The Red Raider football team lost their home opener to Morningside, 26-21, in a battle of top 15 teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Northwestern, ranked 13th in the NAIA, falls to 1-1 while seventh ranked Morningside improves to 2-0 overall.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Mustangs scored on three of their first four offensive possessions in the second frame to take a 9-0 lead. Morningside kicker C.J. Gradoville connected on field goals of 39, 27 and 24 yards during that span. Northwestern got on the board late in the first half when linebacker Nate Jansen forced a Mustangs fumble that was recovered by Jordan Te Grootenhuis on the visitors two-yard line. Running back Taylor Malm scored on the very next play to cut the Morningside lead to 9-7 at the half.
Northwestern took their first lead of the game on their opening drive in the second half when quarterback Cary Overholt hit Seth Moen for a two-yard touchdown pass that gave NWC a 14-9 lead. The touchdown finished off an impressive 11-play, 60-yard drive that lasted just under five minutes. On Morningside's next possession, however, Jake Peterson capped off a four-play, 48-yard drive with a one-yard run to give the lead back to the Mustangs, 16-14. After a three and out, Northwestern was forced to punt that Morningside blocked and recovered at the NWC 13-yard line. Three plays later, Gradoville booted a 25-yard field goal to put the Mustangs up, 19-14, with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
Morningside scored their final touchdown midway through the fourth quarter when Peterson scampered five yards on first-and-goal to give the Mustangs a 26-14 lead. Northwestern responded right back on their next possession when Overholt hit Reed Van Hulzen for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 5:24 left to play. The touchdown capped a five-play 71-yard drive, the big play coming on a 41-yard run by Taylor Malm. Morningside, however, was able to get a pair of first downs on their next possession and then ran out the clock to seal the win for the Mustangs.
Northwestern gained 193 yards of total offense, 112 via the ground. Malm rushed for 55 yards on nine carries and one score while Overholt ended with 46 yards on seven carries. Overholt finished with seven completions in 18 attempts and two scores. Van Hulzen and Tyler Meekma were the top targets with five and three catches, respectively.
Defensively, linebackers Nate Jansen and Grant Hegstad led the way as they each finished with 10 total tackles. Jansen registered five tackles and 10 assisted, including 1.5 for a loss of five yards and one forced fumble. Hegstad added four solo's and 12 assisted tackles, one for a loss of five yards. Austin Rozeboom recorded nine tackles and Caleb Blauwet added 7.5 tackles. Caleb Van Otterloo and Jon Gerber each finished with six tackles.
Northwestern will next travel to Lincoln, Neb. to play Nebraska Wesleyan at 6:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 20.
2008 media guide
