IDAHO STATE'S KEYS TO VICTORY

Stop the run

Portland State ranks third in the Big Sky with 220.8 yards rushing per game. The Vikings' ground attack is multiheaded, with three players tallying over 200 yards this season, plus a fourth at 166. Five-foot-9 senior Za'Quan Summers leads the charge with 386 yards, but dual-threat quarterback Josh Kraght is on his heels with 307 yards on 47 carries (6.2 yards per rush).

In last year's meeting, PSU ran 58 times for 531 yards, while going 0 of 5 through the air in a 45-20 win in Portland.

“You've got to get your eyes in the right place,” ISU coach Rob Phenicie said during Wednesday's weekly Big Sky coaches teleconference. “They spread you out, then there's a lot of running lanes for the quarterback. He's got a tremendous amount of ability. He can take it to the house on any play.”

Stop the run

It can't be overstated given last year's outcome. If ISU's defense can force Kraght, who is listed as a QB/WR on PSU's roster, to throw, the Bengals' back end has a chance to make Kraght pay. PSU's senior signal caller has completed under 50 percent of his passes this season, with more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (three).

In his four years at PSU, Kraght has racked up over 3,000 yards between passing, rushing, receiving and returning punts. He won two state championships as a high school QB but led PSU in receiving last season.

Convert on third down

The Bengals are 12th in the 13-team Big Sky Conference with a third-down conversion rate of 33 percent. ISU went 1 for 11 on third down in last week's 41-21 loss at Sacramento State, and has converted 40 percent or more of its third downs in two out of seven games this season.

The Bengals are third in the Big Sky with 22.3 first downs per game, signifying success on first and second down. Even on fourth down, ISU is 5 of 10. It's third-down plays that have cost the Bengals drives and, ultimately, points this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ISU

LB Mario Jenkins

Jenkins is one of the preeminent players in the Big Sky, and on Wednesday was added to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. The honor is given to the best defensive player in the FCS at the end of each regular season. Jenkins leads the Big Sky and is fourth in the FCS with 11.7 tackles per game and, with 82 tackles on the year, in on pace to break his career-high mark of 120 tackles, which he set in his redshirt freshman campaign of 2014.

“Can't say enough about him,” PSU coach Bruce Barnum said during Wednesday's teleconference. “I think he's the best linebacker in the conference.”

LB Kody Graves

Graves took over starting middle linebacker duties in week three against Nevada, and leads the defense with 7 tackles for loss.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound redshirt sophomore had multiple tackles for loss in three of ISU's first four games and will be key, with the rest of ISU's front seven, to stopping Portland State's potent rushing attack. Graves' value increases if fellow linebacker Joe Martin is unavailable. Martin was helped off the field in the second half last week against Sacramento State.

QB Tanner Gueller

Gueller is the key to Idaho State's offense.

The redshirt junior signal caller is among the FCS' best passers, with 1,948 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. His yardage ranks sixth in the subdivision, his TDs tie for seventh, and his 14.98 yards per pass completion rank seventh.

Gueller has thrown 119 passes in a row without an interception after throwing two in each of his first two games. He's tossed three touchdowns in four games and has hovered around 60-percent completion each of the last four games.

PSU

QB Josh Kraght

Kraght was handed the keys to Portland State's offense for the Vikings' fourth game this season, Sept. 30 against Montana. In the three games since, PSU's scoring average has gone from 17.3 points per game to 21.2. Kraght can execute a designed quarterback run or keep a broken play alive with his legs. He has 1,206 yards this season between passing, rushing and receiving, including a season-long run of 47 yards and a season-long catch of 42 yards. Kraght is also the team's holder.

“Kraght has done a great job,” ISU coach Rob Phenicie said Monday during his weekly press conference. “He ran all over the last couple opponents that they've had.”

CB Chris Seisay

Seisay transferred to Portland State just before the start of last season and eventually blossomed as a cornerback. The 6-foot-1 senior transfer from Oregon is among the Big Sky leaders with seven passes defended and two interceptions – both against Montana.

Seisay started at defensive back for Oregon in the team's 2014 Rose Bowl win and College Football Playoff national championship loss. He was originally placed at wideout for the Vikings but was converted back to his former position, where he has stayed and starred ever since.

With Donovan Olumba at the other corner, PSU has, according to Phenicie, one of the premier cornerback duos in the big Sky.

“Their two corners are arguably the two best we'll see this year, especially in the Big Sky Conference,” Phenicie said. “You have to take measures as far as how you line up, who you put where, and hopefully, somehow, take advantage of anything they give you, but it's few and far between.”

WR/KR/PR Kahlil Dawson

Dawson gets a look once in a while on offense, but the 5-foot-9 converted defensive back is one of the premier specialists in the Big Sky.

Dawson has returned one kick for a touchdown each of the last three seasons, including one Sept. 30 against Montana. Dawson ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 19.6 yards per kick return, and is eighth with 105.3 all-purpose yards per game.

Dawson returned a first-quarter kickoff 94 yards to the end zone to jumpstart PSU's 34-14 win over ISU at Holt Arena in 2015.