THIS WEEK in the BIG SKY

Portland State (4-1, 3-0) at Cal State Sacramento (3-2, 1-2)

Portland State moved into sole possession of first place and cleared a huge hurdle by defeating Montana, 51-48, in overtime last week. Terry Charles had 12 catches for a school-record 276 yards and two touchdowns. Charles has 29 receptions, Cheo Angel 26 and Orshawante Bryant 25 for the Vikings, who have the Big Sky’s most prolific offense. Jimmy Blanchard passed for 550 yards and three touchdowns and was selected Big Sky player of the week. Portland State is ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division I-AA. Sacramento stumbled last week against Weber State, 52-49, committing seven turnovers after making five in four games. Charles Roberts is the first running back in Division I or I-AA to rush for 1,000 yards this season. Roberts, with 1,018 yards in 143 carries, has gained at least 200 yards in each of the last three games.

Northern Arizona (2-2, 0-1) at Idaho State (2-3, 0-3)

Each team plays its home games in a dome and each is in search of its first conference victory. The Lumberjacks travel to Pocatello and Holt Arena after pounding Idaho State, 30-7, last season. Northern Arizona leads the series, 24-12-1, but the Bengals are 10-8 at home. In 1997, the Bengals upset first-place Northern Arizona at Pocatello, 41-24. Northern Arizona is ranked 24th in the nation in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Ronney Jenkins (Hueneme High) has rushed for 394 yards and three touchdowns for Northern Arizona.

Weber State (3-2, 2-1) at Montana State (2-2, 0-1)

Weber State rebounded from an 81-22 loss to Montana by defeating Cal State Sacramento, 52-49, to remain a game out of first. “You can play the rest of the season like you’re embarrassed or, if you have any heart at all, you can rise up and play hard to make sure something like that never happens again,” Coach Jerry Graybeal of Weber State said. Derek Poole, who ranks fifth in the Big Sky in rushing, had a career-high 205 yards in 23 carries and a touchdown. Poole and Morgan Welch have combined to rush for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns. Montana State, coming off a bye, has won the last two times the teams have met. The Bobcats rank first in the Big Sky in team defense. Quarterback Kasey Hart leads the conference in passing efficiency with a 198.6 rating.

Nonconference

Eastern Washington (3-2) at Boise State (3-2)

These teams meet for the first time in three years. Eastern Washington regains starting cornerbacks LeVar McClary and Ole Olesen, who were out with injuries last week. Neither is expected to start. Their replacements, sophomore Travis Reed and junior Claude Jean-Baptiste, filled in effectively in a 14-10 victory over Northern Arizona. Reed led the Eagles with 13 tackles. Jean-Baptiste had four tackles and a touchdown-saving interception in the first half.