The Raiders continued their winning ways, recording their fifth straight win with a 49-23 victory over Doane Saturday afternoon in Orange City, Iowa. Northwestern, ranked 13th in last week's NAIA poll, improves to 6-1 while the visiting Tigers fall to 1-6 overall, 1-5 in the GPAC.
Northwestern rushed for a season-high 329 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns behind the play of a dominant offensive line. Taylor Malm reached the endzone three times and increased his season total to 12 rushing touchdowns. Brandon Smith rushed for a game-high 133 yards and scored off an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter. Kevin Vander Schaaf added a pair of rushing touchdowns and 74 yards.
Malm opened the scoring on the Raiders first possession when he ran it in from six yards out to give NWC a 7-0 lead. Northwestern took advantage of great field position on the opening drive when Nate Fischer forced a fumble on a sack of Doane quarterback, Anthony Dunn. Malm scored again two possessions later to give NWC a 14-0 lead off a two-yard scamper with 1:52 left in the first quarter.
After the Raider defense forced a Doane punt, Kevin Vander Schaaf put the score at 21-0 when he scored off a seven-yard run early in the second quarter. After another Doane punt, Malm scored for the third time on a three-yard run with six minutes left to play in the first half. Doane got on the board with a safety after a muffed snap of a punt and then scored a touchdown just before the half to put the score at 28-9.
The Tigers scored again on their opening possession of the second half on a one-yard run by Michael Vargas. The Raiders answered right back on the next possession when Vander Schaaf scored on a four-yard run, set up by an impressive 69-yard run by Brandon Smith.
The Raiders scored again early in the fourth quarter on a two-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Morgan to Derrick Rensink to give NWC a 42-16 lead. After a Doane touchdown run by Vargas, the Raiders closed out the scoring off an 11-yard run by Smith.
For the game, Northwestern totaled 24 first downs and nearly 400 yards of total offense. In addition to the dominant rushing game, Ryan Morgan completed 7-of-17 passes for 69 yards and one touchdown. Kyle DeBoer caught three passes for 26 yards while Derrick Rensink caught two passes for 12 yards and a touchdown.
The Raider defense forced four Doane turnovers and registered three sacks. Caleb Van Otterloo led the way with 6.5 tackles and two interceptions. Jon Gerber, Jordan TeGrootenhuis and Joel Dykstra totaled five tackles. Dykstra added a sack and an interception.
Northwestern travels to Sioux City, Iowa next weekend, Oct. 24, to play Briar Cliff.
2010 Media Guide
