Postseason honors continue to roll in for the Red Raider football team as three players were named to the Associated Press NAIA All-American team announced earlier today by the national media outlet. Shane Solberg was named to the first team at wide receiver and both Paxton De Haan (OL) and Tanner Machacek (LB) received second team honors.
Solberg ranked second in the NAIA with 85 receptions and fourth in receiving yards (1,264) to lead the Red Raider offense this past season. The junior scored 13 touchdowns, second best in the GPAC, and posted seven games with 100 yards receiving, including the last four. Solberg is the program’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions in a single game (18 vs. Briar Cliff) and is a two-time all-conference pick.
De Haan was a four-year starter along the Red Raider offensive line and claims the national honor for the first time. The senior captain anchored an o-line that paved the way for one of the top offenses in both the GPAC and NAIA, averaging over 30 points and 400 yards per game. De Haan and his o-line members gave up just 16 sacks and have helped the offense convert 44% on third down, 12th best in the NAIA. He earned first team all-conference honors the last two years.
Named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, Machacek led the Raider D with a career-best 100 tackles, third most in the conference. The senior linebacker ranked fifth in the GPAC with eight quarterback sacks and finished tied for the GPAC lead with three forced fumbles. Machacek also had a pair of fumble recoveries and one interception to lead a Raider D that is among the best in the NAIA in scoring (14) and pass defense (165 yards/game). Machacek closes his career as a four-time all-conference selection and three-time first team pick.
Northwestern finished the 2019 season with a 9-2 record and second in the GPAC with an 8-1 mark.
