Game Time... Northwestern hosts Midland in a match-up of unbeaten, ranked teams for the Red Raiders home opener this weekend. Kickoff on Satuday, Sept. 15 is scheduled for 1pm. Northwestern is ranked fifth in the most recent NAIA Coaches' poll and is off to a 2-0 start, 1-0 in conference play. Midland moved up to 24th in the latest coaches' poll and is also 2-0 on the season. 

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

All-Time... Northwestern leads the all-time series 33-12-1 dating back to the first meeting in 1961. The Red Raiders have won nine of the last 10 games played in the rivalry, including a 24-21 road win last year in Fremont, Neb.

    Last 10:
    2017: 24-21 win
    2016: 1-0 (loss)
    2015: 55-6 win
    2014: 22-2 win
    2013: 55-27 win
    2012: 39-20 win
    2011: 51-14 win
    2010: 24-6 win
    2009: 17-14 win
    2008: 21-10 win

Scouting Reports...

    #24 Midland University Warriors:  0-0, 2-0                Head Coach: Jeff Jamrog (3rd year)

The Warriors moved up to 24th in this week's NAIA Coaches' poll after a 2-0 start to the 2018 season. They have routed both MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Mayville State (N.D.) at home in Fremont the previous two weeks, outscoring them a combined 105-48. Midland was picked third in both the GPAC Coaches' and Media preseason polls and earned votes in the initial NAIA poll. 

Now in his third season as the Midland head coach, Jamrog is 13-8 in his two years prior with the Warriors. He came to Midland with two decades of collegiate coaching experience, including time as the head coach at Minnesota State-Mankato and as the University of Nebraska - Lincoln assistant director of football operations. Jamrog returns 14 starters (8 off, 5 def, 1 ST) from a 2017 team that finished fourth in the GPAC with a 4-4 record, 6-4 overall. They opened the 2017 with four straight wins, climbing into the top 25, before losing four of their final six games.

        2018 Stats: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Offense                                                Defense                    Special Teams
52.5ppg (3rd / 6th)                                    24ppg (7th)                    Kick Return-36ypg (1st / 2nd)
556ypg (3rd / 9th)                                     387ypg (7th)                   Punt Return-10ypg
   259 rush (2nd)                                         102 rush (4th)               
   297 pass (4th)                                         285 pass (9th)
2 sacks given up                                        7 sacks (2nd)
+1 TO (3 gained, 2 gives)                          
36.3% 3rd down

    Top Players: 2018 Stats (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Rushing - Payton Nelson-20/145, TD 72.5ypg (7th)
                Garry Cannon (HM all-conference)  11/119, 2 TD  59.5ypg (10th)
Passing - Payton Nelson-37/62/1 INT   7TD, 275ypg (4th)
Receiving - Mike Seawell (HM All-Conference) 9 catches, 124yds
                   Lukas Vopnford 8 catches, 36yds, TD (returning starter)
                   Jordan Jackson  7 catches, 116yds 4 TD (T1st)
                   Darrin Gentry  6 catches, 152yds, 2 TD
Oline-all 5 starters return; Daniel Jahn-2nd team all-conference, Alex Boyer-HM All-Conference
Kick Return-Darrin Gentry  3/178, 59.3ypr (1st / 1st)
Defense:
    Wyatt Tremayne (2nd team all-conference)  18 tackles (5th) 1 sack
    Zach Gates  14 tackles
    Johan Williams 13 tackles, 4.5 sacks (1st / 2nd)
    Soga Eli (returning starter) 12 tackles, 3 sacks
    Ashton Ellis (HM All-Conference)  9 tackles

    #5 Northwestern: 1-0, 2-0                Head Coach: Matt McCarty (3rd season)

The Red Raiders have outscored opponents 77-17 in wins over Valley City State and Jamestown, both on the road, to start the season. Tyson Kooima accounted for four touchdowns (1 rush, 3 pass), throwing scoring strikes to three different receivers, and the Raider D forced three turnovers and held Jamestown to under 200 yards of offense in last week's 49-7 win. Bryce Van Beek intercepted the Jimmies three times, returning one for a touchdown, to tie both the GPAC and school record for interceptions for a game. Van Beek was named both the NAIA and GPAC Defensive Player of the Weeek, the second consecutive a Red Raider player earned both weekly honors (Sean Powell).

    In 2017...Northwestern finished second in the GPAC in 2017 with a 7-1 record and qualified for the NAIA FCS for the first time since 2014. They earned their first FCS win since 2006 with a 55-7 blowout over No.7 and previously unbeaten Langston (Okla.) before bowing out to eventual champion University of Saint Francis (Ind.) 30-3. 16 starters and 26 letterwinners return from last season.

2018 Media Guide |

2018 Stats: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Offense                                                Defense                                Special Teams
    38.5ppg (7th)                                         8.5ppg (2nd / 8th)                    17.7 yards/KR (9th)
    460ypg (6th)                                          220ypg (2nd / 8th)                    11.3 yards/PR (4th)
       187 rush (6th)                                       89 rush (3rd)
       273 pass (6th)                                    131 pass (2nd / 10th)
    0 sacks given up                                    3 QB sacks (5th)
    TO Margin: 0 (3 gained, 3 given up)
    52% 3rd down (2nd)
    Field Goals: 1/2
   
    Top Players (2018 stats): GPAC  / NAIA rank - if top 10)
    Rushing-Jacob Kalogonis 45 / 219yds (2nd), 2 TD (1st team all-conference)
                  Tyson Kooima  13 /92, 2 TD
    Passing-Tyson Kooima  28 / 54, 493yds (6th), 5 TD, 3 INT (HM all-conference)
    Receiving-Shane Solberg  10/121, TD
                     Jared Nelson  6 / 146yds (9th)
                    Canon Flores  4 / 74yds
                    Cade Moser  4/107, 2 TD
     Defense- 
      Sean Powell - 24 tackles (2nd / 7th), 1.5 sacks (9th) NAIA Player of the Week in week one
      Garrett Sayler - 12 tackles
      Tanner Machacek - 11 tackles
      Bryce Van Beek - 10 tackles, 3 INT (1st / 1st)  NAIA Player of the Week in week two
      Noah Van't Hof - 10 tackles