Joshua Hossmann Lees converted a 41-yard field goal as time expired on Sept. 26, 2026, to secure a 44-41 victory for Portland State over Weber State at Stewart Stadium. The win marked the first victory of the Chris Fisk era for the Vikings, who overcame a significant deficit to defeat the Wildcats in Ogden.
The victory was defined by a resilient performance from a Portland State team that had struggled through a difficult opening stretch of the season. The Vikings entered the matchup with a 1-3 record, having previously suffered a season-opening loss to UC Davis on Sept. 12, 2026, where they surrendered a 21-0 halftime lead to lose 31-24. According to Portland State Athletics, the Saturday win corrected the mistakes from that earlier defeat and demonstrated the mental toughness required to win in close contests.
Delon Thompson served as the engine for the Vikings' offense, recording his first career 200-yard rushing game. Thompson finished with 213 yards on the ground, including three touchdowns from distances of 35, 33, and 57 yards. His performance helped Portland State amass 248 total rushing yards, more than double the 111 yards the team recorded against North Dakota on Sept. 12, 2026. Thompson's efforts included three rushes of 20 or more yards, including a 57-yard run during the fourth quarter.
The defense played a pivotal role in the comeback, forcing six total turnovers. This marked the highest number of turnovers forced by the Viking defense since Nov. 20, 2024, when they also recorded six turnovers in a 38-21 win over UC Davis. The defensive standout was Terahiti Wolfe, who recorded his second interception of the day with less than a minute remaining. Wolfe's pick occurred while Weber State was driving in Portland State territory, flipping the field and setting up the winning drive.
Other defensive contributors included Marcellous Ryan, who intercepted a pass early in the third quarter to set up a touchdown, and Jaxton Helmstetler and Brogan De'Asis, who each recovered a fumble. Avery Ducsik and Isaac Redford also forced fumbles, with Redford leading the team with 13 total tackles, including 10 solo stops. Despite being outgained by nearly 300 yards—703 to 409—the Vikings defense successfully stopped the Wildcats on downs twice within their own five-yard line.
Weber State's offense was led by freshman quarterback Nate Dahle, who orchestrated a late comeback to tie the game at 41-41 with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Dahle's touchdown pass to Noah Kjar, a junior from Draper, Utah, provided the equalizer that set the stage for the final field goal. The Wildcats' roster features several players from the local area, including Noah Kjar and sophomore Robert Young from Roy, Utah.
The Vikings' victory also featured significant special teams play and efficient passing. Zui Shelton scored on a 95-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, the first such return for the Vikings since Sept. 23, 2023. Quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele completed 9 of 24 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. His primary target was Terence Loville, who recorded a career-high 130 receiving yards, including a 58-yard touchdown pass that extended the Vikings' lead to 28-7 in the second quarter.
With the win, Portland State improved to a 1-4 overall record and 1-1 in Big Sky Conference play. The victory also marked the Vikings' first win over Weber State since a 30-18 win in 2021. In the Big Sky standings, Weber State moved to a 2-3 overall record and 1-1 in conference play. The win also breaks a long drought for the program, representing the first time the Vikings won on a game's final play since Oct. 15, 2005, a game that also ended with a 44-41 score via a last-second field goal.
