Tim Plough threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns and the Aggies spoiled Jerry Glanville's home debut, 26-17.

"We can't blame anybody but ourselves," said Glanville, who was defensive coordinator for the University of Hawaii the past two seasons. "And they deserve the credit."

After Emmanuel Benjamin's 39-yard-field goal put the UC Davis ahead 19-17, Plough hit Luke McDonough with a 31-yard touchdown pass, stunning the crowd of 12,022 that had come out to see the new high-profile coach of the Vikings.

Plough completed 18 of 29 passes, and Joe Trombetta ran for 92 yards and another score for the Aggies (1-1)

Portland State (0-2) led by as many as 14 points in the first half.

After Jordan Brown's early safety, Olaniyi Sobomehin rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 8-0 for Portland State in the first quarter.

Benjamin kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Aggies.

The Vikings got a team safety before Brian White found Kenneth Mackins with a 49-yard scoring pass to make it 17-3 for Portland State.

Plough's 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Rice narrowed it to 17-9 before halftime. Trombetta added a 19-yard TD run early in the second half.

"I don't rate losses," Glanville said, looking dejected. "There's never been a loss where you can lose and smile. If you do, then you need to do something else for a living."

The Vikings lost 35-12 by McNeese State in Louisiana last Saturday. Glanville lost quarterback Tygue Howland and fullback Bobby McClintock to injuries in that game. Both will require surgery.

Brian White, who transferred from Colorado last season, took over for Howland. He completed 23 of 40 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown. He threw one interception and was sacked nine times.

"The quarterback position depends on so many other people. Everyone else has to do a lot of things well for the quarterback to do well. At times he didn't get much help," Glanville said. "The quarterback gets way too much credit and way too much blame. His ability to function is totally based on a lot of other people doing things correctly."

Glanville, a former NFL coach for the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons, was hired to take over the Vikings after coach Tim Walsh took the offensive coordinator's job at Army.

With his colorful personality, Glanville has created a buzz around the Vikings. They've already sold 3,966 season tickets, well above the approximately 1,000 sold last season.

Last night's opener was marked by a visit from Portland Mayor Tom Potter and a halftime fireworks show.

Glanville asked fans for another chance.

"Give us another shot," he said. "The players deserve it. I told myself we'd be a better team by the third week."

The Vikings did not live up to the preseason hype, and at one point late in the game tried six times — unsuccessfully — to score from 1 yard out or less.