Game Time...11th-ranked Northwestern opens conference play with a road match-up against Midland this weekend. Kickoff in Fremont, Neb. is scheduled for 1pm. Both teams are 1-0 so far this season, earning big wins over their respective opponents last weekend in a non-conference game. 

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

Listen to the game live, via the KSOU radio broadcast, at this link: Listen Now!

All-Time...Northwestern leads the series 34-12-1 dating back to the first match-up against Midland in 1961. The Red Raiders are 9-1 in the last 10 games against their southern rival, defeating the Warriors 49-20 in Orange City last season. 

    Last 10 Games vs Midland:
    2018: 49-20 Win
    2017: 24-21  Win
    2016: 1-0 loss by forfeit
    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

Last Year...Jacob Kalogonis rushed for two touchdowns and the Raider D added two more scores as No.5 Northwestern cruised to a 49-20 win over #24 Midland in the Red Raiders home opener. 

Kalogonis was the catalyst for the Red Raider offense, carrying the ball 18 times for 158 yards and two scores, averaging over eight yards per attempt. Tyson Kooima was equally impressive as the dual threat quarterback rushed for a touchdown and threw for two more, accounting for over 300 yards of total offense. 

The Raider D forced three Midland turnovers, leading to 21 points. Both Noah Van't Hof and Liam Stubbe ran back interceptions for touchdowns and a forced fumble by Jed Van't Hof and recovered by Ben Granstra turned into a long touchdown on the very next play as Kooima connected with Canon Flores for a 31-yard scoring strike. 

Northwestern totaled nearly 500 yards of offense and showcased a balanced attack with 256 yards rushing and 230 through the air. Kooima completed 11-of-17 passes for 230 yards and two scores, competing passes to six different receivers. Shane Solberg made the most of his two catches, totaling 103 yards, and both Jared Nelson and Cade Moser totaled three catches for 51 and 41 yards, respectively. 

Sean Powell totaled a team-high eight stops on defense, followed by both Noah Van't Hof and Bryce Van Beek with seven. Garrett Sayler added six tackles and Tanner Machacek registered five stops. 

Payton Nelson led the Midland offense with 234 yards combined rushing and passing. The dual-threat quarterback rushed 11 times for 65 yards and completed 14-of-32 passes for 169 yards and a score. 

Scouting Report...

    Midland Warriors: 1-0            Head Coach: Jeff Jamrog (4th year)

Senior quarterback Noah Oswald threw for 310 yards and five touchdowns in leading Midland to a 48-17 road win over Southwestern last weekend in its season opener. Oswald completed 15-of-31 passes and connected with three different receivers for scores. He also rushed for a touchdown on a three-yard run for the games first score. 

Midland led 28-0 at halftime and gained over 500 yards of total offense compared to 225 by Southwestern. Keenan Smith rushed for 101 yards and a score and both Dalton Tremayne and Austin Harris totaled over 100 yards receiving and caught a pair of touchdowns. Midland's defense forced and recovered four fumbles and was led by Trevor Havlovic with nine total stops and a quarterback sack. 

Coach Jamrog returns 13 starters (7 offense, 4 defense, 2 special teams) from a 2018 team that was ranked for most of the season and finished tied with Doane for fourth place in the GPAC at 5-4, 6-4 overall. Midland was picked fourth in the GPAC preseason poll. 

Jamrog is 20-12 in his three years 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. 

Top Players Returning From 2018:
QB's Noah Oswald and Payton Nelson
RB Keenan Smith (All-Conference)
WR Dalton Tremayne (All-Conference)
OL Daniel Jahn (All-Conference)
OL Ethan Butler (All-Conference)
OL Riley Williams
OL Clayton Wittmayer

LB Theo Blum
LB Jett Hampton (All-Conference)
DB Ray Rush (All-Conference)
S Ashton Ellis (All-Conference)
Punter - Camdon Griffiths (All-Conference)
KR - Dalton Tremayne (All-Conference)

Northwestern Notes:

-defeated Valley City State last weekend, 47-7

-Tyson Kooima accounted for four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rush), 313 total yards of offense

-Kooima passed Jay McKinstrey for 6th place all-time in passing yards (5,992)

-Jacob Kalogonis rushed for 127 yards and a TD, 20th 100+ game of his career

-Raider D registered four quarterback sacks; 1.5 by Tanner Machacek

-Shane Solberg accounted for the lone forced turnover with an interception and 96-yard return for TD