Vikings Set For Three of Four At Home

Viking fans should gobble up tickets for the first annual Turkey Bowl this Saturday when Portland State hosts North Dakota in a Big Sky Conference football game

Portland State Athletics and KPTV are co-sponsoring the Turkey Bowl which will allow any adult to receive a free turkey with a paid ticket to the game ($19 general admission and up). Kickoff is 1:05 p.m. at JELD-WEN Field.

The Vikings (3-4, 0-3 Big Sky) are playing at home for the first time in exactly one month and it begins a stretch of three out of four games at home. North Dakota (2-5, 1-3 Big Sky) will be PSU’s first opponent followed by Weber State (Nov. 2) and Sacramento State (Nov. 16). The Vikings have road games at Idaho State (Nov. 9) and Eastern Washington (Nov. 23) to round out the regular season.

This week’s game is not televised but it can be heard on Freedom 970 AM or www.freedom970.com. The pre-game show begins at noon. A live video stream is available at www.WatchBigSky.com.

The first 5,000 adult tickets presented at the gate on game day will receive a voucher for a free 10-pound Butterball turkey. Two vouchers would allow any fan to receive a free 20-pound Butterball turkey. Vouchers are redeemable at any local supermarket that sells Butterballs (The average price for turkeys is approximately $1.39 per pound).

Portland State season ticket holders, as well as any adult with a full price single-game purchased ticket will receive a voucher as they pass through the gates, with 5,000 vouchers available for giveaway.

Complimentary or discounted tickets are not eligible.

Portland State will attempt to end a three-game losing streak when it faces North Dakota. PSU had a rough outing in its last contest, a 17-7 loss at Southern Utah on Oct. 12. PSU gained only 313 yards of total offense and committed five turnovers. That nullified a strong performance by the defense, which allowed only 183 total yards to the Thunderbirds.

Despite its poorest offensive showing of the season, the Vikings still lead the Big Sky Conference and rank third in the nation with 537.0 yards of offense per game.

Best Foot in the Nation

Junior punter Kyle Loomis has an interesting story as a veteran of one season of football at Oregon State (2006) and nearly four years in the US Army. Having celebrated his 26th birthday on Sept. 30, he is the oldest Viking, but also one of the most effective.

After seven years away from football, Loomis came back to college and football, and is making the most of his second chance. The native of Roseburg is averaging 47.7 yards per punt to LEAD the nation. Of his 32 punts, 14 have gone 50+ yards, two have gone 60+ and 11 have been downed inside the 20. Loomis has twice boomed a season-best 67-yarder (against Humboldt State and Southern Utah).

The number are particularly impressive when considering five of the Vikings seven games have been played near sea level. Only twice has he punted at elevation (Montana and Southern Utah).

VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week… Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.

VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State will appear for the third and final time on the Big Sky Conference Root Sports Game of the Week on Nov. 23 at Eastern Washington. Game time is 2:45 p.m. on Root Sports.

VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.WatchBigSky.com… Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com with a mobile phone feature for in-stadium and on-the-go viewing: http://viksmobile.com.

THE VIK WALK: The Vik Walk begins on the Park Blocks with the team two and a half hours before every home game. The team will walk to JELD-WEN Field and fans are welcome to join. They will pass the Viking Tailgate area on SW 18th and Salmon and the Cheerful Bullpen.

TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $19 to $52, with youth prices as low as $9. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. Tickets are subject to service charge. To purchase tickets by phone, call 503.725.3307. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com.

By Mike Lund | Courtesy of GoViks.com