Orange City Iowa — Expectations are always high when it comes to Northwestern College Football and this year is no exception. Northwestern was ranked 11th in the NAIA preseason poll released earlier this month and the Red Raiders return 19 starters.
With a great deal of talent and experience back this year there is a chance to do something special. Head Coach Matt McCarty agrees.
9 starters return on offense with 6 returning on defense and 4 more on special teams.
among the returners on offense is quarterback Tyson Kooima who started and played well as a freshman. He is now a two year starter as a junior. That’s a luxury very few teams have.
Kooima is surrounded by experience in the backfield, in the wide receiver corps and where it all starts upfront….. the offensive line.
McCarty also feels good about his defense with 6 players returning at all three levels.
The coach also talked about the 4 returning players on special teams.
We asked about the high number of area players on the roster. Is it a result of a conscious effort to recruit the area or just the high level of talent in northwest Iowa?
Focus will be the biggest key for success this year and focus is what impresses coach McCarty the most about this years edition of the Red Raiders.
Northwestern went 8-1 in the GPAC last season and hosted Dickinson State of North Dakota in an NAIA FCS first round match-up, the first home playoff game since 2006. The Red Raiders will host Valley City State in the season opener on Saturday September 7th
