A total of 16 members of the Northwestern College football team, nine first or second team selections, were named to the 2017 GPAC Football All-Conference team as announced by the league office earlier today. Head Coach Matt McCarty's squad finished second in the GPAC regular season with a 7-1 record, 9-1 overall, and is ranked 10th in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll.

Northwestern landed five players on the all-GPAC's first team; two on offense (Jacob Kalogonis and J.C. Koerselman) and three on the defensive side of the ball (Cody Bauman, Tanner Machacek and Bryce Van Beek). 

An honorable mention all-GPAC selection last year, Kalogonis has put together one of the best seasons as a running back in program history to earn first team honors. The sophomore from Lake Havasu, Ariz. ranks fourth in the NAIA, third in the GPAC, with 1,426 rushing yards, second most all-time at Northwestern. Kalogonis averages a remarkable 6.3 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns, tied for fourth most since 1999 and the most touchdowns scored since 2012. Kalogonis has eight 100-yard games, three with 200 yards, this season. He also has caught 24 passes for 263 yards, ranking ninth in the GPAC in total offense. 

Already a two-time all-conference selection (honorable mention), Koerselman is having his best season statistically in 2017, totaling 42 catches for 518 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. The senior ranks seventh in the conference in receptions and averaged 12.3 yards per catch. Koerselman had one of his best games against No.3 Morningside, totaling seven catches for a career-high 140 yards. 

Bauman is proving to be one of the premier pass rushers in the GPAC, ranking third in the conference with five quarterback sacks. The senior excelled on the Red Raiders defensive line, accounting for 23.5 stops, including 9.5 for a loss of 35 yards. Bauman earned the postseason honor for the first time. 

Machacek is having another standout season in the middle of the Raider defense after earning second team accolades as a freshman in 2016. A tackling machine, the sophomore from Sioux Falls, S.D. ranks seventh in the league with 73 total stops, 43 solo. Machacek has 6.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks with an additional three quarterback hurries. He also was in on two pass break-ups and one fumble recovery.

Van Beek is having a memorable season in the secondary for the second-rated pass defense in the GPAC. The junior leads the NAIA with seven interceptions, tied for the second most since the 1999 season (both Austin Janssen and Jordan Van Otterloo had nine in 2006). In addition, Van Beek has broken up five passes, recovered a fumble and leads all Red Raiders defensive backs with 52 tackles.

Four Red Raiders were named to the second team, two on offense (Levi TeBrink and Brad Mould) and two on defense (Nate Bennett and Sean Powell). 

TeBrink is having of his best seasons as a Red Raider, ranking eighth in the GPAC with 41 catches for a team-leading 772 yards, fourth most in the conference. The senior playmaker has four touchdowns and averages nearly 20 yards per reception. TeBrink has three 100-yard games this season, six for his career, and takes home all-conference honors for the second time.

A cornerstone for one of the top offensive lines in the GPAC, Mould stepped into a starting role at left guard after serving as a valuable reserve the last two seasons. The junior has started all 10 games and has paved the way for a Red Raider offense that averages 35 points and 479 yards per game. Mould is part of an o-line that leads the way for the Red Raiders dominating rushing attack and has also given up just 11 sacks all season, ninth best in the NAIA.  

Bennett is a first-year starter along the Red Raiders D-Line and takes home all-conference honors for the first time. Bennett leads all Red Raider linemen with 42.5 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, including 36 solo stops. A presence in the opponents backfield all season, Bennett has forced and recovered one fumble to go with three quarterback hurries. 

Another physical presence in the middle of the Raider D, Powell earns all-league honors in his first full season as a starter at linebacker. Powell ranks second on the team with 60 tackles, nine for a loss of 20 yards, and including 50 solo stops. The sophomore has a pair of quarterback sacks, one forced fumble and one interception. In addition, Powell has broken up four passes to go with one blocked kick.

Seven Northwestern players earn honorable mention all-conference honors, three offensive and four defensive players. Tyson Kooima is having an outstanding freshman season as the Red Raiders starting quarterback. Kooima ranks third in the conference with 2,492 passing yards, seventh most all-time in program history. He has completed 55% of his pass attempts, thrown for 20 touchdowns, 10th most all-time, against just eight interceptions. A dual threat, Kooima also has rushed for 605 yards and 12 touchdowns, putting the freshman 11th in the NAIA in total offense per game (309.7yds/game). 

Taylor Kooi and Tyler Alger, a pair of three-year starters along the offensive line, take home all-conference honors for the first time. Both players have started every game this season and have paved the way for a Red Raider offense that averages 35 points and 479 yards per game. They are part of an o-line that leads the way for the Red Raiders dominating rushing attack and have also given up just 11 sacks all season, ninth best in the NAIA.

Two senior linebackers, Joey Novotny and Jacob Jenness, earn all-conference honors in their final season and complete the talented second line of the Raider D. Novotny ranks third on the team with 56.5 tackles, including 43 solo stops. He has a forced and recovered fumble and has broked up two passes. Jenness has 45 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, this season to go with one forced fumble. Both players are key in the Red Raiders second best scoring defense in the GPAC. 

Blake Eichmann and Jerod Hansen have been multiple year starters in the secondary for the Red Raiders and round out the all-conference players. Also an all-conference pick in 2016, Eichmann has 25 stops and six pass break-ups to go with a forced fumble and blocked kick. Hansen has 41 tackles and ranks second on the team with three interceptions to go with six passes defended.

Northwestern, ranked 10th, will head to play No.7 Langston in a NAIA FCS Championship-First round match-up on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2pm.

2017 All-GPAC
1st Team
Jacob Kalogonis (RB)
J.C. Koerselman (TE)
Cody Bauman (DE)
Tanner Machacek (LB)
Bryce Van Beek (DB)

2nd Team
Levi TeBrink (WR)
Brad Mould (OL)
Nate Bennett (DL)
Sean Powell (LB)

Honorable Mention
Tyson Kooima (QB)
Taylor Kooi (OL)
Tyler Alger (OL)
Blake Eichmann (DB)
Jerod Hansen (DB)
Jacob Jenness (LB)
Joey Novotny (LB)

GPAC Press Release |