Shane Solberg set a school record with 269 receiving yards in leading No. 6 Northwestern to a 39-29 road win over Hastings in a GPAC match-up played today at Lloyd Wilson Field in Hastings, Neb.
With the win, Northwestern improves to 6-1 in the GPAC, 7-1 overall. Hastings drops to 2-5 in conference play, 4-5 overall.
Solberg matched his career-best with 13 catches (also done against Dordt earlier this season) for a school record 269 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns of 50+ yards. The sophomore broke the record set by T.J. Spykstra in 2016 against Hastings (239 yards, 8 catches). Solberg now has five 100-yard games, including the last three, and has 991 receiving yards this season. Northwestern has had one 1,000-yard receiver in program history (Chad Netten – 1,083yards – 1996).
Tyson Kooima continued his outstanding play under center, completing 22/32 pass attempts for a career-high 383 yards and four touchdowns, matching his career-best in touchdowns thrown. Kooima also rushed 10 times for 69 yards and a score, surpassing 1,000 yards rushing for his career. Jacob Kalogonis posted his fifth 100-yard game of the season, rushing 23 times for 128 yards. He was held out of the endzone for the first time this year.
Leading 32-29 after a Broncos touchdown early in the fourth quarter, Northwestern calmly put the game away with a 13-play, 73-yard drive that used up over seven minutes, capped by a Kooima to Josh Fakkema four-yard touchdown on fourth down to put the Red Raiders up by two scores. Sean Powell came up with a big play for the Raider D as the junior forced and recovered a fumble on the Broncos’ ensuing possession to seal it.
Northwestern accounted for a season-best 585 yards of offense, the second time the Red Raiders have gained 500+ yards this season. The Red Raiders were efficient both on the ground (202 yards) and through the air (383 yards), averaging a remarkable 8.4 yards per play.
Coach McCarty’s offense found its groove from the start, marching 75 yards on just five play as they scored on a 14-yard run by Kooima for a 7-0 lead. Hastings answered right back, however, with a six-play drive capped by a Isaiah Jackson threw the first of his three touchdown passes, hooking up with Anthony Martinez for a five-yard scoring strike. Northwestern closed the quarter with the first of two long touchdowns from Kooima to Solberg, connecting for a 55-yard scoring play with 2:28 left in the first quarter.
Up 14-7, sophomore linebacker Drake Brezina broke through the Hastings protection and blocked a punt to record a safety as the Red Raiders pushed the lead to 16-7. Following the Broncos free kick, Kooima found Cade Moser for a 15-yard touchdown to finish off a six-play, 62-yard drive, giving Northwestern a 23-7 edge.
Offense continued to dominate play as the teams scored 21 points over the final 10+ minutes of the half. Hastings began the scoring frenzy with a Jackson to Terrance McIntyre 34-yard touchdown pass. Northwestern showcased its big-play ability once again with a two-play, 70-yard drive as Kooima connected with Solberg for a 52-yard touchdown adn a 29-14 lead. Hastings completed the first half scoring with a 35-yard run by Tyree Smith, making it a one-score game at the half, 29-21.
A 34-yard field goal by Braxton Williams was the lone score in the third quarter, putting NWC up 32-21. Hastings came back with its final scoring drive when Jackson found Tyree Nesmith in the endzone for a 14-yard score, followed by a Jackson run on the two-point try to put the hosts down three (32-29).
Making his first start of the season, Jackson completed 16-of-36 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. Tahj Willingham, the Broncos’ all-conference running back, totaled 29 carries for 138 yards and Tyree Smith added eight carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Justin Faber led the Raider Defense with a career-high 10 tackles, eight of which were solo stops. Ben Granstra totaled seven tackles and both Powell and Bryce Van Beek had six stops.
Northwestern will travel to Seward, Neb. for a match-up against Concordia next weekend.
