these Vikings will make them earn the win. They are going to Eugene to test themselves against the highest-ranked school on the West coast, and they are not reluctant or afraid.
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