Two weeks after opening the season with an exciting come-from-behind victory over Eastern Oregon, the Southern Oregon football team returns to action Saturday at Portland State.

Kickoff for the Raiders and Vikings is set for 1:05 p.m. at PGE Park.

The Raiders opened the season Aug. 29 with a 32-28 victory over Eastern Oregon and had a bye and an extra week to prepare for the NCAA Division I FCS (formally I-AA) Vikings.

“When you are going to play up a couple levels like we are going to this week, sometimes the extra week can help,” SOU head coach Steve Helminiak said. “They are a talented football team and they do some things offensively and defensively that could cause some problems that we need to be prepared to see.”

Portland State opened up the 2009 season last week with a 34-7 setback at NCAA Division I Oregon State.

The Vikings played from behind from Oregon State's first play of offense, but was able to finish the game with 351 yards of offense and during the game played 19 freshmen.

Junior quarterback Drew Hubel went 20-for-37 for 252 yards against the Beavers.

“They have some good speed on the perimeter and some receivers that can run,” Helminiak said. “Hubel is a solid quarterback. He doesn't make mistakes and gets the ball in the hands of his playmakers.”

The Raiders look to continue the impressive balanced offensive performance they displayed in the victory over Eastern Oregon.

Sophomore quarterback Paul Sweeney (South San Francisco, Calif./Sared Heart Cathedral), with one day of preparation as the starting quarterback, completed 18 of 32 passes for 222 yards and a score and more importantly no turnovers. Sophomore running back Brandon Baldwin (Palo Cedro, Calif./Foothill) rushed for 195 yards and two scores on 37 carries.

Defensively, senior Will Watson (Myrtle Creek, Ore./South Umpqua) had nine tackles, two sacks and 2.5 tackles-for-loss in the victory and Nate Best (Redding, Calif./Central Valley) and Scott Graves (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro) both had interceptions.

“For us to be successful, we have to get great play out of our secondary,” Helminiak said. “They have to make plays.”

After Portland State, the Raiders return home to face Willamette (Sept. 19) and Linfield (Sept. 26).

“We can't be overwhelmed when we get out there,” Helminiak said. “We've played Division I teams before and Big Sky teams. We just need to go out and play football.”