THIS WEEK IN THE BIG SKY

Portland State (6-0, 3-0) at Weber State (4-3, 3-2)

Portland State, off to a school-record start, is ranked No. 2 in Division I-AA. Tailback Charles “Chip” Dunn, the Big Sky’s rushing leader, had 115 yards and four touchdowns last week against Idaho State. Dunn averages 194 yards. Jimmy Blanchard was selected Big Sky offensive player of the week after passing for 379 yards and two touchdowns against Idaho State. Weber State lost to Portland State, 31-14, last season, but the Wildcats have improved on their 3-8 record in 1999. Cole Cooper has completed 60% of his passes and is tied for the conference lead with 13 touchdowns.

Northern Arizona (2-4, 1-3) at Montana (5-1, 3-0)

Montana lost senior quarterback Drew Miller to a sprained shoulder last week against Cal State Northridge. With Miller, the Big Sky’s passing leader, expected to be sidelined four weeks, the job goes to sophomore John Edwards, who filled in for Miller against Northridge and led the Grizzlies to a 34-30 victory. Edwards completed 21 of 30 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown. Montana’s Tanner Hancock, Jimmy Farris and Etu Molden, billed as “The Three Bears,” each have at least 30 receptions. Four Northern Arizona assistants are former Montana players, and Coach Jerome Souers was a Grizzly assistant for 12 years.

Cal State Sacramento (4-3, 2-3) at Eastern Washington (4-3, 3-1)

Charles Roberts has been held to fewer than 100 yards rushing in each of his last two games, the first such drought for the 5-6 senior in three years. Roberts needs 193 yards to eclipse the I-AA-record 6,193 yards set by Jerry Azumah of New Hampshire from 1995-98. Roberts needs 396 yards to become the NCAA’s career rushing leader for all divisions. Former Wisconsin back Ron Dayne holds the record with 6,396 yards from 1996-99. Eastern Washington leads the Big Sky in rushing defense and is 8-0 against Sacramento.

Nonconference:

Southern Utah (2-4) at Idaho State (4-2)

Idaho State has scored at least 46 points in each of its last four games against Southern Utah, winning three. The Bengals lead the series, 5-2-1, but Southern Utah amassed 734 yards last season in a 63-47 victory at Cedar City.