Game Time.. Unbeaten teams clash this weekend as fifth-ranked Northwestern plays host to (RV) Doane for the Red Raiders Homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 29. Kickoff at DeValois Stadium is scheduled for 1:30pm. Northwestern comes into the weekend with a 3-0 record in the GPAC, 4-0 overall, while Doane is 2-0 in conference play, 3-0 overall. 

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

Listen live to the game via Sioux County Radio at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern is 18-15-2 all-time against Doane, dating back to the first match-up in 1982, and have played once every year since excluding the 1990 season. The teams played to a 15-15 tie in 1989 and to a 7-7 tie in 1992. The Red Raiders are 2-3 over the last five match-ups and 6-4 in the last 10 against Doane.

    2017: 31-24 Red Raider win
    2016: 24-12 loss
    2015: 28-21 loss
    2014: 17-10 OT win
    2013: 34-27 loss

Scouting Reports...

    (RV) Doane University Tigers: 2-0 (GPAC), 3-0 overall        Head Coach: Chris Bessler (1st year)

The unbeaten Tigers opened the season with a 57-3 road win over Friends in non-conference play and then edged Dordt 24-21 in a road match-up on Sept. 15, intercepting a Defenders' pass in the endzone during the final moments. Last week, Doane throttled Jamestown 44-13 for its home opener behind a four-touchdown showing by junior quarterback Jack Kalina.

Although no stranger to the Doane football program, Bessler is in his first season as the head coach. He has been the Tigers' defensive coordinator since 2007 and his defenses have continually been among the best in the NAIA and GPAC. Bessler inherits a Doane team that finished the 2017 season with a 5-5 mark, 3-5 and sixth place in the GPAC. Seven starters (2 offense, 4 defense, 1 special teams) return from last year's team. 

    By the Numbers...(GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
    Offense                            Defense                        Special Teams
    41.7ppg (4th)                    12.3ppg (1st / 7th)            Kick Return-14 yards/att. - 10th
    382ypg (6th)                      289ypg (3rd)                    Punt Return-12.6 yards/att - 2nd
      158 rush ypg (4th)             154 rush ypg (8th)         Punting - 31 yards/att. - 10th
      223 pass ypg (5th)             135 pass ypg (1st / 6th)
 +6 TO margin (7 gain, 1 give)  8 QB sacks by (T5th)
    48% 3rd down (T3rd)
    5 sacks given up (3rd)

    Individual Leaders (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
    Rushing: Garrett Sonderup - 41 carries, 235yards, TD, 79ypg (6th)
                   Najee Mustafaa - 30 carries, 117yards, 39ypg
    Passing: Jack Kalina - 68/105, 636yds, 9 TD, INT, 212ypg (5th)
    Receiving: Jacob Beller - 18 catches (8th), 185yds, 2 TD
                      Josh Baker - 12 catches, 133yds, 2 TD
                      Brandon Gannon - 11 catches, 97yds, TD
    O-Line-2 starters return: Sam Walker and Alex Bruner
    Special Teams: Bryce Cooney (1st team all-conference)  14/16 PAT, 3/5 FG
    Defense: 2 starters return on line, 1 LB and 1 DB
        Connor O'Toole-18 tackles
        Anthony Malone (2nd team all-conference) 16 tackles, 1 QB sack
        Nathan Williams (returning starter)  15 tackles, 2 QB sacks
        Chayton Crow (2nd team all-conference)  14 tackles,  INT, TD

    No.5 Northwestern College Red Raiders: 3-0 (GPAC), 4-0 overall        Head Coach: Matt McCarty (3rd year)

The Red Raiders are off to a 4-0 start for the second straight and 19th time in their 58-year history. This is the first time since 2002-03 that Northwestern has opened the season with four straight wins. They have outscored opponents 177-50 in its four previous games and owns a win over then-No.24 Midland in week three. Coach McCarty's squad is ranked fifth in the NAIA poll, matching the highest ranking since the 2007 season (Sept. 10 poll). 

By the Numbers...(GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
    Offense                            Defense                        Special Teams
    41.8ppg (3rd)                    12.5ppg (2nd / 8th)            Kick Return-14.6 yards/att. - 9th
    480ypg (4th)                      260ypg (1st / 8th)              Punt Return-7.1 yards/att - 7th
      211 rush ypg (3rd)             110 rush ypg (1st)           Punting - 34.4 yards/att. - 9th
      269 pass ypg (3rd)            149 pass ypg (4th)
 +2 TO margin (7 gain, 5 give) 6 QB sacks by (8th)
    48% 3rd down (T3rd)
    2 sacks given up (1st / 4th)

Individual Leaders / Notes (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)

Rushing - Jacob Kalogonis: 87/510yds (1st / 7th) 6 TD  127.5 yds/game (2nd /9th)
                         -3 100 yards games in 2018, 15 for career
                         -2926 career rushing yards (7th all-time), 27 career TD's (T9th)
                Tyson Kooima: - 36/195  4 TD
Passing - Tyson Kooima: 58/100, 1,019yds, 9 TD, 4 INT  255ypg (3rd)
            -thrown for 200+ yards in all four games, 12x in career
            -multiple TD passes all four games, 10 career games with 2+ passing TDs
            -T10th all-time with 31 career passing TD's
Receiving - Shane Solberg: 19 catches (6th), 374yds (4th), 3 TD
                   Jared Nelson: 11 catches, 235yds (10th), 1 TD
                   Canon Flores: 11 catches, 173yds, TD
                   Cade Moser: 9 catches, 179yds, 3 TD
Tackles: Sean Powell-37 (3rd)
              Bryce Van Beek - 23
              Tanner Machacek - 22
              Garrett Sayler - 22
 Interceptions: Bryce Van Beek -3 (1st / 5th)
 QB Sacks: Ben Granstra-3 (3rd)