Game Time...Northwestern College will kickoff its 2017 football season on the road against Ottawa University (Kan.) as part of the GPAC vs KCAC Challenge. Game time is set for 6:00pm at People's Bank Field in Ottawa, Kan. Northwestern is coming off a 2016 season where they finished sixth in the GPAC with a 3-5 record, 3-7 overall. Ottawa also finished sixth in conference play in 2016 with a 4-5 record, 4-7 overall. Follow the game live via the Ottawa webcast, courtesy of Stretch Internet, at this link:  Watch Now!  Fans can also tune into the KSOU broadcast at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern won the only previous match-up between the two teams, 36-33, in a first round playoff game during the 2003 season. The game was a Red Raider Classic, played on a cold, wet field at DeValois Stadium. Read about the game, via the Sioux City Journal, at this link: 2003 Playoff Game recap. 

GPAC -KCAC Challenge...The Red Raiders are 1-1 all-time in the GPAC/KCAC Challenge, defeating Tabor 9-7 in a match-up between top 25 teams, and losing to Sterling 28-21 on Korver Field last season. This is the final year of the challenge.

Scouting Reports:

  Ottawa Braves:   2016 Record: 4-7 overall, 4-5 (6th) in KCAC

    Head Coach: Kent Kessinger (14th year)  Career Record: 85-56

    Returning Starters:  11     Starters Lost:  15  (including P, K, PR and KR)

    Letterwinners Returning: 47   Letterwinners Lost: 15    

    By the Numbers in 2016:

    Scoring Offense: 28.1 ppg                  Scoring Defense: 32.5 ppg
    Total Offense: 394.9 ypg                     Total Defense: 387 ypg  
    Rush Offense: 198.5 ypg                    Rush Defense: 143 ypg
    Pass Offense: 196 ypg                        Pass Defense: 244 ypg
    Sacks Given Up: 25                            Sacks by: 28.0

    Returning All-Conference Players: 
     Connor Byers-6'1 Soph.  Utility Player   155 carries, 958 yards   11 TD   5.8yds/att.  
                        62/120 passing, 768 yards  10 TD, 5 INT
     Dylan Wheeler-6'3 Jr. Tight End   10 catches, 109 yards 1 TD (KCAC Preseason All-conference)

    Statistical Leaders Returning From 2016:
     Rushing-Connor Byers:155 carries, 958 yards   11 TD   5.8yds/att.  
     Passing-Connor Byers: 62/120 passing, 768 yards  10 TD, 5 INT
     Receiving-Mauricio Uribe: 37 catches, 410 yards, 4 TD
                      Parker Williamson: 5 catches, 30 yards
     Tackles: Jonathan Dawson  53 tackles
                  Clint Godfrey-47 tackles
     Sacks: Jonathan Dawson-5
     Interceptions: Jerrell Taylor-2

Ottawa was picked to finish fifth in both the KCAC Coaches' and Media poll, behind Tabor, Kansas Wesleyan, Sterling and University of Saint Mary. 

The Braves are 0-2 in the GPAC vs KCAC Challenge; lost to DWU (23-22) in 2015 and to Morningside (62-0) in 2016

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014-lost to Morningside in 1st round (42-21)

Northwestern Notes: 

    2016 Record: 3-7 overall, 3-5 (6th) in GPAC

    Head Coach: Matt McCarty (2nd year)  Career Record: 3-7

    Returning Starters:  12     Starters Lost:  14  (including P, K, PR and KR)

    Letterwinners Returning: 35   Letterwinners Lost: 24   

    By the Numbers in 2016:

    Scoring Offense: 28.8 ppg                  Scoring Defense: 19.9 ppg
    Total Offense: 440.3 ypg                     Total Defense: 334 ypg  
    Rush Offense: 132.2 ypg                    Rush Defense: 121.8 ypg
    Pass Offense: 308 ypg (10th in NAIA) Pass Defense: 213 ypg
    Sacks Given Up: 20                            Sacks by: 29.0

    Returning All-Conference Players: 
     Tanner Machacek-6'1 Soph.  Linebacker   31.5 tackles, 7 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 QBH 1 FF, 1 FR 
     Blake Eichmann-6'1 Sr. Defensive Back    28 tackles, 2 INT, 9 PD, 1 FF
     Jacob Kaloginis-5'9 Soph. Running Back   142 carries, 871 yards, 6 TD  5.9 yds/att.
                                                                          30 catches, 192 yards, TD
     JC Koerselman-6'2 Sr. Tight End              17 catches, 218 yds, TD
                                                                        18 carries, 51 yds, 5 TD
     Levi TeBrink-6'2 Sr.  Wide Receiver           36 catches, 567 yds, 5 TD

