Braxton Williams split the uprights with a 22-yard field goal during the final seconds in leading 11th-ranked Northwestern to a 26-25, come-from-behind win over Midland in the GPAC opener for both teams. 

Northwestern moves to 1-0 in the GPAC, 2-0 overall; Midland is now 1-1 overall, 0-1 in conference play. 

Trailing 25-17 with seven minutes, Northwestern began its rally with a four-play, 72-yard drive on four straight completions by Tyson Kooima, the final on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Shane Solberg. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful to put the score 25-23. 

The Red Raider defense then forced Midland into a 3-and-out and punt, giving the ball back to the offense at their own 20-yard line with under three minutes left.

Kooima then converted on two big pass plays, a 40-yard strike to Michael Storey and a 22-yard completion to Josh Fakkema, and following a 15-yard Warriors penalty, put the ball at the Midland 15-yard line. A couple of runs by Jacob Kalogonis set up the ball at the four-yard line where Williams converted the game-winner with five seconds left.

Northwestern has now won three straight against Midland and improves to 35-12-1 all-time in the rivalry.

The Red Raiders had a slight edge in total yards (416 -396) and first downs (23-19). The Raider D gained four Midland turnovers compared to just on committed by NW. 

Kooima completed 23-of-38 pass attempts for 377 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing 300 passing yards for the sixth time of his career. The junior has thrown for multiple touchdown passes in 17 games and passed Adam Tyrrell (1992-95) for fifth place in career passing yards (6,369).

Shane Solberg caught 10 passes for 145 yards and two scores and Cade Moser added four catches for a career-best 114 yards, becoming the first Red Raider duo with 100 receiving yards in the same game since 2016. Solberg moved into fourth place all-time with 2,102 receiving yards, passing Karlton Hector (2000-03), and became the fifth NWC player with 2,000 career receiving yards. Solberg now has eight 100-yard games for his career and is tied for seventh with 20 career receiving touchdowns. 

Northwestern fell behind 15-0 after Midland scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening 10 minutes. Adrian Kellogg scored on an eight-yard run on the game's opening drive and quarterback Noah Oswald threw a two-yard touchdown to Austin Harris two possessions later. Northwestern put its first points on the board on its next drive, going 80 yards on five plays and finished off with a two-yard run by Jacob Kalogonis. 

With the score still 15-7, Northwestern made it a one-point game midway into the second quarter when Kooima connected with Solberg for their first touchdown of the game, a 10-yard strike at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter. Midland maintained its one point lead at the half. 

Following a Northwestern punt after its first possession of the second half, Midland pushed its lead back to eight on another touchdown run by Kellogg for the only score of the third quarter. 

The Red Raiders failed to convert a fourth-and-goal from the one at the beginning of the fourth quarter as Midland's defense came up with a big stop. Northwestern's defense, however, came up with the next big play when Tanner Machacek intercepted an Oswald pass, giving the Red Raider offense the ball at the Warriors 14-yard line. Four plays later, Williams drilled a 24-yard field goal to cut the Midland lead to 22-17. 

Midland answered right back with a 21-yard field goal, extending its lead back to eight with seven minutes left. 

Kalogonis led the Red Raider ground game with 18 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown to go with four catches for 25 yards. The senior running back is now tied with Steven King (1968-71) for fourth place with 40 career rushing touchdowns.

Sean Powell led the Raider D with 12 total stops, Machacek added eight tackles and nabbed in interception. Brett Moser totaled seven tackles and a pick while Ben Granstra registered 3.5 tackles and one interception.

Midland was led by Kellogg (30 carries, 81 yards, 2 TD) and Austan Daniels, who caught five passes for 142 yards. Oswald threw for 196 yards and three interceptions.