Northwestern at Midland

• PREVIEW
• BOXSCORE

The Raiders defeated Midland Lutheran in the final game of the regular season, 38-7. Northwestern improved to 10-1 on the season, 9-1 in the GPAC, and will now move on to the 2006 NAIA Football Championship Series. The Raiders will have to wait until Sunday to find out who/when and where they will play in the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 18.

Against Midland Lutheran, Keith Sietstra rushed 30 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns as the Raider offense scored over 30 points for the tenth time this season. Sietstra surpassed 1,000 yards in a season for the third consecutive year. The senior running back set up the game's first touchdown with a 50-yard run, down to the MLC seven-yard line. On the very next play, Seth Moen caught a Craig Hector pass to take a 7-0 lead. After the Raider "D" forced a three-and-out, Hector completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Blake Reinke and a 14-0 lead. Sietstra then scored both of his touchdowns with under a minute left in the first half to give his team a 28-0 halftime lead. Hector threw for his third score early in the third quarter when he found Tyler Reichle in the back of the end zone. Freshman Grant Mosier kicked a 25-yard field goal with 6:16 to go in the third quarter to give the Raiders a 38-0 lead. The Warriors scored their only touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard interception return.

Northwestern gained 353 yards of total offense, compared to 92 by the Warriors. Hector completed 9-18 passes for 83 yards and three scores. Reichle caught four passes for 22 yards, and Sietstra added three catches for 45 yards. The Raider "D" forced four Warrior turnovers and registered two sacks. Junior linebacker Scott Stahl totaled five tackles and Kadrian Hardersen added 4.5 tackles, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one interception for 24 yards.

The Raiders, ranked sixth in last week's poll, will now move on to the postseason next week (Nov. 18) against an opponent to be determined.