Another loss, 20-7 at Portland State University, and more kicking problems has head football coach Steve Mooshagian looking to the baseball diamond for a possible answer.

Last year’s starting kicker Bret LeVier, who decided in the offseason to focus solely on baseball, will be brought into practice this week to battle for Mitch Lively’s starting job.

“Were not just going to give Bret the starting job,” Mooshagian said of LeVier. “He will have to come in and win it.”

Along with a miss at Portland State, Lively has made 3 of 6 of his other field goals and 20 of 25 extra points.

The Hornets drove the football seven times into Portland State territory Saturday and could muster only one meager touchdown in a road loss at PGE Park.

Hornet quarterback Blake Mori, who was thrust into the starting job after quarterback Ryan Leadingham went down with a fractured wrist, had his worst performance of the season completing 15 of 34 passes with two interceptions.

Both of Mori’s picks came in the red zone. The first was intercepted late in the first half by strong safety Nick Chenault at the Portland State 13-yard line. The second was picked by free safety Steve Shinen at the opponent’s 4-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“When things go bad (the team) is devastated,” Mooshagian said. “They looked like somebody died when they came off the field. They have to learn to overcome that.”

The Vikings, who never trailed in the game, scored on two of their first three drives to open up a 14-0 lead.

Portland State running back Ryan Fuqua scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run.

On the next Viking possession quarterback Joe Wiser, who was 21 of 30 on the night with three interceptions, threw a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage but still caught by wide receiver Amad Robinson who took the ball 73 yards for the touchdown.

The Hornet offense scored its only touchdown on the ensuing drive. Tyronne Gross finished with 97 rushing yards and capped off the nine play, 77-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown rush.

The Vikings added two field goals in the second quarter.

“After (Robinson’s) blooper play the defense settled down and executed,” Mooshagian said. “The biggest change from this game to the last was the third down package we installed.”

Wiser threw three consecutive interceptions to three different Hornet defenders in the second half but Sac State’s offense could not capitalize on the turnovers.

Nose guard Seth Tago had a rare interception for a defensive linemen in the third quarter.

“Two linebackers went on the blitz and I dropped back in coverage,” Tago said. “(Miser) didn’t see me – I don’t know why when I’m the biggest guy out there. He threw it and it just came into my hands.”

Hornet safeties Kevin Tennerson and Zeph Payne were next to get in on the pick drill coming up with the next two turnovers respectively.

Wide receiver Fred Amey, who led the Big Sky with 112.3 yards per game, was held to only two catches for 51 yards.

“Were still battling with some mental pictures from the past,” Mooshagian said. “I’m using all my arsenal.”