Game Time...GPAC / NAIA powerhouses collide this weekend when No.6 Northwestern makes the short trip to Sioux City to play No.1 Morningside for a spot in the NAIA National Championship game on the line. Kickoff for the NAIA FCS semifinal at Olsen Stadium is set for 1pm. Both teams have 10 wins, most among any team in the NAIA; Northwestern is 10-1, Morningside is 10-0.
NAIA Football Championship Series - Semifinal Game Info
- No.6 Northwestern (10-1) vs No.1 Morningside (10-0)
- Saturday, May 1: 1pm
- Olsen Stadium / Orange City, Iowa
- Watch | Live Stats
- Radio: Sioux County Radio, 93.9 FM
- Tickets on sale at game, beginning at Noon
- Fan attendance is at 40% @ Olsen Stadium
The Rivalry...Northwestern is 10-19 all-time against the Mustangs in a rivalry that dates back to the 1977 season. The Raiders have lost seven consecutive games and last defeated Morningside in 2013 (38-28). The teams have never played in the postseason.
Earlier This Year...Northwestern and Morningside played an instant classic last fall, a game that resulted in a 45-31 win for the host Mustangs in both teams season opener on Sept. 12. The game featured over 1,000 yards of offense (NW - 592, Morningside - 522) and 10 touchdowns; both teams rushed for over 100 yards, Northwestern threw for 447; Morningside 364; the Mustangs won the turnover battle (4-1) and registered four quarterback sacks.
Complete Recap |
How They Qualified...Northwestern received the first of four at-large bids into the 16-team championship field, determined this year by a NAIA Football national selection committee (teams earning an at-large bid must ranked within the top 20).
Morningside, ranked first all season, earned an automatic bid by winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season.
Format... 16 teams comprise the single-elimination Football Championship Series tournament field. The eight winners the opening were paired against one another in four quarterfinal match-ups last week (April 24), followed by the semifinals on May 1. The championship game will take place in Ruston, La., at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium on Monday, May 10.
2020 NAIA Football Championship Series - First Round Scores | NAIA Press Release
Saturday, April 17 | Campus Sites
Game 1 – No. 1 Morningside def. No. 16 Carroll (Mont.), 55-0
Game 2 – No.2 Grand View def. No. 13 Dordt (Iowa), 38-10
Game 3 – No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) def. No. 14 Bethel (Kan.), 42-10
Game 4 – No. 4 Keiser (Fla.) def. No. 15 Arizona Christian, 63-21
Game 5 – No. 5 Concordia (Mich.) def. No. 12 Georgetown (Ky.), 21-7
Game 6 – No. 6 Northwestern def. No. 11 Dickinson State (N.D.), 31-7
Game 7 – No. 7 Baker (Kan.) def. No. 10 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 59-54
Game 8 – No. 8 Reinhardt (Ga.) def. Marian (Ind.), 40-29
2020 NAIA Football Championship Series - Quarterfinals Scores
Saturday, April 17 | Campus Sites
Game 1 – No. 1 Morningside (10-0) def. No. 7 Baker (Kan.) (7-1), 45-29
Game 2 – No. 6 Northwestern (10-1) def. No.2 Grand View (7-1), 27-24
Game 3 – No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)(9-0) def. No. 5 Concordia (Mich.)(6-1), 49-27
Game 4 – No. 4 Keiser (Fla.)(9-0) def. No. 8 Reinhardt (Ga.)(9-1), 42-14
2020 NAIA Football Championship Series - Semifinals
Saturday, May 1 | Campus Sites
Game 1 - No.1 Morningside (10-0) vs No.6 Northwestern (10-1)
Game 2 - No.3 Lindsey Wilson (9-0) vs No.4 Keiser (9-0)
NAIA Postseason History...Northwestern is making its fourth straight and 22nd overall appearance in the football championship series, tied for the second most among this year's field (Carroll-Montana has 23). The Raiders four consecutive appearances is tied for the longest streak in program history (1982-85). Head Coach
Matt McCarty's squad is one of 10 teams that return from the 2019 FCS field. Northwestern has a 23-19 record in the postseason, heading into this weekend.
