Game Time...Northwestern College hosts Dickinson State in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship series this weekend at DeValois Stadium / Korver Field, presented by Pizza Ranch. Kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 17 is scheduled for 1pm. Northwestern, ranked fifth in the final edition of the NAIA coaches' poll, brings a 9-1 record into the weekend. The 15th-ranked Blue Hawks are 8-2 on the season.
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Championship Central.
All-Time...This will be the third match-up between the two teams, all played within the last three years. In 2016, Northwestern lost to Dickinson State on the road, 42-13, but then defeated the Blue Hawks at home last season, 37-3.
How They Qualified...Northwestern earned the first of five at-large bids into the 16-team FCS after finishing as the GPAC runner-up during the regular season. The Red Raiders were the highest ranked team that did not automatically qualify. They are one of two teams from the GPAC, joining Morningside, in the postseason field.
Dickinson State, champions of the North Star Athletic Association, received one of the 11 automatic bids into the postseason championship. They are the only team from the NSAA in the field.
Playoff History...Northwestern is making its 20th appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series, most among the 16 teams in this year's field. The Red Raiders own a 21-17 all-time record in postseason play, second most wins (Saint Francis-31-15) in the field. They are 14-5 in the first round, including a 55-7 win on the road last year against No.7 Langston (Okla.). (note: the 1987 season was the first the NAIA went to a 16-team format for the championship; from 1978 - 1986, the NAIA had an 8-team championship field, prior to that, it was four-team championship; therefore, the 13-5 record in the first round accounts for the FIRST game played in the postseason by the Red Raiders, whether it be the round of 16, 8 for 4.) The Red Raiders have won two national titles (1973, 1983).
This is the fourth straight season and 19th overall that the Blue Hawks have qualified for postseason play, owning a 6-18 all-time record. They are 5-13 in the first round, last advancing to the quarterfinals in 2004 with a 30-13 win over Montana Tech. Dickinson State's best finish was a semifinal appearance in 1991.
Scouting Reports...
#15 Dickinson State Blue Hawks
The Blue Hawks opened the season ranked 13th in the NAIA D-II preseason coaches poll and have been ranked in the top 25 all season. Picked first in the North Star Athletic Association preseason coaches' poll, DiSU won its fourth straight conference title, going 6-1 in league play.
Dickinson State returned 14 starters (8 offense, 6 defense) from a 2017 team that finished 9-2 and lost to Southern Oregon in the first round of the FCS 55-24. Among the starters returning are four of the five members of the o-line, quarterback, two wide receivers, three linebackers and three members of the secondary.
Record: 6-1 (NSAA), 8-2 overall
Head Coach: Pete Stanton (5
th year)
Qualified by: Auto-NSAA Champion
NAIA FCS Appearances: 19
Consecutive FCS: 4
th
Record in 1st Round: 5-13
Best Finish: semifinals in 1991
Last Win in FCS: 2004 vs Montana Tech, 30-13
Schedule:
Jamestown W 51-0
@ #16 Rocky Mountain L 21-10
@ U of Wisconsin-LaCrosse W 35-17
Presentation* W 59-0
@ Dakota State* W 33-27
@ Waldorf* L 23-22
Mayville State* W 41-14
Valley City State* W 31-26
@ Presentation* W 48-24
Dakota State* W 41-25
Team Stats: (NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense Defense Special Teams
37ppg 17.7ppg 6/10 FG
439yds/game 314yds/game 42/49 PAT
192 rush/game 119 rush/game 19.6 KR/
247 pass/game 195 pass/game 7.7 PR/
23 1st downs/game 17 sacks 34yds/punt attempt
+12 TO (30 forced/18 give) 33% 3rd down
49% 3rd down (5th)
10 sacks given up (4th)
Statistical Leaders: (NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Rushing:
Amad Andrews Jr. – 176/838yds, 13 TD
Roderick Ashford – 60/443yds, 3 TD
Nick Miller – 65/266yds, 5 TD
Passing:
Hayden Gibson 182/297, 2,401yds, 24 TD, 11 INT (All-Conference)
Receiving:
Tyger Frye – 54/602yds, 6 TD
Randy Ivey – 36/623yds, 6 TD (All-Conference)
Jarett Lee – 27/374yds, 1 TD
Jordan Walker – 12/145yds, 3 TD (All-Conference)
Interceptions:
Cain Boschee – 4 (2x All-Conference)
Jay Liggins – 4 (Co-Defensive Player of the Year, 2x All-Conference)
Tackles:
Daniel Moreno – 88 (All-Conference)
Derick VandeBossche – 55 (All-Conference)
Kevin Brown – 54 (All-Conference)
Jalen Hendrickson – 44 (All-Conference)
QB Sacks:
Blake Murray – 4.5
Kicking:
Cody Johnson – 6/10, 32/44 PAT
#5 Northwestern Red Raiders
Record: 8-1 (GPAC), 9-1 overall
Head Coach:
Matt McCarty (3
rd year)
Qualified by: At-Large bid #1
NAIA FCS Appearances: 20
Consecutive FCS: 2
nd
Record in 1st Round: 14-5
Best Finish: Champions 1973, 1983
Last Win in FCS: 2017 vs Langston, 55-7
Schedule:
@ Valley City State W 28-10
@ Jamestown* W 49-7
#24 Midland* W 49-20
@ Dakota Wesleyan W 41-13
(RV) Doane* W 28-25
Dordt* W 40-28
#1 Morningside* L 42-34
@ Hastings* W 39-29
@ Concordia* W 42-28
Briar Cliff* W 31-14
Team Stats: (NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense Defense Special Teams
38.1ppg 21.6ppg 7/12 FG
463yds/game (9th) 323yds/game 42/49 PAT
181 rush/game 129 rush/game 19.2 KR/
283 pass/game 194 pass/game 8.7 PR/
23 1st downs/game 15 sacks 31yds/punt attempt
+1 TO (19 forced/18 give) 33% 3rd down
44% 3rd down
10 sacks given up (4th)
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing:
Jacob Kalogonis – 213/1,168yds, 16 TD (3x All-Conference)
Tyson Kooima – 106/453yds, 9 TD
Passing:
Tyson Kooima 180/286, 2,769yds (8th), 23 TD, 10 INT (2x All-Conference)
Receiving:
Shane Solberg – 77/1,295yds (3rd), 13 TD (All-Conference)
Jared Nelson – 25/443yds, 1 TD
Jacob Kalogonis – 24/294yds, 2 TD
Cade Moser – 21/344yds, 4 TD
Interceptions:
Bryce Van Beek – 9 (2nd) (co-Defensive Player of the Year)
Noah Van't Hof – 3
Tackles:
Sean Powell – 78 (All-Conference)
Garrett Sayler – 57
Bryce Van Beek – 55
Tanner Machacek – 52 (3x All-Conference)
Justin Faber /
Nate Bennett – 50 (All-Conference)
QB Sacks:
Ben Granstra – 3.5
Kicking:
Braxton Williams – 7/12, 44/48 PAT
