Tyson Kooima combined for five touchdowns in leading No.24 Northwestern to a 35-21 win over Concordia in the GPAC opener for both teams. The Red Raiders improve to 3-0 overall on the year and Concordia slips to 1-2.
Kooima, who threw for four touchdowns the week prior in the win over then-No.15 Dickinson State, was responsible for all five Red Raider scores this afternoon while showcasing his big-play capability as both a runner and passer. The freshman threw for a pair of touchdowns, both of more than 50-yards, and added three rushing touchdowns, two of which were 20 yards or longer. On the day, Kooima completed 19-of-32 passes for 316 yards and was also the team's leading rusher with 15 carries for 69 yards while directing a Red Raider offense that amassed over 400 yards of offense for the third straight week.
It was Concordia that struck first, scoring on its very first possession when Riley Wiltfong connected with Jackson Hall for a 47-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs in front 7-0. Northwestern responded quickly with its first scoring drive, going 65 yards on seven plays capped by a Kooima two-yard touchdown run. Kooima hooked up with
Jacob Kalogonis for a 35-yard pass and catch to convert a key third down and keep the drive going.
With the score knotted at seven, Northwestern grabbed the lead for good halfway through the second quarter when Kooima displayed his speed with a 24-yard touchdown run, beating several Concordia defenders to the endzone and putting the Red Raiders up 14-7 at the half.
The Raider defense camp up with back-to-back stops to open the second half and the Northwestern offense took advantage, using another big play as Kooima and fellow freshman
Shane Solberg combined for a 61-yard touchdown pass and catch to put the hosts up 21-7 at the 8:58 mark of the third quarter. Another 3-and-out forced by the Raider D gave the ball back to the offense and they scored again, just two plays later, with a 39-yard run by Kooima.
With Concordia driving near the end of the third quarter, Northwestern defensive back
Logan Richard intercepted a Wiltfong pass in the endzone for a touchback. The Red Raider offense followed with an impressive 80-yard drive that concluded with a Kooima to
J.C. Koerselman 56-yard touchdown pass to go up 35-7 at the 13-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs scored a pair of late touchdowns, both on passes from Wiltfong, to Lane Castaneda (21-yards) and Kiyoshi Brey (24-yards), to make the final 35-21.
Kalogonis was held in check by the Bulldogs front seven, limited to 30 yards on 20 carres, but did catch five passes for 56 yards. Solberg was the top pass catcher, totaling three for 85 yards and a score. Koerselman (6/82, TD) and
Levi TeBrink (4/81) were the other top targets.
Sean Powell led the Raider D with 7.5 stops, including six solo tackles, and two passes defended.
Nate Bennett and
Jacob Jenness registered 5.5 tackles each and
Cody Bauman accounted for three tackles and the Red Raiders lone sack.
Wiltfong accounted for over 300 yards of offense, throwing for 247 yards and three scores while also rushing 13 times for 72 yards. Jackson Hall caught five passes for 108 yards and Castaneda totaled eight catches for 68 yards.
Northwestern will head to Sioux City, Iowa next weekend for a match-up against Briar Cliff.
