Dana at Northwestern

• PREVIEW
• BOXSCORE
• PHOTOS

Game Time... Northwestern plays host to Dana in the annual Homecoming game in GPAC football action this afternoon on Korver Field at De Valois Stadium. The Red Raiders are tied for 13^th in this week’s NAIA rankings with a 2-1 record, one of four GPAC teams in the top 25. Dana comes in with a 1-2 overall record. NAIA Rankings

The Series... These two teams have played 30 times, including one in each of the last 16 years. The Red Raiders hold the all-time advantage, 24-6, and have won the last 18 meetings (since 1982). Last season, Northwestern defeated the Vikings in Blair, Neb., 35-13. Reed Van Hulzen hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in the first half as NWC jumped out to a 35-0 lead.

The Coaches... Bill Danenhauer is entering his sixth season as the head coach of the Vikings. He has tallied a 20-38 mark during his tenure at Dana. Orv Otten is in his 14th season at the head of the Red Raider football program and earned his 100^th career win last week against Nebraska Wesleyan. He is an impressive 100-43 (.700%) during his tenure. Coach Otten has led his team to the playoffs four times, including a trip to the national semifinals in 2000 and three quarterfinal appearances.

Scouting Report... After a 17-15 week one win over Briar Cliff, Dana has dropped its last two games by the combined score of 111-10. The Vikings suffered a 70-0 setback to second-ranked Sioux Falls in the Cougars’ home opener and followed with a 41-10 home loss to Dakota Wesleyan last weekend. The Vikings trailed 7-3 early on against DWU but the Tigers proceeded to score the next 34 points to take a commanding lead. A late touchdown pass from back-up quarterback Jake Harral to Mark Schlueter put the final score at 41-10. Schlueter had a nice game in the loss with 14 catches for 130 yards and one touchdown.

The Vikings return 18 starters from last year’s squad that finished 4-7, 3-7 in the GPAC. They come in with the 10^th best offense in the GPAC, averaging nine points per game. They are third in the league in passing offense, averaging over 233 yards per game through the air. Senior Marcus Sladek quarterbacks the aerial assault, completing 56% of his pass attempts for 653 yards and one score. Sophomore Mark Schlueter returns as the primary target for Sladek after earning first team all-GPAC honors as a freshman. He leads the GPAC with 33 receptions and is third in the league, averaging 91 yards per game. Chris Phalen, a 6-1 junior wideout, has 16 catches for 156 yards and one score. Chris Hicks (6-0, 210) and Terrel Barnes (6-1, 215) split carries in the Viking backfield and have combined for 99 yards (3.0 yds/carry) this season. Three starters return on the offensive line, led by all-GPAC selections Clayton Timm and Marcus Gorges.

Defensively, Dana is giving up 42 points and over 400 yards of total offense per game. The unit has been solid against the pass, giving up 162 yds/game, fourth best in the GPAC. Senior safety David Pattee (5-10, 170) is tied for second in the GPAC, averaging eight tackles per game. Freshman Bryce Mallette has made an impact in the Vikings’ secondary with 19 total tackles, three passes defended and one interception. George Drinnin and Chris Vacek lead the linebacker corps with 23 combined tackles.

Red Raider Notes... Northwestern is 2-1 this season with victories over Dordt (42-0) and Nebraska Wesleyan (17-15) and a loss to fifth-ranked Morningside (26-21). In last week’s win at Nebraska Wesleyan, Taylor Malm set a new school record with a 96-yard kickoff return in the first quarter that gave his team a 7-3 lead. He broke the old mark set by Koury Kramer (75 yards) in 1999 against South Dakota Tech. Malm was named GPAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his play. After an NWU touchdown that made the score 9-7, the Red Raiders took the lead for good on a 37-yard field goal by Mike O’Brien early in the second quarter. A one-yard run by Cary Overholt in the third quarter put Northwestern up 17-9 until a late touchdown by the Prairie Wolves made the score 17-15. The Red Raider defense held up and stopped the hosts on the two-point conversion to ensure Coach Otten’s 100^th career victory.

Northwestern is fourth in the league in scoring offense (26.7) and possesses excellent balance, averaging 152 yards on the ground and 140 yards through the air. Taylor Malm and Kyle Ochsner provide the Red Raider offense with the spark on the ground, combining for 260 yards and averaging nearly six yards per carry. Junior Cary Overholt has completed 44% of his pass attempts for 186 yards and two touchdowns under center for NWC. He also has rushed for 90 yards and one score. Seth Moen is the top receiver as the senior has 11 receptions for 167 yards and two scores. Reed Van Hulzen (6-51) and Tyler Meekma (5-51) are the other top targets. Defensively, Coach Otten’s squad is third in the GPAC, giving up 13.7 ppg. Nate Jansen and Austin Rozeboom lead the unit with 24 and 23 tackles, respectively. Jansen has a team-high 3.5 sacks, followed closely by Cody Van Sloten with 2.5. Van Sloten ranks sixth all-time with 20.5 sacks in his NWC career.

Next up... Northwestern will travel to Seward, Neb., to play Concordia next week. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.