Orange City, Iowa — Second ranked Northwestern hosts number three Morningside on Saturday and the winner clinches at least a share of the Great Plains title and an automatic bid into the NAIA playoffs.
Northwestern coach Matt McCarty.
The Red Raiders edged the Mustangs in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs this past May. Standout quarterback Tyson Kooima suffered a ruptured achilles on the game winning play and returned three games ago. He has completed 84 percent of his passes in leading Northwestern to three blowout wins.
Since the injury occurred on May first McCarty was not sure Kooima would be available at all this season.
McCarty says a key against Morningside is always handling the ebbs and flow of the game.
Morningside coach Steve Ryan says Kooima takes the Red Raiders to another level.
Ryan says the Mustang defense must limit big plays.
Ryan says limiting mistakes is a key.
Ryan expects this game to have several momentum changes.
