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By Michael Cruz
Saipan’s Savali Talalemotu and his Portland State Vikings dream season ended on Saturday. The Vikings finish the season at 9-3 and hosted the Northern Iowa Panthers who were making their 18th FCS playoff appearance. The Vikings were making their 2nd playoff appearance in 20 years with the final score playing out to a 29-17 loss.
The whole season was a high for Talalemotu who battled a shoulder injury during the season. He was able to make his way back into the lineup after starting most of the season at defensive end. Savali was disappointed by the way the season ended. He was able to get a sack for a 14 yard sack.
Talalemotu played in 11 games recording 17 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup. The Vikings biggest win was upsetting PAC12 member Washington State on the road. Savali plans to stay in Portland for the holidays with family. He is on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and has one year of football eligibility.
Talalemotu lived on Saipan until his junior year at Kagman high school and left to play football in Oregon. He drew the attention of Portland State after playing his first year of organized football at Beaverton High. Talalemotu was accepted into Portland State as a conditional walk-on. He worked his way up as an eventual equivalency scholarship player and defensive end starter last season.
http://www.goviks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2142&path=football
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(AP/Carlos Osorio)
