The Red Raider football team defeated Doane Saturday afternoon 38-13, in their final game of the 2007 season. Northwestern, ranked 15th in the last poll, improved to 8-2, while Doane dropped to 4-6. Northwestern did not qualify for the NAIA Championship Series despite being ranked in the top 16.
The Raiders took control of the game early, holding Doane to a three and out, and scoring on their first drive of the game. Grant Mosier nailed a 21 yard field goal to give the Red Raiders a 3-0 advantage early in the contest. Freshman Taylor Malm then led the Raider offense into the end zone three times, scoring on an eight yard run in the first quarter giving Northwestern a 10-0 lead, then scoring on the next Raider drive from 68 yards out on a rush up the middle giving NWC a 17-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Malm found the end zone for the third time, early in the second quarter, on a reception of a Craig Hector pass from the 15 yard line. Northwestern, leading 24-0 with under one minute left in the first half was unable to keep Doane out of the end zone, allowing a one yard TD run by Garr Schroeder with 0:41 left cutting the Raider lead to 24-7 at the half.
Doane opened up the scoring in the third quarter, scoring on a 77 yard run by D'Artag Dai'Re, the extra point was blocked and Northwestern led 24-13. The senior combo of Hector and Tyler Reichle sealed the victory for the Raiders, as they hooked up twice for Northwestern TD's. Their first connection was from 4 yards out on third and goal, pushing the Raider lead to 31-13. Their second connection, which was Hector's 63rd career TD pass, moved Hector past Kirk Maasdam for third all-time at Northwestern in career TD passes. The completion was from 15 yards out and gave Northwestern a 38-13 lead. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Northwestern gained 416 yards on 69 plays and scored on all five possessions they took into the red zone. Doane gained 232 yards on 84 plays and won the time of possession battle 37:07 to 22:53. Northwestern held Doane to two for 20 on third downs. Malm led the Raider offense on the ground gaining 95 yards on nine carries and scoring twice. Hector, who ends his magnificent career as a Raider, went 21-31 gaining 238 yards and passing for three scores. Reichle, who finishes with the fourth best career total for receiving TDs with 22, made seven catches for 57 yards and two TDs. TJ Lensch led the Raiders defensively with eight total tackles, three and a half for loss. Freshman Caleb Blauwet posted seven total tackles, six solo, and had three stops for loss. Blauwet also forced a fumble, had an interception, and sacked the quarterback.
The Raider season comes to an end with a record 8-2. Northwestern won all of its games in Orange City. The only two Raider losses came to ranked opponents on the road.
2008 media guide
