Northwestern won their third straight game as they defeated Concordia 49-2 this afternoon in Seward, Neb. The 11th-ranked Red Raiders improve to 4-1 in the GPAC and overall while Concordia falls to 1-4.
The Red Raider offense scored on their first four possessions to open a 28-0 lead with six minutes left in the first half. During that time, the Northwestern defense was dominant as well, limiting Concordia to only three first downs in the first half.
Kyle Ochsner capped off a seven-play, 44-yard drive that gave NWC a 6-0 lead on a four-yard scoring run with 10 minutes left in the first quarter. Five minutes later, Taylor Malm scampered 20 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead. Malm reached the end zone again on a one-yard run on the second play of the second quarter. With Northwestern leading 20-0, Cary Overholt capped off an impressive 13-play, 94 yard drive with a one-yard run with 6:55 left in the first half. Overholt converted the two-point try and gave his team a 28-0 lead at intermission.
The Raider D forced Concordia to punt on their first two offensive series of the second half and gave Northwestern offense excellent field position. The Red Raiders capitalized as Matt Roesner connected with Seth Moen for a 12-yard scoring strike to give NWC a 35-0 lead. The Bulldogs scored their only points in the game when, after a Caleb Van Otterloo interception at the Northwestern 9-yard line, the Red Raiders were flagged for a holding penalty in their own end zone on their third offensive play. Northwestern scored their final offensive touchdown on a one-yard run by Matt Roesner, set up by a Concordia fumble that was recovered by Chris Penning. The Raider D came up with the final touchdown of the game when Grant Mosier returned a Concordia interception 39 yards with 11:05 to go in the game.
Northwestern amassed 370 total yards of offense compared to 203 for Concordia. Taylor Malm led a potent NWC rushing attack with 76 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. Overholt rushed for 63 yards and a score while Ochsner added 23 yards and one touchdown. Overholt and Roesner combined to complete 13-of-28 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown. Seth Moen led all receivers with four catches for 32 yards and caught the one scoring pass. The Raider D forced four Concordia turnovers and registered two sacks. Caleb Blauwet recorded five solo tackles and had one sack. Grant Hegstad totaled 4.5 tackles, including one for a loss. Nate Jansen added three tackles, one sack and one interception.
Coach Otten's squad will host Midland Lutheran next Saturday, Oct. 11, at 11:30 am.
2008 media guide
