HILLSBORO, Ore. (Interstat) — Portland State used a fast start and a productive offensive performance to defeat Utah Tech 30-14 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. The Vikings improved to 2-4, while the Trailblazers dropped to 0-7. Attendance was 1,964. Portland State controlled much of the game and built a 30-7 lead before Utah Tech added a late fourth-quarter touchdown. Tyrese Smith led the Vikings with a strong all-around effort at quarterback, and the Portland State defense limited Utah Tech’s scoring chances for most of the afternoon. The Trailblazers struggled to sustain drives and did not score in the third quarter. The Vikings scored 30 points for their second win of the season.

Tyrese Smith, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound quarterback from Henderson, Nev., completed 13 of 20 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 41 yards and one touchdown. Smith opened the scoring with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Zui Shelton in the first quarter. Later, he connected with Tanner Beaman on a 3-yard scoring pass. Smith also capped a Portland State drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime. His ability to hurt Utah Tech through the air and on the ground helped the Vikings maintain control. Smith was the top performer for Portland State.

Portland State’s running game complemented Smith. Delon Thompson carried 20 times for 78 yards and added one reception for 45 yards. Niall Raby ran five times for 55 yards and scored on a 33-yard rush in the second quarter. Zui Shelton finished with one reception for 39 yards and a touchdown, and he also returned one kickoff for 41 yards. Terence Loville caught five passes for 54 yards. Tanner Beaman had two receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown. Andre Miller added one reception for 11 yards, Cru Newman had two receptions for 8 yards, and Jason Robinson Jr. caught one pass for 2 yards. The Vikings finished with a balanced attack that kept the Trailblazers off balance.

Portland State’s defense also made key stops. Isaac Redford recorded 11 tackles. Jaxton Helmstetler had nine tackles and one sack. Lono Solomon finished with seven tackles. Zyon Floyd added six tackles, and Logan Lisherness had five. Terahiti Wolfe recorded three tackles. Brogan De’Asis had three tackles and one quarterback hurry. Kekama Cosma added three tackles. Jonathan Epperson Jr. and Marcellous Ryan each finished with two tackles. The Vikings held Utah Tech to 14 points and kept the Trailblazers from stringing together scoring drives until the final quarter.

Utah Tech’s offense had some productive moments. Isaac McMullin completed his only pass attempt for a 4-yard touchdown to Bronson Barben. Cavalli Nealy ran six times for 32 yards and caught one pass for 3 yards, and he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Zay Morris led the Trailblazers with four receptions for 62 yards. Prince Zombo Jr. had three receptions for 57 yards. Will Greene caught three passes for 47 yards. Darnell O’Quinn added two receptions for 22 yards. Justin Buhler had two receptions for 13 yards. Mike Williams caught one pass for 7 yards, and Zay Akinsanya had one reception for 3 yards.

Kona Crowell contributed for Utah Tech with three carries for 11 yards and four receptions for 6 yards. DaJon Harrison returned three kickoffs for 61 yards. Ryan Marks punted once for 39 yards. The Trailblazers also had a team punt that went for 13 yards. Utah Tech’s Max Shepherd made an extra point after the Trailblazers’ first touchdown, but his 32-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter was no good. The missed kick kept Utah Tech from cutting into the Portland State lead at that point. Junior Curtis and Max Shepherd also appeared for the Trailblazers.

Utah Tech’s defense was led by Brevin Czosnyka, who recorded 10 tackles. Daylen Love and Will Alovao each had eight tackles. Luke Hansen and Zayden Cook each finished with five tackles, and Cook added one sack. Ryan Tillman and Shaun Niu Jr. each had four tackles. Fasitootai Sagapolu and Jeremiah Jimoh each recorded three tackles. Jaggar Tavai and Moe Passi each had two tackles. Aiden McComber, Dax Iverson, Spencer Parham and Brady Sorenson each finished with one tackle. The Trailblazers could not slow the Vikings enough in the first half.

Portland State started the scoring in the first quarter when Smith found Shelton deep middle for a 39-yard touchdown. Joshua Hossmann Lees made the extra point. In the second quarter, Raby rushed right for a 33-yard touchdown, and Hossmann Lees again converted. Hossmann Lees later made a 35-yard field goal. Smith then threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Beaman, but the extra point failed. Utah Tech answered when McMullin connected with Barben for a 4-yard touchdown, and Shepherd kicked the extra point. Smith closed the first-half scoring with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, and Hossmann Lees added the point.

The Vikings led 30-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Utah Tech’s Shepherd attempted a 32-yard field goal, but it was no good. Neither team scored in the third quarter. Portland State maintained its 23-point advantage into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Nealy scored on a 1-yard rush left, and Shepherd made the extra point to complete the scoring. Portland State finished with 30 points, and Utah Tech finished with 14. The Trailblazers fell to 0-7, while the Vikings moved to 2-4.

Utah Tech entered the game after losses to Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona, Montana, BYU and Montana State. Portland State entered after a win over Weber State and losses to Oregon, North Dakota, San Diego State and UC Davis. The Trailblazers next visit Cal Poly, and Portland State next travels to Northern Arizona. Both teams remain in NCAA Football Championship Division play. The game at Hillsboro Stadium drew an announced crowd of 1,964. Utah Tech remains in search of its first victory of the season, while Portland State will look to build on the win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Portland State 44, Utah Tech 28. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Portland State with an 81.7 percent probability to win. Utah Tech had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-2.5. The over/under line was 59.5, and the total score of 44 went over that line. Portland State’s victory came in a game that had been projected differently by the simulator and betting markets.