With Northwestern Raider football already having such a long list of extraordinary accomplishments over the past few years from going to National championships back-to-back to having won 27 games in a row over the last two seasons combined, they are continuing to add to that list.
This year NW welcomed its first and only female football player, Gianna Bennett, to the 2024-2025 football team.
Bennett reflected on her beginnings in the sport. “I was talking to a teacher one day and football got brought up, and I said that when I was little I wanted to play football but that I obviously couldn’t because I was a girl. He told me to come out to his middle school practice later that day and kick. After that practice, he called the high school coach and I was at practice the next day.,” Bennett said,
She also described the people who have helped her to get to where she is today. “Over the years, I have had a lot of people that have been so helpful with recruiting and just life in general. My parents have been super supportive and my kicking coach, Keith Duncan, and my high school coaches Matt Daniels and Grant Rohach. I really believe that the Lord has put His hand over this entire situation and opened doors that have allowed me to play.”
The list of firsts does not stop there for Bennett and the NW Raiders football team.
While having their first game of the season at Hastings, Nebraska, against the Hastings Broncos, history was made once again.
With 10:02 left in the third quarter after a one-yard run touchdown made by Konner McQuilla, came the extra point attempt.
This was the first time that Bennett took the field and kicked what officially went down in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) history as the very first female kicker to score a point in the conference.
“It was a really cool moment when I got to kick in the game at Hastings, and I am really thankful for that opportunity.”
“God has been so evident to me through my time playing football so it’s been really cool to see Him throughout the whole proceses,” Bennett said, “This year I just really want to learn from the older guys since they have done it before and know what they are doing and know how to win. Coach McCarty is also really good at building culture with the team off the field and so I know that I can learn a lot from the guys off the field as well and grow as a person and in my faith from them.”
