Game Time...24th-ranked Northwestern plays host to Concordia this weekend in the conference opener for both teams. Kickoff on Korver Field is scheduled for 1pm. Northwestern, with a 2-0 record, moved into the top 25 for the first time since late in the 2015 season. The Bulldogs are 1-1 so far this season. 

Follow the game live via the NWC webcast, courtesy of Stretch Internet, at the following link: Watch Now!  or listen live to the game via the KSOU broadcast at the following link: Listen Now!

All-Time...The Red Raiders are 25-14 all-time against Concordia, dating back to the first match-up in 1960. More recently, Northwestern is 8-2 against the Bulldogs over the last 10 years with the last five games being decided by six points or less.

Last year, Northwestern lost 9-7 to the Bulldogs in a defensive struggle played in Seward, Neb. All of the games' points were scored in the first quarter as the Red Raiders grabbed a 7-0 lead on a three-yard run by J.C. Koerselman early in the quarter. Concordia scored its only points on back-to-back drives, first on a one-yard plunge by T.J. Austin followed by a 32-yard field goal by Jose Garcia, which proved to be game winner, at the end of the first quarter. 

Jacob Kalogonis rushed 15 times for 44 yards and T.J. Spykstra caught four passes for 55 yards to lead a Red Raider offense that totaled 212 yards. Sam Van Ginkel accounted for five stops and one sack while both Jacob Jenness and Jed Van't Hof totaled 4.5 tackles. 

Bryce Collins led the Concordia offense with nearly 100 total yards, 49 rush and 47 receiving. Austin completed 7-of-11 passes for 80 yards under center. 

Scouting Reports...

Concordia Bulldogs: 1-1 (all non-conference)    

    Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (1st year as head, 7 years as Def. Coordinator)
    2017 Results: lost to Kansas Wesleyan 28-13 (GPAC/KCAC Challenge), def. Ottawa 24-6 (Home)
    2016 Record: 5-3 (4th), 7-3 overall; ranked 19th in final NAIA coaches' poll
    Returning Starters: 14 total (7 offense, 3 defense, 4 special teams)
    
    By the Numbers (2017): 

    Scoring Offense: 18.5 ppg (9th in GPAC)                Scoring Defense: 17 ppg (4th in GPAC)
    Total Offense: 381 ypg (6th in GPAC)                     Total Defense: 373 ypg (5th in GPAC)
    Rush Offense: 238 ypg (5th in GPAC, 15th NAIA)  Rush Defense: 182 ypg (6th in GPAC)
    Pass Offense: 144 ypg (7th in GPAC)                     Pass Defense: 191 ypg (4th in GPAC)
    Sacks Given Up: 3                                                   Sacks by: 5 (1st in GPAC)

    Key Returners (Starters):
        T.J. Austin  QB  (2016 stats: 60/113, 747yds, 5 TD, 7 INT)
        Riley Wiltfong QB (2016 stats: 87/183, 1,136yds, 12 TD, 6 INT)
        Jordan Slough RB (2016 stats: 32 rush, 134yds, TD)
        Erik Small FB  2x HM all-conference
        Jared Garcia WR  1st team all-conference (2016 stats: 55 catches, 825yds, 10 TD)
        Seth Fitzke  TE missed 2016 season, all-conference in 2015
        Grady Koch   OL  HM all-conference
        Hallick Lehmann  OL  (missed 2016 season)
        Matt Romero  OL  HM all-conference
        Kordell Glause  LB  (2016 stats: 44 tackles)
        D'Mauria Martin  DB  1st team all-conference (2016 stats: 24 tck, INT, 2 FF)
        Tarence Roby DB/KR/PR  1st team all-conference (39 tck)
        
    2017 Stat Leaders: 
    Rushing: Ryan Durdon   51/302yds, 2 TD (151ypg-3rd in GPAC, 5th in NAIA)
    Passing: Andrew Perea  22/38 for 204yds, TD
    Receiving: Lane Castaneda 10 catches (8th in GPAC), 112yds, TD
                      Kiyoshi Brey  6 catches, 84yds, TD
    Tackles: D'Mauria Martin 11
                  Caden Jameson 10
                  Nate Gilmore      10
    Interceptions: Tarence Roby  2
    Sacks: Erik Small, Sebastian Garces, Riley Billstein-1

    Concordia ranked among the top five in total defense in 2013 and 2015

    The Bulldogs average 30 yards/kick return, tops in the GPAC, 4th in NAIA, led by Tarence Roby

    #24 Northwestern College: 2-0  

    Head Coach: Matt McCarty (2nd year as head coach, 13th year as coach with program)
    
    2017 Results: def. Ottawa 41-16, def. No.15 Dickinson State 37-3

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

    Letterwinners Returning: 35   Letterwinners Lost: 24   

    By The Numbers: 
    Scoring Offense: 39 ppg (5th in GPAC)                      Scoring Defense: 9.5 ppg (1st in GPAC, 2nd NAIA)
    Total Offense: 550 ypg (4th in GPAC/9th NAIA)          Total Defense: 407 ypg  (6th in GPAC)
    Rush Offense: 286 ypg (2nd in GPAC/4th NAIA)        Rush Defense: 190 ypg (8th in GPAC)
    Pass Offense: 264 ypg (3rd in GPAC)                         Pass Defense: 217 ypg (5th in GPAC)
    Sacks Given Up: 1 (1st in GPAC)                                Sacks by: 1

    2017 Stats Leaders:
    Rushing: Jacob Kalogonis   45 att./359 yards, 4 TD
    Passing: Tyson Kooima   33/55 for 528 yards, 7 TD
    Receiving: Jared Nelson  11 catches, 206 yards, 5 TD
                      J.C. Koerselman  8 catches, 65 yards
    Tackles: Sean Powell  17.5 tck
                  Bryce Van Beek 14.0 tck
                  Joey Novotny  12.5 tck
    Interceptions: Jerod Hansen  2 INT

Other Notes: 
    Red Raiders move into the NAIA rankings for first time since 2015
    
    Kalogonis has five 100+ yard games for his career, two in the 2017 season; one 200+ yard game

    Jared Nelson was the first Red Raider to catch four TD passes in a game (for sure since 1998)

    Kooima ranks 9th in the NAIA in pass efficiency (179.00); throw 7 TD and just one INT this season

    Red Raiders are 4th in NAIA in rushing offense, 9th in total offense

    Raider D leads GPAC in scoring (9.5), 2nd in NAIA

    Sean Powell leads the GPAC in tackles (17.5); Bryce Van Beek 3rd w/ 14.0