This will be the first semifinal game for the Raiders since the 2000 season and first under head coach
Matt McCarty. Northwestern has a 5-4 all-time record in the semifinals (see below):
2000 - lost to Northwestern Oklahoma, 42-7
1994 - lost to Pacific Lutheran, 28-7
1985 - lost to Wisconsin - LaCrosse, 38-35 (3 OT)
1984 - def. Baker, 19-2
1983 - def. William Jewell, 30-12
1982 - lost to William Jewell, 23-10
1979 - def. Bethany, 49-21
1973 - def. William Jewell, 28-2
1972 - def. Franklin, 13-6
Morningside has qualified for the NAIA FCS 17 times (consecutive) and has a 29-14 record in the postseason. The Mustangs have claimed two national titles (2018 and 2019) and are 3-5 all-time in the semifinals. (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2005)
2020: (2-0) def. Carroll (55-0) and Baker (45-29)
2019: (4-0) def. Dickinson State (57-14), Saint Xavier (51-0), Grand View (21-16), Marian (40-38)
2018: (4-0) def. Rocky Mountain (49-20), Saint Xavier (51-14), Saint Francis (34-28 OT), Benedictine (35-28)
2017: (2-1) def. Sterling (63-7), def. Saint Xavier (52-7), lost to Saint Francis (43-36)
2016: (1-1) def. Tabor (65-17), lost to Saint Francis (42-35)
2015: (2-1) def. Saint Xavier (75-69 4 OT), def. Tabor (51-6), lost to Southern Oregon (30-27)
2014: (2-1) def. Ottawa (42-21), def. Missouri Valley (56-28), lost to Marian (41-21)
2013: (2-1) def. Rocky Mountain (40-21), def. Baker (36-28), lost to Grand View (35-0)
2012: (3-1) def. Montana Tech (40-35), def. Southern Oregon (50-44 OT), def. Saint Xaiver (47-19), lost to Marian (30-27 OT)
2011: (0-1) lost to Saint Francis (21-17)
2010: (1-1) def. Dickinson State (38-17), lost to MidAmerica Nazarene (34-10)
2009: (1-1) def. Missouri Valley (24-6), lost to Sioux Falls (49-21)
2008: (1-1) def. Baker (65-27), lost to Lindenwood (34-31)
2007: (1-1) def. Jamestown (45-14), lost to Carroll (27-16)
2006: (1-1) def. St.Ambrose (38-31 2OT), lost to Sioux Falls (37-7)
2005: (2-1) def. St.Ambrose (58-7), def. Evangel (54-21), lost to Saint Francis (42-14)
2004: (0-1) lost to Saint Francis (53-3)
Scouting Reports...
No.1 Morningside
Record: 10-0 (8-0 GPAC, 1st place); have on 39 straight games; 51 straight GPAC games
def. Baker 45-29 last week in NAIA Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Steve Ryan (20th year)
-won 85% of his games, most wins in program history, best win %
Qualified by: GPAC champion
NAIA FCS Appearances: 17
Consecutive FCS: 17th
Record in FCS: 29-14
Best Finish: champions in 2018, 2019
Schedule:
Northwestern* W 45-31
@ Midland* W 42-7
Briar Cliff* W 68-3
@ Jamestown* W 54-7
Dakota Wesleyan* W 56-21
@ Dordt* W 35-30
@ Concordia* W 56-22
Hastings* W 57-0
Carroll W 55-0
Baker W 45-29
Team Stats (NAIA rank)
Off PPG - 51 (1st) Def. PPG - 15 (7th) Punt Return / Attempt - 16 (4th)
Off YPG - 554 (1st) Def. YPG - 327 (36th) Kick Return / Attempt - 20 (28th)
