Fifth-ranked Northwestern could not overcome five turnovers in losing to #15 Dickinson State 14-6 in an NAIA Football Championship Series first round match-up played today on a cold, blustery day at DeValois Stadium, Korver Field.
The Red Raiders, making their 20th appearance in the FCS, are now 14-6 in the first round and 21-18 overall in the postseason. Northwestern ends the season with a 9-2 record.
Dickinson State, now 6-13 in the first round and 7-18 overall in the Football Championship Series, advances to play in its first quarterfinal since 2004. The Blue Hawks move on with a 9-2 record.
Defense was the lead in this first round match-up as the teams combined for well under their average yards per game on offense, coupled with a combined six turnovers between the teams. Northwestern totaled 286 yards of offense, limited to a season-low 127 yards passing. Dickinson State was held to 310 yards, its second lowest of the season, and a mere 88 yards rushing.
After a scoreless first quarter, Dickinson State grabbed a 7-0 lead when Amad Andrews Jr. scored on a one-yard run and with the extra point by Cody Johnson, the Blue Hawks led 7-0 with six minutes left in the first half. DiSU mixed it up well (5 pass, 5 run) on its 73-yard scoring drive, using both Andrews and Roderick Ashford on the ground and the throwing by Hayden Gibson.
Northwestern answered with its best drive of the game, marching 77 yards on 12 plays and finished with a nine-yard run by Jacob Kalogonis. The Red Raiders did not convert the point-after attempt as Dickinson State led 7-6 at halftime. The Red Raiders converted a clutch 4th-and-seven at midfield when Kooima hooked up with Shane Solberg for a 17-yard completion to keep the drive going.
