GREELEY, Colo. - Running, passing, kicking and defense finally came together for Portland State as it won a hard-fought 23-18 decision over Northern Colorado at frigid Nottingham Field.

The Portland State University Vikings rushed for 109 yards, passed for 240 yards, forced three turnovers and got three big field goals from Zach Brown in the win.

The victory came as a big relief for the Vikings as they ended a three-game losing streak and eight-game road losing streak. PSU improved to 2-4 on the season, 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference.

Northern Colorado dropped to 1-5, 0-4, on a day that featured weather in the low 20s and snow.

Portland State marched down the field on its opening series, gaining 55 yards, but quarterback Drew Hubel threw an interception at the UNC 12. Korey Askew returned the ball 88 yards for a touchdown and, with a two-point conversion, UNC lead 8-0.

Backup quarterback Connor Kavanaugh led the offense on the next series, which ended up being a 13-play, 60-yard series - all on the ground. Kavanaugh scored on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.

Following a Northern Colorado fumble, the Vikings got a remarkable 50-yard field goal in the snow from Zach Brown. That gave PSU a 10-8 lead early in the second period.

Just one play from scrimmage later Northern Colorado took the lead back. Bryan Waggener tossed a 76-yard touchdown pass to Chris Morris. The extra point put UNC up 15-10.

The Vikings rolled out a 70-yard drive at the end of the half. It ended with a 33-yard field goal from Brown. Although PSU had run 48 offensive plays to just 13 for Northern Colorado, the Vikings trailed 15-13 at halftime.

Portland State’s defense forced two third-period turnovers, an interception and a fumble recovery, both by DeShawn Shead. On the first play after the Shead gathered in the fumble, Hubel hit Kirven on a 22-yard touchdown pass. That gave PSU a 20-15 lead with 2:42 left in the third period.

The Bears closed to 20-18 midway through the fourth quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Michael York.

The Vikings then ran six minutes off the clock and got a third field goal from Brown, this time a 40-yarder with 1:44 to play.

PSU’s defense held on Northern Colorado’s final possession and the Vikings had a much-needed win.

Portland State totaled 349 yards of offense to 291 for Northern Colorado.

PSU rushed 45 times in the game, getting 56 yards from Kavanaugh, 44 from Bobby McClintock and 34 from Evans Okotcha. Hubel and Kavanaugh combined to throw for 240 yards.

Ray Fry caught eight passes for 101 yards in the game.

On defense, Ryan Rau led with seven tackles. Jordan Brown made six tackles. Shead recovered two of three Bear turnovers.

"I'm just so proud of the players and the coaches... I don't know if the kids have played any harder than they played today, with the weather and the field conditions, it was just fun to watch them," said Viking Coach Jerry Glanville.