    Statistical Leaders Returning From 2016:
     Rushing-Jacob Kalogonis:  142 carries, 871 yards, 6 TD  5.9 yds/att.
     Passing-n/a
     Receiving-Levi TeBrink:  36 catches, 567 yds, 5 TD
                      Jacob Kalogonis: 30 catches, 192 yards, TD
     Tackles: Tanner Machacek-31.5
                    Blake Eichmann-28
     Sacks: Tanner Machacek-3.5
     Interceptions: Blake Eichmann, Jerod Hansen-2

Northwestern was picked to finish fifth in both the GPAC Coaches' and Media poll, behind Morningside, Doane,Dakota Wesleyan and Midland
The Red Raiders are 1-1 in the GPAC vs KCAC Challenge; defeating Tabor 9-7 in 2015, and losing to Sterling 28-21 last year
Last Playoff Appearance: 2014-lost to Missouri Valley in 1st round (20-17 OT)

NW Notes:

Quarterback Preview-Red Raiders will start a true freshmen under center in Tyson Kooima and Brett Moser, who both earned all-state honors in leading their respective teams to the state championship last year. 
    Said McCarty-"love their leadership, competitiveness and athleticism"

    McCarty on Kooima-"Tyson is a competitive kid who can beat a defense both through the air and rushing; he can make every throw on the field"
    McCarty on Moser-"outstanding leader and dual threat at QB; does a great job of taking what the defense gives to move the offense"

Running Back Preview: 
    Said McCarty-"solid depth at running back and able to build our offense around our players at this position"
    McCarty on Kalogonis-"Jacob is a special player and threat to score on every snap. He is explosive and a dual threat as a pass catcher."
    McCarty on Depth-"Brady Van't Hul will get carries and is a nice compliment to Jacob...Vaughn Moser is a power back and freshman Gabe Toki is extremely quick and elusive...both guys have had good camps."

Wide Receiver/Tight End Preview:
    McCarty-"we need to make up a lot of production from the loss of T.J. Spykstra (all-conference in 2016); we need to continue to focus on running great routes and executing at a high level. 
    McCarty on TeBrink-"Levi is our big play threat on the outside...outstanding speed and we will look to him to take the top off the defense."
    McCarty on Koerselman-"extremely valuable to our offense, a physical blocker who is  also a pass-catching threat; has great versatility.
    Other thoughts: "Jared Nelson had a strong finish to last season; both Shane Solberg and Armani Johnson are really athletic and have excelled in the slot for us in camp. Josh Fakkema and Clayton Ford will be contributors at tight end...both are physical players.

O-Line Preview: 
      McCarty-"we return a pair of three-year starters in Taylor Kooi and Tyler Alger; Brad Mould and Paxton DeHaan will take over at guard...both guys earned experience last year and play with a physical presence. Grahm Kenobbie is a good athlete and will start at center after redshirting last year."

Defense: 
    Overall: "difficult to replace Van Ginkel, Treybal and Acoba up front...we may not be able to rush just three guys...but we can be just as strong, aggressive...guys will step up"

    D-Line: "Cody Bauman and Jed Van't Hof will start at end and both have been key contributors for us. They are both very talented and can be difference makers. Nate Bennett had an outstanding camp and will start inside. We have three redshirt freshmen, Carter Van Gorp, Kyle Schiernbeck and David Tiefenthaler, who will contribute as well."

    Linebackers: "is one of our strongest position groups; Tanner Machacek is an explosive pass rusher and create havoc against opposing teams. Jacob Jenness and Joey Novotny are returning starters, great leaders and instill the tough mindset that we want. Sean Powell is a physical presence and will get to start. Justin Faber, Ryan Cougill, Marcus Van Kekerix, Colin Snyder and Colton Hage give us talent and depth."

    Secondary: "We return three of four starters from a group that played its best football the final games of the 2016 season...they really played well down the stretch, limiting Midland, Doane and Morningside to under 170 yards passing."
        McCarty-"Jerod Hansen and Blake Eichmann return as starters at safety and Bryce Van Beek earned experience as well. Logan Richard started at corner last year and has become one of our best players. Newcomers Garrett Sayler, Darren Graham and Preslee Moy are very athletic and will play."