Game Time...A pair of unbeaten teams collide this weekend as 3rd-ranked Northwestern plays host to No.1 Morningside in a top five match-up on Saturday, Oct. 20 at DeValois Stadium. Kickoff on Korver Field is slated for 1pm. Both teams are 5-0 in conference play with the Red Raiders owning a 6-0 record and Morningside coming in with a perfect 7-0 mark. 

This weekend's match-up is the NAIA Game of the Week: Press Release

Follow the game live, video, audio and live stats, via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch Now!

Listen to the game via the KSOU broadcast at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern is 10-16 all-time against the Mustangs, dating back to the first ever match-up in 1977, won by the Red Raiders 12-7. The Red Raiders are just 1-9 in their last 10 games against the Mustangs, earning a 38-28 win in 2013 on Korver Field. Last year, Morningside upended Northwestern 48-20 in Orange City. 

    Last Five vs Morningside:
    2017: Northwestern lost 48-20
    2016: Northwestern lost 14-13
    2015: Northwestern lost 27-7    
    2014: Northwestern lost 42-24    
    2013: Northwestern won 38-28

The Coaches...Matt McCarty is in his third season as head coach and 14th season as a coach within the Red Raider football program, spending 11 years as the team's defensive coordinator. McCarty was named the AFCA NAIA Region 4 co-Coach of the Year in 2017 and was also a finalist for assistant coach of the year in 2014. He has a 13-9 overall record with one playoff berth (2017) heading into the 2018 season.

Hired in 2002, Steve Ryan owns a 155-40 (.795) record and is the winningest coach in program history. Now in his 17th year, Ryan has guided the Mustangs 14 straight NAIA postseason appearances and eight GPAC titles.

Scouting Morningside... ranked #1, 5-0 (GPAC), 7-0 overall
    Week 1: def. William Penn 49-21
    Week 2: def. Truman State 35-17
    Week 3: def. Dakota Wesleyan 66-13
    Week 4: def. Briar Cliff 56-0
    Week 5: def. Hastings 65-0
    Week 6: def. Midland 77-21
    Week 7: def. Doane 69-7

    Morningside returns 15 starters (6 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams) from a 2017 team that finished with a 13-1 record and lost in the semifinals to eventual national champion University of Saint Francis (Ind.). The Mustangs were picked first in the GPAC preseason poll and opened the season ranked third in the NAIA. They have held the top spot in the last two national polls. 

Team Stats (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense:                                            Defense:                                        Special Teams:
59ppg (1st/1st)                                11.3ppg (1st/4th)                             Punting-44.1yds/ (1st/1st)
631ypg (1st/1st)                               219ypg (1st/4th)                             Kick Return-22ypr (3rd)
185ypg rush (4th)                            99ypg rush (1st/9th)                        Punt Return-6.3ypr (7th)
446ypg pass (1st/1st)                      120ypg pass (1st)    
30 1st downs/gm (1st/1st)                19 sacks (2nd)
54% 3rd down (1st/2nd)                   31% 3rd down (3rd)
11 sacks (5th)
+11 TO margin (2nd)

Individual Leaders: (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Passing: Trent Solsma (2x All-Conf)  181/241, 2922 yds (1st/1st), 37 TD (1st/1st), O INT, 75% completion
Rushing: Arnijae (AP) Ponder  130/636yds (3rd), 9 TD, 4.9 yds/carry
               Anthony Sims  55/310yds, 4 TD
Receiving: Connor Niles (2x All-Conf) 74 catches (1st/2nd), 1,512yds (1st/1st), 19 TD (1st)
                  Bo Els 36 catches (4th) 484yds (8th), 4 TD
                  Reid Jurgensmeier 23 catches/362yds, 5 TD
                  Addison Ross 16 catches/215yds, 4 TD
O-Line: Garrett Temme (2x All-Conf), Garrett Shanle (All-Conf)
Kicking: Jared Amundson (3x All-Conf)  56/56 PAT (1st/1st), 4/4 FG
Punting: Spencer Wyatt (3x All-Conf) 45.6yds/attempt (1st/1st)
Tackles: Jacob Katzer-52 tackles
              Joel Katzer (All-Conference)  50 tackles
              Klayton Nordeen  45 tackles
INT: Xavier Spann (2x All-Conf)  3

Northwestern Notes...ranked 3rd, 5-0 (GPAC), 6-0 overall

Off to its best start since 2014 (8-0), the Red Raiders are a perfect 6-0 on the season, 5-0 in conference play. They are currently ranked third in the NAIA, the highest ranking for sure since the 1998 season. Northwestern has wins over two ranked teams this season, defeating both Doane and Midland.

Team Stats (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense:                                     Defense:                                   Special Teams:
39ppg (3rd)                                17.2ppg (2nd)                            Punting-30.4yds/ (10th)
459ypg (2nd)                              277ypg (2nd)                             Kick Return-16.5ypr (9th)
195ypg rush (2nd)                         22ypg rush (4th)                     Punt Return-7.1ypr (6th)
264ypg pass (3rd)                         155ypg pass (2nd)    
23 1st downs/gm (2nd)               9 sacks (8th)
41% 3rd down (4th)                   27% 3rd down (1st/7th)
8 sacks (2nd)
+6 TO margin (3rd)

Individual Leaders: (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Passing: Tyson Kooima (All-Conf)  99/162, 1,528 yds (3rd), 12 TD (T3rd), 5 INT, 61% completion
Rushing: Jacob Kalogonis (2x All-Conf) 139/731yds (1st), 11 TD (2nd/4th), 5.3 yds/carry
               Tyson Kooima  66/288yds, 6 TD
Receiving: Shane Solberg  37 catches (3rd), 597yds (3rd), 5 TD
                  Jared Nelson  16 catches, 320yds, TD
                  Canon Flores  16 catches, 233yds, TD
                  Cade Moser    13 catches, 216yds, 3 TD
O-Line: Brad Mould (All-Conf), Paxton De Haan & Grahm Kenobbie (returning starters)
Kicking: Braxton Williams 24/31 PAT, 3/8 FG
Punting: Braxton Williams 33.4yds/attempt 
Tackles: Sean Powell (All-Conference)  56 (3rd)
              Garrett Sayler  36
              Bryce Van Beek  34
              Tanner Machacek (All-Conference) 33
INT: Bryce Van Beek (All-Conf)  6 (1st/1st)

Other Notes:
Jacob Kalogonis ranks T4th w/ 3,147 career rushing yards; tied w/ Marty Guthmiller (1978-81)
      -32 rushing TDs-T7th all-time w/ Lee McKinstrey (1980-83)
      -currently averages 5.8 yards/carry for career-5th best all-time
      -4 100 yard rushing games this season; 16 for career
     -rushing TD every game this season; 20 of 26 games in career
Tyson Kooima-4,404 passing yards is 10th best all-time, just passed Travis Kooima
            -34 passing TD's - 10th all-time at NW
            -12 200-yard passing games for career; 4 this season
            -2 300-yard passing games for career, 1 this season
            -951 career rushing yards
Shane Solberg - 100 yards receiving 3 of last 4 games