Portland State's run and shoot offense under Mouse Davis and Neil Lomax (born February 17, 1959) were a match made in heaven. The freshman quarterback from Lake Oswego took over the starting job with the Viks nine games into the 1977 season after starting the year #5 on the depth chart. That team finished 7-4 and led Division II teams in passing and total offense.
PSU moved up in classification the next year and the offense would lead the nation three more years in passing and total offense, all with Lomax at the helm. Those teams racked up some amazing scores; 63-9, 63-7, 72-35.
As a senior, he led the NCAA Division I-AA football in total yards (4,094), touchdown passes (37) and completions (296), and was seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting. His 13,220 career passing yards and 106 touchdowns records will likely never be broken by another PSU quarterback. His numbers would have been even more amazing if had finished games. Mouse Davis pulled Neil from games when the Viks had rolled up big leads. That happened a lot. 1981 saw Viking wins of 93-7, 75-0 and the famous 105-0 rout of Delaware State.
Lomax was a 1-AA (now FCS) All-American his senior year and two-time offensive player of the year for PSU. The pros noticed and he was the 2nd round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981.
He would play eight pro seasons, all for the Cardinals before retiring due to arthritis in his hip. Just like at PSU, he was thrown into a starting role his rookie year and hung on to the QB1 job for most of his career. Lomax was named to the Pro Bowl twice and threw for 22,771 yards and 136 touchdowns.
Post-playing career, Lomax has been active in Portland, coaching teams and launching a promotions company that staged many successful events.
Neil Lomax's #11 is retired at Portland State. He is a member of the Vikings Athletic Hall of Fame