KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After a 5-0 start to begin the season, the Northwestern College football team (5-0, 4-0 GPAC) checks in at No. 2 for the fourth-straight poll, garnering 425 points in this week’s poll, and Dordt, 3-1, slides up one spot to 21st as announced by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Defending national champions Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders (3-0, 0-0 MSC) remain in the top spot with 444 points and 18 of the 19 first-place votes.
Northwestern has one of the top defenses in the NAIA after the first five weeks of the football season, ranking inside the top-15 in multiple categories including being fourth in total yards given up per game at 218.6. Through the first five contests, no team has had real success running the ball on the Raiders as they rank 8th nationally only allowing 74.2 rushing yards per game. Teams have not had much more success through the air either, as the Raiders lead the nation in interceptions with 11 and are ranked 12th in passing yards allowed per game (218.6).
After dropping their first game of the season, Dordt has won 3 straight, giving up just 14 points in the last two games combined. After a rough start the Dordt Defender football team used a dominating defensive performance to defeat the Doane Tigers in Crete, Nebraska, Saturday, September 25 by a 27-7 score. It was the second week in a row Dordt was triumphant by that score. Dordt plays Northwestern and Morningside on back-to-back weeks on the road in late October.
GPAC in the rankings:
No. 2 Northwestern Red Raiders (5-0, 4-0 GPAC)
No. 3 Morningside Mustangs (3-0, 3-0 GPAC)
No. 21 Dordt Defenders (3-1, 3-1 GPAC)
The Raiders will travel to Yankton, S.D. for the first time ever to play a football game with the Lancers of Mount Marty (0-4, 0-4 GPAC) who are in their first full season of football.
