Game Time...The 2019 GPAC Football Championship is on the line this weekend as Northwestern plays host to Morningside in a top five match-up on Saturday, Nov. 16 at DeValois Stadium. Kickoff on Korver Field is scheduled for 1pm. Both teams are 8-0 in the GPAC, 9-0 overall, and are ranked in the top five. Northwestern has occupied the No.5 spot in the last four NAIA Coaches' polls while Morningside, the defending national champion, has been ranked first all season. 

    This weekend's game is also the NAIA Game of the Week and marks the final home game of the regular season for the 16 seniors on this year's football team.

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

All-Time...Northwestern is 10-17 all-time against Morningside, 1-9 over the last 10 games. 
    2018: 42-34 loss
    2017: 48-20 loss
    2016: 14-13 loss
    2015: 27-7 loss
    2014: 42-24 loss
    2013: 38-28 win
    2012: 34-7 loss
    2011: 21-10 loss
    2010: 20-17 loss
    2009: 20-7 loss
    2008: 26-21 loss

Last Year...No.3 Northwestern lost to top-ranked Morningside 42-34 in an epic NAIA Game of the Week match-up between top five teams played last year in front of 3,000-plus fans at DeValois Stadium. 

Tied at 28 at the end of the third quarter, a 24-yard field goal by Braxton Williams put the Red Raiders in front 31-28 on the second play of the final period. Morningside, however, responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, finished off with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Trent Solsma to Bo Else to take the lead for good 35-31 on its next possession. 

The Red Raiders turned it over on the ensuing possession, giving the ball back to the high-scoring Mustangs at the NWC 22-yard line. Seven plays later, Morningside capitalized on the short field as Solsma connected with Els once again, this time for a 10-yard touchdown to put the visitors up by two scores (42-31) with 6:32 left to play.

In dire need of a score, Northwestern's offense and special teams came through as Williams drilled a 38-yard field goal with just under five minutes left to make it a one-score game (42-34). The scoring drive was aided by a great 53-yard kick return down to the Mustangs' 39-yard line.

Morningside, though, would run out the clock on its next drive, converting on a fourth-and-one at midfield after the Red Raiders had used all of their timeouts to preserve the win.

For the game, Northwestern totaled 25 first downs and 331 yards compared to 26 first downs and 450 yards for Morningside. 

Jacob Kalogonis rushed 15 times for 87 yards and two scores while Tyson Kooima accounted for 242 yards and two touchdowns, completing 15-of-32 passes for 186 yards and rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown. Shane Solberg caught a game-high nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, recording his fourth 100-yard game of the season.

Defensively, Tanner Machacek had a big day, totaling a season-high 10 tackles, seven solo and assisted on three others. Sean Powell accounted for nine stops and Nate Bennett matched his career-best with nine tackles and a one quarterback sack. Both Garrett Sayler and Bryce Van Beek turned in eight tackles each.

A.P. Ponder had a bid day running the ball, totaling 161 yards and two scores on 34 carries. Trent Solsma completed 23-of-31 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns and Bo Els made the most of his three catches, all going for scores. Jacob Katzer led the Mustangs defense with 11 tackles and his brother, Joel, added seven stops.

Scouting Reports...

    No.1 Morningside Mustangs:  8-0 (GPAC), 9-0 overall            Head Coach: Steve Ryan (19th year)
The Mustangs are a perfect 9-0 this season, 8-0 in conference play and have a 80-0 win over St.Francis (Ill.) in a non-conference, week one match-up. They have scored 50+ points in all but two games while their defense has given up more than 20 points just once this season (vs Midland). Morningside has won 24-straight games, winning the 2018 national title with a perfect 15-0 record, and has been ranked first all season. Their conference win streak is at 42 games, dating back to the final GPAC game in 2014 when they lost to Doane. 

