Game Time...The Northwestern College football team plays three of its final four games at home, beginning this weekend (Saturday, Oct. 31) with a match-up against Midland. Kickoff on Korver Field is set for 1pm. Both teams bring a four-game win streak into Saturday's contest. Northwestern is 4-1 this season and Midland is 4-2.
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All-Time...Saturday's game will be the 48th in the rivalry between Northwestern and Midland, a rivalry that began in 1961. The Raiders have played the most games against Midland than any other opponent; second most is Concordia (43). Northwestern has the upper hand in the match-up, going 35-12-1 all-time against the Warriors. The Raiders have won four of the last five, nine of their last 10, against Midland.
By the Numbers...
  *47 of the 95 football programs within the NAIA have started their 2020-21 season
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Team Stats (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
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Midland:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
      Offense PPG: 37.2 (4th,10th)            Defense PPG: 18 (2nd)     29/29 PAT
      Offense YPG: 443 (4th,9th)               Defense YPG: 329 (3rd)     2/2 FG
      Rush YPG: 181 (3rd)                         Rush YPG vs: 112 (3rd)         36 yards/punt attempt (5th)
      Pass YPG: 263 (3rd,8th)          Pass YPG vs: 217 (4th)     12.4 yards / punt return (4th)
      3rd Down %: 40% (4th)           3rd Down % vs: 34% (3rd)   27 yards / kick return (1st / 5th)
      Sacks Allowed: 16 (8th)                    Sacks: 14 (5th, 10th)
      Turnover Margin: +1 (16/15)
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Northwestern:
        Offense PPG: 39 (3rd / 9th)       Defense PPG: 26 (5th)      22/25 PAT
      Offense YPG: 517 (3rd /5th)       Defense YPG: 402 (8th)     5/7 FG
      Rush YPG: 159 (5th)            Rush YPG vs: 158 (7th)     34.3 yards/punt attempt (7th)
      Pass YPG: 357 (2nd/2nd)         Pass YPG vs: 243 (8th)     19.8 yards / kick return (8th)
      3rd Down %: 44% (3rd)          3rd Down % vs: 49% (9th)   14.5 yards / punt return (2nd / 7th)
      Sacks Allowed: 8 (3rd)           Sacks: 4 (8th)
      Turnover Margin: -6 (8/14)
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Individual Leaders (GPAC rank / NAIA rank-if top 10)
    Midland
    Head Coach: Jeff Jamrog (5th year as head coach) 33 years as college coach
    Passing: River Walker - 91/133, 14 TD, 6 INT
    Rushing: Keenan Smith - 79 / 403yds, 5 TD (67.2 yds/game-6th)
          River Walker - 63 / 249yds, 3 TD (41.5 yds/game)
    Receiving: Darrin Gentry - 27 catches (5th/10th), 467 (5th), 5 TD
                      Austin Harris - 17 catches, 299yds (10th), 3 TD
    Defense: Zach Acamo - 57 tackles, 3 INT (1st)
          Trevor Havlovic - 41 tackles, 4 QB sacks
    Northwestern
    Head Coach: Matt McCarty (36-15, 5th year)
    Passing: Tyson Kooima – 86/137 (63%), 1,686 yards (1st/1st), 14 TD, 7 INT, 2 400-yard games
                  rush - 52 / 264, TD (52.8yds/game - 8th)
    Rushing: Konner McQuillan – 59 rushes, 264 yards, 4.5 avg, 4 TD
    Receiving: Shane Solberg - 35 catches (T3rd,5th), 771yds (1st), 7 TDÂ
                      Cade Moser – 16 catches / 367yds (7th,10th), 4 TD (6th)
                     Michael Storey - 16 catches / 266yds, TD
    Defense: Noah Van't Hof - 39 tackles (1st)
                    Parker Fryar – 39 tackles (1st)
                   Trevor Rozeboom - 33 tackles
                   Brett Moser - 30 tacklesÂ
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Schedule / Results from 2020
Midland (4-2)
9/12 vs Dordt, LÂ 22-14
9/19 vs Morningside, L 42-7
10/3 at Briar Cliff, W 56-3
10/10Â vs Hastings, W 43-0
10/17Â @ Dakota Wesleyan, WÂ 50-14
10/24 vs Jamestown, WÂ 55-27
Northwestern (4-1)
9/12 at Morningside, L, 31-45
9/19 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, W, 50-16
10/3 at Dordt, W, 48-40
10/17 vs Concordia, W 31-17
10/24 @ Doane, WÂ 35-14
Rankings...
Midland was picked to finish third in the GPAC preseason poll while Northwestern was picked second. The Warriors earned votes in the final poll of the 2019 season, Northwestern finished 10th in the NAIA poll. (There has been no NAIA Coaches' poll this fall). Based on the current Massey Ratings, Midland is 20th and the Raiders moved up one spot to seventh.
Key Match-Ups:
Northwestern O-Line vs Midland's Pass Rush
  -Raiders have given just eight sacks in five games, third best in the GPAC; Midland has 14 sacks this season, 10th most in the NAIA
Northwestern Passing Game vs Midland Pass Defense
  -Raiders have the #2 passing offense in the NAIA, averaging over 350 yards per game; Midland ranks fourth in the GPAC in pass defense, giving up 217 yards/game
Turnovers:
  Northwestern is -6 this season (8 forced, 14 given up); Midland is +1 (16 forced, 15 given up); 16 turnovers forced is T5th most in NAIA
Special Teams
  -Both kickers are among the NAIA's best in PAT and field goal %
  -both teams have dynamic returners, Michael Storey ranks 7th in the NAIA in punt returns (14.5/att.); Midland's Dalton Tremayne ranks fifth in kick return (34.3/att)
Other Notes...
  Midland:
     -Bulldogs finished the 2019 season with a 7-4 overall record, 6-3in GPAC; won their final six games
      -return 11 starters (3 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams)
  Northwestern:
      -QB Tyson Kooima earned NAIA / GPAC Player of the Week after the win vs Dordt
      -Kooima leads the NAIA in total yards of offense / game (390)
      -last week vs Doane, Kooima became the program's all-time leader in touchdown passes
      -Shane Solberg is the program's leader in; career yards, touchdowns, catches and holds the top two spots in receiving yards in a season
      -Solberg has 18 games with 100+ receiving yards, 4 this season; was named GPAC Player of the Week for his play vs Concordia
      -Michael Storey ranks second in punt returns, third in kick returns; 5th in the NAIA in all-purpose yards
      -Eli Stader ranks 3rd in the NAIA with five FG's made
      -Noah Van't Hof, Parker Fryar lead the GPAC with 39 tackles
     -Fryar scored a TD on a fumble recovery last week, the Raiders first defensive TD of the season
