Game Time… Northwestern hosts Doane in the final regular season game for both teams. The Red Raiders are ranked 15th in the last NAIA poll and come in with a 7-2 overall record. Doane is 4-5 this season and has won two of their past three games.
Scouting Report… The Tigers are perhaps the surprise team this season in the GPAC. Picked to finish last after a 1-9 2006 season, first year Head Coach Matt Franzen, a Tiger alum, has led Doane to four league wins this season. Offensively, the Tigers are averaging just under 14 points per contest and are sixth in the league in rushing yards with 127 yards per game. Maurice Smith, a junior running back, is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and is eighth in the league with 479 yards this season. He also leads the team with 349 kick return yards in 19 attempts. Under center for the Tigers is junior J.R. Artozqui who is ninth in the league averaging 106.2 yards per game. Artozqui has completed 43% of his attempts for 956 yards and thrown four touchdown passes. Bryan Dutcher has also played quarterback this season and has thrown for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Both quarterbacks are protected by an o-line that has given up a league best nine sacks this season. The receiving corps is led by Blake Erickson and Anthony Ritton who have combined for 26 catches for 543 yards and three scores.
Defensively, Doane is giving up 30.4 points per game and are ninth in the league in rush defense (154 ypg). Juniors Pat Spangler and Seth Styskal lead the Tigers with 49.5 tackles each. Styskal, a defensive lineman, is sixth in the GPAC with five sacks and has four quarterback hurries. Spangler anchors the secondary that gives up just 211 yards per game.
Last Time Out… Doane registered a last-second, 6-0 victory over Midland Lutheran in their home finale on Nov. 3. The Tigers broke open a scoreless tie with just two seconds remaining when Bryan Dutcher hooked up with Landon Freitag for a 41-yard touchdown pass for the win. The Tiger defense limited MLC to just nine first downs and 105 total yards.
Northwestern lost their second game of the season to Morningside, 33-7, last weekend in Sioux City. Trailing 17-7 after three quarters, the Red Raiders committed four turnovers during the final period which stopped the comeback bid. Seth Moen totaled a game-high 97 yards on five catches to lead the NWC offense. T.J. Lensch led the Raider D with seven solo tackles and combined with Cody Van Sloten for a sack.
Red Raider Notes… NWC boasts the third best scoring offense (27ppg) and the third best passing attack in the league. Craig Hector is averaging 236 yards per game and has thrown 19 touchdowns this season. Seth Moen ranks in the top five in both receptions (37) and yards (615) and leads the team with eight touchdowns. Kyle Ochsner and Taylor Malm lead the NWC backfield and have combined for 500 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Northwestern is giving up just under 20 points per game and lead the league with 40 sacks. Cody Van Sloten is the GPAC leader with 10 sacks followed by Andrew Lundgren with nine. Kadrian Hardersen has a team-best 53.5 tackles and ranks third on the team with three interceptions. Grant Mosier (5) and T.J. Lensch (4) are among the league leaders in interceptions.
The Series… The Raiders are 11-11-2 against the Tigers, with their first meeting taking place in 1982. Last year, Northwestern defeated Doane, 56-0, in a game that was delayed several times due to inclement weather.
Next up…Coach Otten’s squad needs a win this afternoon to keep their playoffs hopes alive. The 16-team national championship series field will be determined on Sunday, Nov. 11. The first round of the playoffs will next Saturday, Nov. 17.
2008 media guide
