Box Score

Northwestern College opened conference play with a 9-7 road loss to No. 20 Concordia in a match-up played today at Bulldogs Stadium in Seward, Neb. The Red Raiders fall to 0-1 in conference play, 0-3 overall. 

Senior defensive end Sam Van Ginkel led the Raider D with five tackles and registered a sack in the fourth quarter, setting a new GPAC record with 29.5 for his career. Van Ginkel broke the old mark (29) set by Darin Marryna of the University of Sioux Falls. He needs one more to break the Northwestern record of 30 set by Riley Kleinhesselink.

Both defenses held the opposing offenses in check for most of the game and the only points were scored in the first quarter. 

With the host Bulldogs' driving down the field on the game's opening possession, Northwestern defensive back Miguel Alvarado intercepted a Riley Wiltfong pass and returned it 76 yards before stepping out of bounds at the Concordia 3-yard line. Northwestern punched it in on the very next play as J.C. Koerselman scored his third rushing touchdown of the season. With the extra point, the Red Raiders led 7-0. 

Concordia quickly answered on its second offensive series as they went on an impressive 10-play, 64 yard drive capped by a one yard touchdown run by T.J. Austin. Northwestern blocked the extra-point to make it a one-point game. 

Following a Red Raider three-and-out, Concordia began a six-play, 42-yard drive that Jose Garcia finished off with a 32-yard field goal just before the first quarter ended to make it 9-7. 

Northwestern's offense controlled play in the second quarter, owning a 25-5 play advantage and a time of possession edge of nearly 14 minutes. The Red Raiders, however, were unable to convert despite getting into the redzone on each drive, missing on a pair of field goals from 32 and 37 yards. 

Neither team's offense was effective in a scoreless second half that featured eight punts and three turnovers. Northwestern was twice stopped on fourth down and threw an interception on its final drive to clinch the game. The Raider D kept Concordia's offense at bay as well, limiting the Bulldogs to just five first downs and 83 total yards in the second half. 

Northwestern accounted for 14 first downs and 212 yards of offense, 76 rush and 136 passing. Jacob Kalagonis, playing in his first career game for NWC, led the ground game with 15 carries for 44 yards. The freshman also caught two passes for six yards. Jonathan Kodama completed 17-of-31 passes for 136 yards with both T.J. Spykstra and Reggie Carter hauling in for catches each. 

The Raider D was led by Van Ginkel (5 tackles) and Jacob Jenness with 4.5 stops. Jed Van't Hof added four tackles and Brad Gaudy registered a sack. 

Concordia gained 252 yards and 15 first downs, 102 yards on the ground and 150 in the air. Austin accounted for 105 yards of total offense, completing 7-of-11 passes for 80 yards and scoring the only Bulldogs touchdown.