No.10 Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan are set to play in a conference match-up this weekend under the lights in Mitchell, S.D. Kickoff at Joe Quintal Field is slated for 7pm. Playing on the road for the second straight week, Northwestern is 1-0 in the GPAC, 2-0 overall. DWU is 0-1 in the conference, 1-2 overall.
Northwestern earned a 41-13 win over DWU last season when they raced out to a 28-3 halftime lead, 38-3 near the end of the third quarter, and reached the endzone on four of its first five possessions. The Raider D was just as dominant, limiting the eighth-best offense in the NAIA to just over 100 yards through three quarters, 262 for the game and well below their season average of 533 yards per game. Northwestern forced DWU to punt on six of eight possessions in the second and third quarters and stopped the Tigers on fourth down twice during that span.
Tyson Kooima completed 19-of-29 passes for a season-high 296 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 28 yards and a score. Jacob Kalogonis rushed for 133 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Shane Solberg caught seven passes for a career-best 150 yards and two touchdowns and Canon Flores totaled six catches for 68 yards.
Northwestern totaled 513 yards on offense and featured great balance with 215 rushing yards and 298 through the air.
Ben Granstra led the Raider D with a career-best seven tackles and two quarterback sacks. Bryce Van Beek tallied five tackles and Tanner Machacek added 4.5 stops and one interception.
The Tigers were shutout in their GPAC opener, 47-0, by Briar Cliff in a match-up played last weekend in Sioux City. DWU was limited to just 40 yards of offense and were forced into three turnovers (2 interceptions, 1 fumble) by the Chargers defense. DWU is 1-2 overall this season, losing in double overtime to Dakota State in the season opener and then defeated Presentation 44-0 in week two.
Cimpl, now in his eighth season as the DWU head coach, returns 10 starters (3 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams) from a 2018 team that finished 10th in the GPAC with a 1-8 record, 2-9 overall. They were picked ninth in the GPAC preseason poll.
Northwestern earned a last-second road win over MIdland, 26-25, in its GPAC Opener played last week in Fremont, Neb. The Red Raiders are 2-0 this season, 1-0 in the GPAC, owning a 47-7 week one win against Valley City State.
