Game Time...Northwestern College will play its home opener this weekend when they host Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff at DeValois Stadium on Korver Field is set for 1pm. Northwestern and the Raider coaching staff will recognize the 15 seniors involved with the program prior to the game.

Both teams come into the weekend with an 0-1 record.

    Follow the game live at these links:  Watch / Listen | Live Stats | Listen (KSOU)

All-Time...The Raiders hold a 16-4 advantage in the all-time series, dating back to the 2000 season when the rivalry began. Northwestern has won three straight against DWU, including a 52-7 win in a week three match-up played last season in Mitchell, S.D.

Last Year vs DWU...Tyson Kooima and Shane Solberg connected on three touchdown passes in leading Northwestern to a 52-7 road win over the Tigers last year in Mitchell, S.D. Tied 7-7, Braxton Williams converted a 31-yard field goal to put Northwestern in front for good midway through the first quarter. A Jacob Kalogonis touchdown run preceded a pair of touchdown passes from Kooima to Solberg to give the Raiders a 31-7 advantage. Kooima added a 71-yard TD run in the third, followed by the third and final touchdown pass to Solberg early in the fourth quarter. Blake Fryar scored on a six-yard run for the final Raider score with 2:17 left to go.

Northwestern accounted for nearly 550 yards of total offense, 211 rushing and 338 through the air, and were efficient on third down, converting 71% (11/14). Defensively, the Red Raiders forced the only turnover of the game, registered one quarterback sack and held DWU to 300 yards of total offense. The Raider D also came up with a big goal line stop after DWU blocked a punt and had 1st-and-goal from inside the 10-yard line in the third quarter. 

Scouting Report...

    Dakota Wesleyan Tigers: 0-1        Head Coach: Ross Cimpl (9th year)

The Tigers lost their season opener last weekend, falling short against Hastings 45-7 in an afternoon game played in Hastings, Neb. Tied 7-7 early in the second quarter, Hastings scored 21 points during the final 10 minutes for a 28-7 halftime lead. DWU was outscored 17-0 in the second half; the Tigers were outgained 431-251 in total  yards. 

Cimpl is in his ninth season as the head of the DWU football program and ranks second all-time in wins (49) for the Tigers. His 2015 and 2016 teams were ranked in the top 20 in the final NAIA coaches poll, just missing out on the postseason both years.Cimpl led DWU to a 2-7 league mark in 2019, tying Jamestown for eighth place in the GPAC, 3-8 overall. 10 starters, mostly on offense return from last year's squad.

    By the Numbers...(2020 stats / GPAC rank)
    Offense:                                Defense:                        Special Teams:
    Scoring - 7ppg (T7th)            45ppg (T7th)                    Kick Return - 25.8 yards/return (1st)
    Total Yards - 251ypg (7th)    431ypg (6th)                     Punting - 31.6 yards/attempt (7th)
      Rush - 59ypg (8th)               247ypg (8th)
      Pass - 192ypg (4th)              184ypg (4th)
    10 1st downs (T7th)              24 1st downs 
    2 QB sacks (T5th)                1 QB sack
    20% 3rd down (8th)              30% 3rd down 
    -2 TO margin

    Individual Leaders (2020 stats / GPAC rank-if top 10)
    *returner
    Rushing - Jamin Arend: 13 carries, 43yds
    *Passing - Zachary Lester: 13/25, 192yds, TD
    *Receiving - Chance Sorensen: 5 catches, 85yds, TD
                       *Daniel Libolt: 3 catches, 27yds (3x all-conf)
                       *Spencer Neugebauer: 1 catch, 32yds (3x all-conf)
    *Kick Returner - Spencer Neugebauer: 4 returns, 21.3 avg.
    *Kicker - Tate Gale: 1/1 PAT
    *Punter - Tate Gale: 31.6yds/attempt
    *Defense - Samuel Kretschmar: 8 tackles
                       *Hayden Schmidt: 7 tackles
                        Romeon Greve: 7 tackles
                        Cody Reichelt: 2 tackles, 1 sack (All-Conference)
    
Northwestern Notes: 0-1 record            Head Coach: Matt McCarty (5th year)

    By the Numbers...(2020 stats / GPAC rank)
    Offense:                                Defense:                        Special Teams:
    Scoring - 31ppg (3rd)            45ppg (T7th)                    Kick Return - 14.3 yards/return (6th)
    Total Yards - 592ypg (1st)     522ypg (7th)                     Punting - 11 yards/attempt (8th)
      Rush - 145ypg (5th)               158ypg (5th)
      Pass - 447ypg (1st)                364ypg (7th)
    23 1st downs (2nd)              21 1st downs 
    4 QB sacks (7th)                  0 QB sacks
    50% 3rd down (2nd)            61% 3rd down 
    -3 TO margin

    Individual Leaders (2020 stats / GPAC rank-if top 10)
     Rushing - Tyson Kooima: 20/114yds (3rd), TD
                      Konner McQuillan: 9/32, 2TD
     Passing - Tyson Kooima: 21/34, 447yds (1st), TD, 2 INT
    Receiving - Cade Moser: 8/132yds (3rd)
                       Shane Solberg: 6/162yds (2nd)
                       Michael Storey: 2/53yds
                       Konner McQuillan: 2/60yds
                       Josh Fakkema: 2/30yds, TD
    Kick Returner - Michael Storey: 20yards/return
    Kicker - Eli Stader: 4/4 PAT, 1/2 FG (3rd)
    Defense - Noah Van't Hof: 13 tackles (1st)
                     Brett Moser: 11 tackles (T3rd)
                     Jake Lynot: 8 tackles, INT
                     Parker Fryar: 6 tackles