Portland State edges Northern Colorado 23-17

Published Nov. 12, 2011 5:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

Connor Kavanaugh had 270 total yards and threw for a touchdown, Zach Brown kicked three field goals and Portland State hung on to beat Northern Colorado 23-14 Saturday to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Justin Monahan had nine catches for 71 yards and a touchdown and DeShawn Shead had a 74-yard interception return for the Vikings, winners of four straight.

Seth Lobato threw for 293 yards and one touchdown for Northern Colorado.

The Vikings (5-2, 7-3 Big Sky) struggled offensively against the Bears (0-8, 0-11). They managed only one touchdown, a six-yard pass from Kavanaugh to Monahan late in the first half, and field goals of 51, 46 and 30 yards.

They didn't seal the win until Shead stepped in front of a Lobato pass and ran it in with 3:54 left.

Northern Colorado took a 7-0 lead on John Burnley's nine-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.