2012 Big Sky Conference Countdown: Portland State

Continuing on with the countdown, it's time to take a look at the Portland State Vikings.  The Jerry Glanville era on the Park Blocks was a rather forgettable one, despite the publicity the Man in Black brought to the program, along with run & shoot offense patriarch Mouse Davis.  Now, the program has been in the hands of Nigel Burton since 2010, and the Pistol offense (which got its start at Nevada and almost every school in the nation is using some form of it) is all the rage in Oregon's largest city.

The Vikings concluded the 2011 season with a 7-4 record, and could very well have been considered for an FCS playoff berth had they not lost their season finale at home to Weber State.  Their biggest win of last season had to be their close 38-36 win over a Montana State team that would later be the top-ranked team in FCS football (before the Bobcats were mauled by the Grizzlies in Bozeman).  Not bad for a team that finished 2-9 in 2010.

On offense, the Vikings do not have a quarterback that completed a pass last season, as last year's starter Connor Kavanaugh graduated over the offseason.  With the wide-open nature of the Pistol offense, Kavanaugh led the Vikings in both passing and rushing, rushing for 1,189 yards and throwing for 1,628 more.  Leading receiver Justin Monahan (52 catches for 707 yards and 6 TDs) is back, but will be catching passes from a new quarterback.

On the defensive side of the football, the team's leaders in tackles and quarterback sacks in 2011 are gone, but the team's leader in interceptions is back.  Linebacker Joel Sisler intercepted three passes while starting 10 games for the Vikings.  The team's #2 sack person is also back, in senior linebacker Ian Sluss (also the team's leading top tackler, as he was third in total tackles).

MY THOUGHTS: The Vikings are a very good football team with a very exciting offensive system.  If they can maintain their level of play from 2011, they could easily make some noise in 2012 and should be in the conversation for a Big Sky championship and an FCS playoff berth.

NEXT UP: Northern Arizona

Image credit: AP/Michael Albans