It's 𝙂𝘼𝙈𝙀 𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙆 ‼️#RaidersStandOut | @nwc_fb pic.twitter.com/JvD3ZWxs6q

— NWC Red Raiders (@nwcraiders) December 12, 2022

• NWC heads to the NAIA FCS National Championship game for the second time in three seasons, and seventh time in program history.
• The meeting with Keiser will be the first-ever Sun Conference clash for the Red Raiders.
• The last time the Red Raiders hosted a semifinal game, they went on to win the national championship.
• Northwestern was perfect in front of the home crowd this season (8-0).
• NWC enters winners of 12-straight, after the one-point loss to Morningside to open the campaign (Sept. 3).

• The Raiders have the lowest number of turnovers this season (11) since the 2010 season when they had just 15, and last season just 19.
• Northwestern has outscored opponents 577-136 in their 13 games.
• NWC is 62-2 since 2002 when the team rushes for 200+ yards and 8-1 in 2022.
• Under Matt McCarty, NWC is 1-1 in games played in the month of December.
• The Red Raiders hold a +17-turnover margin through 13 games.
• NWC continues to lead the NAIA in 3^rd down conversions (54%).
• When forcing 2+ opponent turnovers, NWC is 38-4 since 2017 and 7-1 on the season.

𝙍𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘾𝙊𝘼𝘾𝙃 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍 ‼️

Head coach 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙈𝙘𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 has been named the @WeAreAFCA NAIA Region IV 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧!#RaidersStandOut | @nwc_fb | @NAIA | @nwciowa pic.twitter.com/akSh9X7KQ8

— NWC Red Raiders (@nwcraiders) December 6, 2022

• On Tuesday, December 6, head coach Matt McCarty was named American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NAIA Region IV Coach of the Year.
• It marks the second time in his career he's won the honor and the first time doing so outright.

• Northwestern leads the nation in rushing touchdowns this season (42).
• It tops second-place Morningside by eight scores (34).
• Both teams – NWC and Keiser – sit top-5 in the NAIA in the category, the Seahawks sitting fourth with 31.

• The NWC defense has excelled at getting opponents off the field this season.
• NWC has held all opponents to just a 25.6% third down conversion rate (42-for-164).
• In the three FCS games, the Raiders have held opponents to a mere 12.5% third down conversion rate (4-for-32).
• IWU failed to convert on third down last time out in the semis (0-for-9).

Four Football Players Garner @AcadAllAmerica Academic All-District Honors.

📰: https://t.co/8FmNy5aRPG#RaidersStandOut | @nwc_fb pic.twitter.com/YRbfCcNdMf

— NWC Red Raiders (@nwcraiders) November 23, 2022

• College Sports Communicators (CSC), formerly CoSIDA, announced their 2022 NAIA Football All-District teams on November 23.
• Four Red Raiders: Parker Fryar, Garrett Raymon, Jaden Snyder, and Noah Van't Hof were tabbed for their work in the classroom.

• Northwestern is making their 24^th appearance in the NAIA FCS, holding an all-time record of 29-21 (.580).
• In program history, the Red Raiders have brought two national titles back to Orange City (1973, 1983).
• Five trips to the national title game (1972, '79, 1984, 2020, 2022) & five (now six) semifinal trips (1982, '85, 1994, 2000, 2021, 2022).
• Under head coach Matt McCarty, the Raiders hold a 9-5 record in FCS play and have made one (now two) semifinal appearance (2021, 2022) and a (now two) national title game appearances (2020, 2022).

𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝘽𝘼𝙂𝙎, 𝙍𝘼𝙄𝘿𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝘼𝙉𝙎!

We're headed to the championship!#RaidersStandOut | @nwc_fb pic.twitter.com/Rzc0AWqcxG

— NWC Red Raiders (@nwcraiders) December 3, 2022

• Doug Socha is the program's first-ever football coach and is in his fifth season.
• The Seahawks have qualified for four-straight NAIA FCS Playoffs under Socha.
• All three of Keiser's losses have been to NCAA opponents this season, losing to two NCAA Division II schools (Valdosta State & Mississippi College) and one NCAA Division I FCS opponent (Lindenwood).
• The Seahawks are led by quarterback Spencer Shea who sits second in the Sun Conference with his 2,283 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.
• Keiser also has two 1,000-yard rushers on the season in Marques Burgess and Jaden Meizinger.
• Meizinger achieved the feat in the semifinals against Grand View.

• The Raiders and Seahawks are meeting on the gridiron for the first time ever in Durham.
• Similar to Indiana Wesleyan in the semifinals, Keiser also began their football program in 2018.

• Tickets are on sale and can be purchased through the Durham Sports Commission and is also linked above.
• The game will be played at Durham County Memorial Stadium: 750 Stadium Dr., Durham, NC 27704
• For hotel information, the Durham Sports Commission has provided a list of recommended hotels.