Game Time...No.5 Northwestern College will host Briar Cliff for Senior Day, the final game of the regular season, this weekend. Kickoff at DeValois Stadium is scheduled for 1pm. The Red Raiders, second in the GPAC with a 7-1 record, are 8-1 overall. Briar Cliff is 4-4 in the conference, 6-4 overall. 

This marks the final home game of the regular season for the 10 seniors on this year's roster; Sean Kleinwolterink, Justin Faber, Logan Richard, Jared Nelson, Vaughn Moser, Marcus Van Kekerix, Bryce Van Beek, Jed Van't Hof, Nate Bennett and Brad Mould. 

Follow the game live via the NWC webcast at the following link: Watch Now! 

Listen to the match live via Sioux County Radio, KSOU 93-.9FM: Listen Now!

The Rivalry...Northwestern and Briar Cliff have played once per year since the 2003 season and the Red Raiders are 15-0 all-time against the Chargers. Last year, Northwestern defeated BCU 63-26 in a match-up played week four in Sioux City. The Red Raiders totaled 575 yards of offense and scored five rushing touchdowns, led by Jacob Kalogonis with 13 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns. Tyson Kooima threw for 284 yards and three scores and also scored a rushing touchdown.

Scouting Reports...

    Briar Cliff Chargers: 4-4 (T5th w/ Doane), 6-4 overall        Head Coach: Dennis Wagner (2nd year)

The Chargers began the season with three straight wins, defeating both Dakota State and Waldorf in non-conference play, and then earned a 26-14 win over Hastings in their GPAC opener. A win last weekend over Midland not only snapped a two-game losing skid for BCU, it also secured a program record for wins in a season as they improved to 6-4. They are tied with Doane for fifth place in the conference standings at 4-4. Briar Cliff is 1-4 in road games this season, losing to Morningside, Dordt, Jamestown and Doane.

Coach Wagner is finishing up his second season at Briar Cliff and returned 11 starters (6 offense, 5 defense) from a 2017 team that ended with an 0-11 record, 0-8 in the conference. 

Team Stats (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense:                                            Defense:                                Special Teams:
26.9ppg (6th)                                23.7ppg (4th)                             Punting-37yds/ (5th)
413ypg (4th)                                 361ypg (3rd)                              Kick Return-18.6/ (8th)
194ypg rush (3rd)                            131ypg rush (3rd)                   Punt Return-7.6 (7th)
218ypg pass (6th)                           230ypg pass (6th)                   Field Goals: 1/6
-11 TO (12 forced / 23 given)        24 sacks (3rd)                           PAT: 28/36
42% 3rd down (4th)                      29.7%-3rd down (1st)
18 sacks (6th)

Individual Leaders: (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Passing: Jacob Diaz 49/95, 899yds (10th), 10 TD, 6 INT
               Brad Cagle  45/79, 812yds  10 TD, 1 INT (4-0 as starter at BCU)
Rushing: Noah Ylagan (All-Conf.) 214, 1006yds (4th), 4 TD (1st BCU player to rush for 1,000yds)
               Kwame Johnson   105/505yds, 4 TD
Receiving: Elijah Brown 34/685yds (5th), 10 TD
                  Khamren Davenport  24/418, 2 TD
                  Logan Freeman  22/458  5 TD
O-Line: Michael McGuire, Kenny Trezvant (returning starters and all-conference)
Kicking: Steven Delia  14/20 PAT
Punting: Steven Delia  37.1yds/
Tackles: Caleb Wilson 87 (4th)
              Peyton Bailey  66 
              Markel Roby (all-conference)  54 
              Tyler Wilson  50
Sacks: Omar Dyles  5.5 (2nd)
INT: Markel Roby 3
    
No.5 Northwestern College: 7-1 (2nd), 8-1 overall        Head Coach: Matt McCarty (3rd year)

A win this weekend will secure the Red Raiders second straight and 20th overall postseason appearance, as well as a likely home game on Nov. 17. Currently fifth in the NAIA rankings, Northwestern is in second place in the GPAC with a 7-1 record, 8-1 overall. 

    News and Notes:
    Jacob Kalogonis is the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Brandon Smith (2010-12)

    Kalgonis passed Taylor Malm (2007-10) for 5th place all time with 37 rushing touchdowns

    Kalogonis has six 100-yard games this season, 18 for career

    Tyson Kooima passed Galen Kaemingk (1975-79) for 9th place with 41 career passing TD's

    Kooima passed Curtis Krull (1970-73) for 8th place with 5309 career passing yards

    Kooima has thrown for 300+ yards in three of his last four games; 4x in career

    Shane Solberg set the program record for 1,150 receiving yards in a season (old mark of 1,083 yards held by Chad Netten in 1996)

    Solberg also set the record for receiving yards in game (269 vs Hastings); 4 straight 100-yard games,  6 this season

Team Stats (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense:                                     Defense:                                   Special Teams:
38.9ppg (3rd)                              22.4ppg (3rd)                             Punting-30.7yds/ (10th)
468ypg (2nd)                              334ypg (2nd)                              Kick Return-19/ (7th)
192ypg rush (4th)                         130ypg rush (2nd)                    Punt Return-8.7ypr (5th)
276ypg pass (2nd)                        204ypg pass (2nd)                   6/11 FG, 38/45 PAT
0 TO margin (17/17)                  12 sacks (8th)
42% 3rd down (3rd)                   33% 3rd down (3rd)
10 sacks (2nd)

Individual Leaders: (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Passing: Tyson Kooima (All-Conf)  156/257, 2,433 yds (2nd), 19 TD (2nd), 10 INT, 61% completion
Rushing: Jacob Kalogonis (2x All-Conf) 196/1093yds (1st/10th), 16 TD (2nd/4th), 5.6 yds/carry
               Tyson Kooima  101/448yds, 9 TD
Receiving: Shane Solberg  66 catches (2nd/9th), 1,150yds (2nd/5th), 9 TD
                  Jared Nelson  25 catches, 443yds, TD
                  Jacob Kalogonis  21 catches, 244yds, 2 TD
                  Canon Flores  17 catches, 241yds, TD
                  Cade Moser    17 catches, 272yds, 4 TD
O-Line: Brad Mould (All-Conf), Paxton De Haan & Grahm Kenobbie (returning starters)
Kicking: Braxton Williams 38/45 PAT, 6/11 FG
Punting: Braxton Williams 33.7yds/attempt 
Tackles: Sean Powell (All-Conference)  73 (9th)
              Garrett Sayler  53
              Bryce Van Beek  51
              Tanner Machacek (All-Conference) 43
INT: Bryce Van Beek (All-Conf)  7(1st/2nd)