Game Time...No.15 Northwestern College plays host to No.4 Morningside for its annual Homecoming game this weekend. Kickoff for the top 25 match-up is scheduled for 1:30 pm. Both teams boast unbeaten 4-0 records with Northwestern owning a 2-0 record in the GPAC and Morningside 1-0 in conference play. 

Follow the game live on the Northwestern College webcast, courtesy of Stretch Internet, at this link: Watch Now!   or listen to the game live via the KSOU broadcast at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Saturday's game will mark the 26th match-up in the rivalry, dating back to the first ever meeting in 1977, with Northwestern trailing the all-time series 10-15.  The Red Raiders are 1-4 in their last five games against Morningside, earning a 38-28 win in 2013. 

2016: 14-13 (Loss in Sioux City)
2015: 27-7 (Loss in OC)
2014: 42-24 (Loss in Sioux City)
2013: 38-28 (Win in OC)
2012: 34-7 (Loss in Sioux City)

Last year's game in Sioux City came down to the final seconds with Northwestern falling to the fifth-ranked Mustangs 14-13. 

Trailing 14-7, Northwestern's defense forced the Mustangs to punt for a GPAC-record 14th and final time, giving the Red Raider offense the ball at the Morningside 44-yard line with 3:34 left to play. Seven plays later, Jacob Kalogonis scored on a 1-yard run to make the score 14-13 with 1:43 left on the clock. Craig Bruinsma helped set up the score with a clutch 33-yard pass to Jared Nelson on third down giving the Red Raiders a first down. 

Down one, Northwestern elected to go for two but Bruinsma's pass fell incomplete as Morningside held on to its one point lead. The Mustangs recovered the ensuing onside kick and the outstanding effort by Northwestern came up a bit short.

The Red Raiders outgained Morningside by nearly 100 yards (349-259) and held the advantage in both first downs (18-11) and time of possession (31-29). The Mustangs, however, took advantage of six Northwestern turnovers which led to all 14 of Morningside's points. 

Jacob Kalogonis led the Northwestern offense with 22 carries for 117 yards and a score. Jonathan Kodama completed 14-of-38 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown against four interceptions. Sean Kleinwolterink and Levi TeBrink totaled two catches each.

Tyler Kavan led Morningside with 25 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown while Trent Solsma completed 18-of-33 passes for 163 yards.

Acoba led the Raider D with seven tackles and both Logan Richard and Brad Gaudy recorded a career-best six stops. Northwestern registered four sacks, one each by Sam Van Ginkel, Josh Treybal, Nick Acoba and Jed Vant' Hof and forced three Morningside turnovers. 

Scouting Reports...

No.4 Morningside College Mustangs: 1-0 (GPAC), 4-0 overall 

    Head Coach: Steve Ryan (16th year)
    2017 Results: def. St. Francis (41-24), #10 Tabor (65-14), Truman State (35-30), Dordt (62-23)
    Last Year's Record: 10-2 (8-0 in GPAC); finished 6th in final NAIA poll
    Returning Starters: 12 total (5 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams)
    
    By the Numbers (2017) and rank (bold-NAIA if top 10)

    Scoring Offense: 50.8 ppg (1st/4th)          Scoring Defense: 22.8 ppg (4th)
    Total Offense: 616 ypg (2nd/2nd)              Total Defense: 445 ypg (7th)
    Rush Offense: 220 ypg (5th)                      Rush Defense: 130 ypg (1st)
    Pass Offense: 397 ypg (1st/1st)                 Pass Defense: 314 ypg (8th)
    Sacks Given Up: 3 (1st)                             Sacks by: 5 (4th)

    2017 Stats Leaders/GPAC rank: (* denotes returning starter)
    Rushing: Bubbe Jenkins, 82 carries, 462 yds, 6 TD (115 yds/game-5th)
                    Arnijae Ponder, 31 carries, 173 yds, 2 TD (43.3yds/game)
    Passing: *Trent Solsma  101/128/1, 1506 yds, 17 TD (376.5yds/game-1st/2nd) All-Conference in 2016
    Receiving: Connor Niles  29 catches, 541yds, 6 TD (135.2yds/game-1st/4th) All-Conference in 2015
                       Addison Ross  23 catches, 271yds, 4 TD
                       Chad Berg    21 catches, 337yds, 4 TD
    Tackles: *Caden McDonald-38 tackles (1st) (All-Conference in 2016)
                   Klayton Nordeen-30 tackles (8th)
                   Jesse Faltys-23 tackles
    Interceptions: *Caden McDonald-2 
                              Steven Evans-2
    Sacks: 4 players tied w/ 1

#15 Northwestern College: 2-0 (GPAC), 4-0

    Head Coach: Matt McCarty (2nd year as head coach, 13th year as coach with program)
    
    2017 Results: def. Ottawa (41-16), No.15 Dickinson State (37-3), Concordia (35-21), Briar Cliff (63-26)

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

    Letterwinners Returning: 35   Letterwinners Lost: 24   

    By The Numbers: and rank (bold-NAIA if top 10)
    Scoring Offense: 44 ppg (3rd)                      Scoring Defense: 16.5 ppg (1st/4th)
    Total Offense: 524 ypg (3rd/8th)                  Total Defense: 397 ypg  (3rd)
    Rush Offense: 240 ypg (4th)                        Rush Defense: 186 ypg (5th)
    Pass Offense: 284 ypg (3rd)                        Pass Defense: 211 ypg (2nd)
    Sacks Given Up: 2 (2nd)                              Sacks by: 2 (9th)

    2017 Stats Leaders/GPAC rank: (* denotes returning starter)
    Rushing: *Jacob Kalogonis   79 att./505 yards, 7 TD (126yds/gm-3rd/5th)
                     Tyson Kooima   45 att./278 yards, 4 TD
    Passing: Tyson Kooima   72/113/1, 1,128yds, 12 TD, 282yds/game (3rd)
    Receiving: *J.C. Koerselman  16 catches, 182 yards, TD
                      Shane Solberg  14 catches, 261 yds, 4 TD
                      *Levi TeBrink   13 catches, 294 yds, 2 TD
                      Jared Nelson  13 catches, 223 yds, 5 TD
    Tackles: Sean Powell  30 tck (4th)
                  Bryce Van Beek 26 tck
                  *Joey Novotny   20 tck
                  *Jacob Jenness   16.5 tck
    Interceptions: *Jerod Hansen  2 INT
    Sacks: *Cody Bauman-1

Other Notes: 
    Red Raiders moved up to 15th in the NAIA poll; highest ranking since 2015 (Sept.28)
    
    Kalogonis has six 100+ yard games for his career, three in the 2017 season; one 200+ yard game

    Te Brink has one 100-yard receiving game this season; 3 for his career

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

    Kooima ranks 5th in the NAIA in pass efficiency (180); thrown 12TD and just one INT this season

    Kooima has thrown for 250+ yards in every game this season; 1 300-yard game

    Raider D leads GPAC in scoring (16.5), 4th in NAIA

    Sean Powell ranks 4th in GPAC in tackles (30)

    looking to start a season 5-0 for the first time since 2014 and just the second time in 11 years