As Ryan Fuqua goes, so go the Portland State Vikings.
The sophomore tailback leads NCAA Division I-AA with 174.5 yards per game and has accounted for 59 percent of Portland State’s total offense through two games this season, despite being slowed by a sore ankle.
In a 23-20 overtime win over North Carolina A&T last week, Fuqua rushed 42 times for 207 yards and a touchdown. Of the 17 plays in the Vikings’ game-tying fourth-quarter drive, he took 16 handoffs and rushed for 68 yards.
North Carolina A&T had held Portland State to just 51 total yards in the first half.
“We went back to our base run game, ran the football and let Ryan do his thing,” Portland State head coach Tim Walsh said.
Fuqua will have to do his thing and more if the Vikings (2-0), ranked No. 8 in Division I-AA, hope to upset No. 9 Oregon on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. The teams meet for just the second time, the first since Oregon defeated Portland State, 58-16, in 1994.
“We will play this game like all the others,” Walsh said. “We can’t look at it any differently than any other Saturday. We prepare to play at the same high level in every game we play.”
Fuqua is not the Vikings’ only offensive weapon, just their best. Senior quarterback Juston Wood has thrown three touchdown passes this season, but has five interceptions. Senior running back Hashim Hall is third in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 36.8 yards per return.
“The key to success is to be dominant on both sides of the ball,” Walsh said of facing the Ducks. “They have those ingredients. They are a top-10 program with outstanding talent at every position. They have All-American receivers and arguably the best tailback in the country.”
Defensively, Portland State has allowed 21.5 points per game this season (including a 31-23 win over Stephen F. Austin to start the season). Sophomore linebacker Tolo Tuitele made his first start of the season last week and led the Vikings with 12 tackles. He also returned an interception for a score en route to being named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Turnovers have been a problem for Portland State. Fuqua lost the first fumble of his career last week as the Vikings coughed up the ball four times. In two games, they have seven turnovers.
Portland State moved to Division I-AA in 1995. Walsh is 1-6 against I-A teams, his only win over Hawaii in 2000.
“Maybe 25 years from now we will be a 1-A program, but in order for us to become what we want to be, we must build the best program we can and play the best programs we can,” Walsh said.
If Fuqua is leading the way, the Vikings may just get to where they want to be.