Team Stats (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Offense:                                            Defense:                                        Special Teams:
59ppg (1st/1st)                                9.7ppg (1st/3rd)                             Punting-37.1yds/ (5th)
589ypg (1st/1st)                              204ypg (1st/2nd)                           Kick Return-17.7ypr (8th)
  249ypg rush (2nd/6th)                     60ypg rush (1st/2nd)                   Punt Return-17.4ypr (2nd/3rd)
  340ypg pass (1st/1st)                      144ypg pass (2nd/4th)                3/5 FG, 70/73 PAT
3 sacks allowed (1st/1st)                31 sacks (1st/8th)
61% 3rd down (1st/1st)                   25% 3rd down (1st/6th)
-2 TO margin 

Individual Leaders: (GPAC / NAIA Rank-if top 10)
Passing: Joe Dolincheck - 177/254, 2800 yds (1st/4th), 29 TD, 9 INT, 70% completion
Rushing: Arnijae (AP) Ponder -190/1195yds (1st/4th), 18 TD, 6.3 yds/carry
               Anthony Sims - 71/501yds, 10 TD
Receiving: Bo Els (All-Conf)- 55 catches (2nd), 840yds (3rd), 10 TD
                  Reid Jurgensmeier (All-Conf) - 47 catches (5th), 1,017yds (1st/4th), 12 TD
                  Austin Johnson - 30 catches, 561yds, 5 TD
O-Line: Nathan Nissen (All-Conference)
Kicking: Chase Carter 2/4 FG, 52/54 PAT
Punting: Addison Ross - 39.6/ave.
Tackles: Jacob Katzer (All-Conference)-66 tackles
              Joel Katzer (GPAC co-Player of Year) - 62 tackles
              Chase Nelson (All-Conf.) - 47 tackles
              Klayton Nordeen (All-Conf.) - 45 tackles
INT: Klayton Nordeen (All-Conf)  3
QB Sacks: Seth Maitlen (All-Conf)- 6.5 (3rd)

    No.5 Northwestern College: 8-0 (GPAC), 9-0 overall        Head Coach: Matt McCarty (4th)

The Red Raiders earned a 44-17 win over Hastings last weekend, improving to 8-0 in the GPAC, 9-0 overall. They continue to hold down the no.5 spot in the coaches poll and have been ranked in the top 10 since week three. 

Northwestern has scored 40+ points in four games while giving up 20+ points in just one game this season (vs Midland). 

Offense (GPAC / NAIA rank-if top 10)     Defense                         Special Teams
PPG – 36.7 (3rd)                                PPG – 10.2 (2nd / 4th)             11/13 FG (1st)
YPG – 435 (3rd)                                 YPG – 280 (2nd/10th)              39/42 PAT (5th)
     Rush-155.9 (4^th)                                       Rush-141 (5th)              KR – 24.8yds/return (1st/5th)
     Pass-279 (2nd / 10th)                              Pass-139 (1st/3rd)         PR – 10.9yds/return (5th)
+2 TO margin (18/16)                               23 QB sacks (5th)              Punt – 33/attempt (9th)
13 sacks given up (4th)                            35% 3^rd down (6th)
47% 3^rd down (2nd/4th)

Statistical Leaders: (GPAC rank)
Jacob Kalogonis – 112/690yds (4th), 8 TD, 4 100-yard games in 2019
Tyson Kooima – 168/263, 2,449yds (2^nd), 21 TD, 5 INT; 3 300-yd games in 2019
Shane Solberg – 68 catches (1st/5th), 1014yds (2nd/5th), 11 TD; 5 100-yard games in 2019
Cade Moser – 24 catches, 504yds, 3 TD; 2 100-yard games in 2019
Braxton Williams – 11/13 FG (1st), long of 48 yards; 39/42 PAT
Marcus Rens – 26 punts, 33.2yds/attempt (9^th)
Tanner Machacek – 78 tackles (5th), 8 QB sacks (T1st)
Sean Powell – 69 tackles (7th), 1.5 sacks, 3 INT
Brett Moser – 50 tackles, 2 INT