This week the seventh-ranked Raiders play host to the Hastings Broncos. After they suffered their first loss of the season to third-ranked USF, Coach Otten’s squad defeated Concordia, 42-27, last week.
Hastings evened their record at 3-3 with a 33-15 victory over Midland Lutheran. The Broncos hold the all-time series advantage in match-ups with NWC,10-9, dating back to their first game with the Raiders in 1986. Last year, the Raiders defeated
Hastings, 34-23, in a game in which Keith Sietstra set a new GPAC record by scoring five rushing touchdowns.
Last week, with the score tied 6-6 at halftime, the Broncos galloped for 222 yards and 27 points in the second half en route to their third victory of the season. Hastings held a 229-58 advantage on the ground with Quentin Hodges carrying the load with 101 yards on 26 attempts and a touchdown. Quarterback Jerad Krejci rushed for a pair of second half scores and completed 8 of 14 passes for 131 yards. His favorite target through the air was Maur Mansfield who caught three passes for 78 yards. The Bronco “D” limited MLC all-GPAC running back Dustin Lindstrom to just 32 yards on ten carries. They also sacked the Warriors two times and nabbed one interception. Mackenzie Hemje posted a team-high six tackles for the Broncos.
Hastings boasts the second best rushing attack in the league, averaging 153 yards per contest. They have four players with at least 30 carries and 150 yards on the season. Quentin Hodges and Dan Bargen each have 234 yards while Greg Iverson and quarterback Robert Andrews have 213 and 164 yards, respectively. Bargen and quarterback Jerad Krejci are tied for the team lead with three touchdowns. Both Andrews and Krejci have spent time as the Bronco signal caller. Andrews has completed 46% of his passes for 437 yards and three scores while Krejci has 170 yards passing and converted 30% of his attempts. The duo is protected by one of the best O-lines in the GPAC which has given up just four sacks this season. The two primary receiving targets are speedster Maurice Mansfield (12 catches for 359 yards) and Cole Harter (11 catches for 106 yards). Mansfield leads the GPAC averaging almost 30 yards per catch. Defensively, Hastings is fourth in both scoring (15.5 ppg) and total defense (238.8 yards/gm). Mackenzie Hemje leads the team with 30 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Mark Bliefernich and Brian Trader each have two interceptions and Trader has two forced fumbles.
The eighth-ranked Raiders defeated Concordia University last Saturday, 42-27, to improve to 6-1 on the season. With the score tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, NW outscored the host Bulldogs 35-3 over the next two quarters to lead 42-10 with 15 minutes left. Junior wideout Tyler Reichle scored three touchdowns, two receiving and one rushing, to highlight the Raider offense. He connected with quarterback Craig Hector for a 23-yard touchdown strike on their team's opening drive which put NW up 7-0. Reichle then scored on a 34-yard strike from fellow wideout Zach Stuckey early in the second period. With his team up 28-10, Reichle, who gained 115 all-purpose yards, scored for the final time on a three-yard end-around play at the beginning of the second half. Stuckey was also on the receiving end of a Hector TD pass, a 13-yard strike which closed out the first half. Hector finished 11-21 for 109 yards and two scores. Keith Sietstra scored his eighth touchdown of the season on a one-yard run and combined with Kyle Ochsner for 83 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Defensively, the Raiders sacked Bulldog quarterback Brett Mertens four times and forced two interceptions. Austin Janssen led the "D" with seven tackles and one interception which he returned 96 yards for a touchdown. It marked the seventh time this season in which the Raider defense has reached the end zone. Janssen also blocked a punt which set up the Raiders' third score.
Northwestern travels to Sioux City, Iowa, for a match-up with Briar Cliff on Saturday, Oct. 28. Kickoff against the Chargers is 1:00 p.m.
2008 media guide