Charles Dunn ran 38 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give Portland State a 34-27 victory over No. 19 Weber State in Big Sky Conference action Saturday night.
Portland State (4-3, 4-2) jumped to a 27-3 halftime lead, then squandered it before rallying for Dunn's winning touchdown with 2:58 left in the game.The Vikings sealed the win when Wade Davis of Weber State (5-3, 3-2) fumbled away a punt inside his own 10-yard line with 1:35 left in the game.
Weber State came into the contest with a defense that allowed only 233 yards per game, second in the nation among Division I-AA schools. But the Vikings gained 232 yards in the first half alone, finishing with 373.
Quarterback Tyson Parsons, making his first start of the season, hit 11 of 16 first-half passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns - two caught by Orshawante Bryant and the third by Arthur Williams.
Opening the second half, Parsons threw another interception, which set up a 2-yard touchdown run from Morgan Welch and trimmed the Vikings' lead to 27-17.
Seven minutes into the final quarter, Scott Shields kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Wildcats to make it 27-20.
It took Weber State only 1:38 to score the tying touchdown.
Wildcats quarterback Chris Wallace capped a 64-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run. Davis' fumble set up Dunn's winning touchdown.
Parsons finished 16 of 28 for 220 yards. Dunn ran for 166 yards on 30 carries.
Wallace finished 17 of 31 for 225 yards, but had no touchdowns.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Big Sky standings
... Conf. Overall
Team W L W L
Montana St. 3 1 5 2
Portland St. 4 2 4 3
Weber St. 3 2 5 3
E. Wash. 3 2 4 3
Montana 3 2 4 3
CS-Sacra. 2 3 3 4
CS-North. 2 3 3 4
Idaho St. 1 3 2 5
N. Arizona 1 4 4 3
Saturday's games
Montana 30, E. Washington 27
Montana St. 32, CS Northridge 26
CS Sacramento 38, N. Arizona 21
Idaho St. 50, S. Utah 33
Portland St. 34, Weber St. 27