Jacob Kalogonis scored four touchdowns and Shane Solberg set the program record for receiving yards in a season as No.6 Northwestern cruised to a 42-28 road win over Concordia Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.
Northwestern improves to 7-1 in the conference, 8-1 overall, with one game remaining, a home match-up against Briar Cliff for Senior Day. Concordia slips to 2-6 in the conference and 3-6 overall.
Kalogonis rushed 19 times for 147 yards and matched his career high with three rushing touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 29 yards and another score, marking the first time the junior has scored four touchdowns in a game at Northwestern. Kalogonis scored on runs from one, three and 97 yards out, the later matching the longest run in program history previously set by Theo Bartman against Midland in 2012 against Midland.
Solberg’s day consisted of seven catches for 159 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown reception to put his team up 28-7 at the half. Solberg broke the Northwestern record for receiving yards in a season (old mark of 1,083 yards held by Chad Netten in 1996) and became just the second player in program history with over 1,000 yards in a season. The sophomore currently ranks fourth in the NAIA with 1,150 yards.
Northwestern’s offense was efficient if not spectacular, totaling 542 yards and averaging a remarkable eight yards per play. Tyson Kooima recorded his second consecutive 300+ yard day passing, completing 20-of-31 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 35 yards and a score while Matt Williams totaled six carries for 47 yards, both career highs.
The Red Raiders opened up a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter as their offense scored on two of its three possessions and the Raider D limited the hosts just two first downs. Kooima scored on a 54-yard run, his longest run of the season, to finish off a five-play, 74-yard opening drive. Kalogonis punched one in from one yard out capping a seven-play, 68-yard drive later in the quarter.
Following another Bulldogs punt at the start of the second quarter, Kalogonis put the Red Raiders up 21-0 with his second touchdown run, a three-yard scamper that completed a 12-play, 34-yard drive. Concordia answered with its first scoring drive, finished off by a nine-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Perea to Vincent Beasley, to make it 21-7 with 2:51 left in the first half. Kooima connected with Solberg for a 45-yard touchdown pass and catch on the next offensive series to close out the half with a 28-7 lead.
Northwestern extended its lead to 42-7 after outscoring the host Bulldogs 14-0 in the third quarter. Bryce Van Beek intercepted Concordia at the goaline and returned it 46 yards to near midfield on the Bulldogs first possession. Eight plays later, Kooima connected with Kalogonis for a 19-yard touchdown on fourth down, the Red Raiders second fourth-down conversion of the drive. The Raider D held again with Concordia driving, forcing a turnover on downs at the Northwestern 3-yard line. Kalogonis then scored on the very next play, taking it to the house on a 97-yard run for his team’s final points.
Concordia scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter on a pair of touchdown passes from Perea and a run from Ryan Durden.
The Raider D forced two turnovers, interceptions by Van Beek and Noah Van’t Hof, and also registered two quarterback sacks, one by Jed Van’t Hof and a shared sack by Nate Bennett and Carter Van Gorp. Logan Richard totaled a team-high six tackles and Jed Van’t Hof added five stops. The Red Raiders held Concordia to just 17 rushing yards on 25 carries.
Perea threw for 455 yards and three touchdowns, all coming in the final quarter, to lead the Concordia offense. Beasley tallied nine catches for 155 yards and two scores and Connor Kohlmoos had six catches for 162 yards and a score.
Northwestern will host Briar Cliff to close the regular season on Nov. 10 at 1pm.