Rush YPG - 188 (18th) Rush Def - 74 (7th) Punt / Attempt - 35 (47th)
Pass YPG - 365 (1st) Pass Def - 252 (85th) PAT - 66/71
3rd Down % - 50 (3rd) 3rd Down - 37% (1st /1st) FG - 1/4
Sack Given Up - 2 (1st) Sacks by - 35 (4th)
TO Margin - +15 (2nd)
Statistical Leaders: (* denotes returning starter)
Rushing:
*AP Ponder – 144/878, 16 TD (3x all-conf)
Anthony Sims - 136/748, 14 TD (2x all-conf)
Passing:
*Joe Dolincheck - 208/301 34 TD, 7 INT (2x all-conf)
Receiving:
*Reed Jurgensmeier - 66/1,340, 20 TD (3x all-conf)
Jamal Albousafi - 36/490, 4 TD (all-conf)
Caleb Schweigart - 26/370, TD
Austin Johnson - 25/441, 5 TD
Interceptions:
*Drew Bessey - 6
Tackles:
Tyler Wingert - 74 (all-conf)
Joshua Miller - 69 (all-conf)
Weston Schultz - 68 (all-conf)
Jalen Portis - 66 (all-conf)
QB Sacks:
Niklas Gustav - 9 (3x all-conf; GPAC Defensive Player of Year)
Zack Keller - 5
Kicking:
*Chase Carter 1/4 FG, 63/67 PAT
Punt Return:
Caleb Schweigart (all-conf)
Offensive Line:
Hunter Behrens - 2x all-conf
Jason Hahlbeck (all-conf)
#6 Northwestern Red Raiders
Record: 10-1 (2
nd in GPAC)
Head Coach:
Matt McCarty (5
th year)
Qualified by: At-Large bid #1
NAIA FCS Appearances: 22
Consecutive FCS: 4th
FCS Record: 23-19
Best Finish: Champions 1973, 1983
Last Win in Semifinals: vs Baker in 1984
Schedule:
@ #1 Morningside* L 45-31
Dakota Wesleyan* W 50-16
@ #18 Dordt* W 48-33
Concordia* W 31-17
@ Doane* W 35-14
Midland* W 43-14
@ Hastings* W 62-10
Briar Cliff* W 38-21
U. of Jamestown* W 49-0
#11 Dickinson State W 31-7
@ #2 Grand View W 27-24
Team Stats (NAIA rank)
Off PPG - 40.5 (9th) Def. PPG - 18.9 (20th) Punt Return / Attempt - 10 (34th)
Off YPG - 506 (3rd ) Def. YPG - 305 (27th) Kick Return / Attempt - 20 (26th)
Rush YPG - 182 (23rd) Rush Def - 125 (28th) Punt / Attempt - 39 (14th)
Pass YPG - 324 (3rd) Pass Def - 179 (23rd) PAT - 52/56
3rd Down % - 47 (8th) 3rd Down - 39% (60th) FG - 13/16
Sack Given Up - 14 (13th) Sacks by - 22 (19th)
TO Margin - -7 (20/27)
Statistical Leaders
Rushing:
Konner McQuillan – 128/613yds (5th), 8 TD (2nd team all-conference)
Tyson Kooima – 107/537, 7 TD
Logan Meyer – 59/423yds, 5 TD
Passing:
Tyson Kooima 196/301, 3,392yds, 28 TD, 10 INT
(2x GPAC Offensive Player of the Year; 4x all-conf)
Receiving:
Shane Solberg – 73/1567yds, 17 TD (3x all-conference)
Michael Storey – 41/635yds (5th), 2 TD (HM all-conference)
Konner McQuillan – 24/183, TD
Cade Moser – 26/494, 5 TD
Interceptions:
Jake Lynott - 4 (1st team all-conference)
Noah Van't Hof -4
Tackles:
Noah Van't Hof - 91 (1st) (1st team all-conference)
Parker Fryar - 84 (8th) (2nd team all-conference)
Trevor Rozeboom - 73
Brett Moser - 63 (2nd team all-conference)
Tanner Oleson - 54
QB Sacks:
Brett Moser – 8
Jessen Reinking – 3
Kicking:
Eli Stader – 13/16 FG, 51/55 PAT (1st team all-conference)
Offensive Line:
Jack Johnson - 2nd team all-conference
Darlin Marquez - 2nd team all-conference
