Game Time...Fifth-ranked Northwestern looks to stay unbeaten as they head to Mitchell, S.D. for a GPAC match-up against Dakota Wesleyan under the lights of Joe Quintal Field Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm. Northwestern is 1-0 in the GPAC, 3-0 overall, while DWU is 0-1 in the conference, 1-2 overall. 

Follow the game live, via the Dakota Wesleyan webcast, at the following link: Watch Now!

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

All-Time...Northwestern owns a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series, dating back to the first match-up in 2000. The Red Raiders are 6-4 over the last 10 meetings and 3-2 over the last five. 

    2017: Northwestern def. DWU, 29-10
    2016: Northwestern loses to DWU, 44-27
    2015: Northwestern loses to DWU, 27-17
    2014: Northwestern def. DWU, 35-7
    2013: Northwestern def. DWU, 49-42

Scouting Report...

    Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 0-1 (GPAC, 1-2 overall            Head Coach: Ross Cimpl (7th year)

The Tigers lost their GPAC opener to second-ranked Morningside last weekend to fall to 1-2 on the season. They lost to Dakota State in week one 27-18 and then earned a 64-37 road win over Presentation in week two. 

Cimpl is in the midst of his seventh season as the Tigers head coach and has guided DWU to six consecutive winning seasons. He ranks second at DWU in all-time wins (44-21) and his teams have been ranked in the top 25 for parts of the last three years. Cimpl returns 14 starters (7 offense / 7 defense) from a 2017 team that tied for fourth in the GPAC with a 4-4 record, 6-5 overall. DWU did graduate GPAC Player of the Year Dillon Turner, a three-year starter under center, and All-American receiver Hayden Adams.

2018 Stats: (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
        Offense                                   Defense                            Special Teams
31.7ppg (7th)                                    43ppg (10th)                    Kick Return-21ypg (6th)
533ypg (1st / 8th)                             503ypg (10th)                   Punt Return-8.7 (5th)
   158 rush (5th)                                    191 rush (10th)               
   375 pass (2nd / 3rd)                          312 pass (10th)
7 sacks given up (10th)                     6 sacks (T5th)
-1 TO (7 gained, 8 gives)                          
36.3% 3rd down
28 1st downs (1st)

Top Players: 2018 Stats (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)
Rushing - Luke Loudenburg (returning starter)  45/168 3 TD
                Gaige Marshall   22/110
Passing - Shaye Slaughter  72/139, 1,118yds (2nd),  6 TD, 6 INT
Receiving - Daniel Libolt  20 catches (2nd), 391yds (2nd)  4 TD
                   Spencer Neugebauer (returning starter)  15 catches (4th), 233yds (3rd), TD
                   Jonny Withrow  15 catches (4th) 229yds (5th), TD
 O-line-all 4 starters return; Trevor Wiertzema (1st team all-GPAC)
Defense:
    Eathen Gaulke (2nd team all-GPAC) 21 tackles
    Dillon Rork (2x All-GPAC)  19 tackles, 1 QB sack
    Tyler Wagner  18 tackles
    Cody Reichelt  17 tackles
    Trey DeCroock  13 tackles, 2 INT

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

The Red Raiders have outscored opponents 126-37 in wins over Valley City State, Jamestown and 24th-ranked Midland to start the season. They are ranked fifth in the NAIA, holding the same spot for the second consecutive week. 

    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
    42ppg (2nd)                                        12.3ppg (2nd / 10th)                    15.7 yards/KR (8th)
    469ypg (5th)                                          259ypg (1st / 9th)                        8.5 yards/PR (6th)
       210 rush (3rd)                                       114 rush (2nd)
       259 pass (T3rd)                                    146 pass (1st)
    1 sacks given up (1st / 4th)                      3 QB sacks (8th)
    TO Margin: 2 (6 gained, 4 given up)    1st in 3rd downs against (21.4%)
    49% 3rd down (2nd)
    
   
    Top Players (2018 stats): GPAC  / NAIA rank - if top 10)
    Rushing-Jacob Kalogonis 63 / 377yds (1st), 4 TD (1st team all-conference)
                  Tyson Kooima  26 /165, 3 TD
    Passing-Tyson Kooima  39 / 71, 723yds (3rd), 7 TD, 4 INT (HM all-conference)
    Receiving-Shane Solberg  12/224 (6th), TD
                     Jared Nelson  9 / 197yds (9th)
                    Canon Flores  5 / 105yds
                    Cade Moser  7/148, 3 TD
     Defense- 
      Sean Powell - 32 tackles (3rd), 1.5 sacks (8th) NAIA Player of the Week in week one
      Garrett Sayler - 18 tackles
      Bryce Van Beek - 17 tackles, 3 INT (1st / 1st)  NAIA Player of the Week in week two
      Noah Van't Hof - 17 tackles, INT
      Tanner Machacek - 16 tackles