Last week Red Raider football took the field for the final time this fall for their regular season schedule. The game was originally supposed to be played the Saturday following Thanksgiving but was rescheduled. This switch allowed for our football team to head into Thanksgiving break with a win.
The game against the Jamestown Jimmies started off well for NW. On the first drive, NW returned the ball after 12 plays that ended in a touchdown from senior, Tyson Kooima to fifth-year senior, Shane Solberg. This pair had another connection in the second quarter to boost the score to 14-0 and another shortly following to make the scoreboard read 21-0 for the halftime.
The momentum the Raiders had in the first half carried into the second, as a connection between Kooima and senior Kobe Lutjens was made early in the second half.
After forcing a punt on the Jimmies first possession of the half, junior Garret Packer broke through the Jimmies defense to block the punt, which was recovered and run to the Raiders endzone for another Raider touchdown.
At this point, the score was 35-0, and it was only the third quarter. The other two touchdowns came from freshman Logan Meyer in the third quarter and junior Blake Fryar in the fourth. The final score for this game was 49-0, a total shutout.
Solberg would come out of this game breaking his own record from last year for the most touchdown receptions in a season. He is currently at 15 for this year alone. Freshman kicker Eli Stader had a perfect game, making all extra points for NW.
Overall, Monday was a great day for the Red Raider football team, leaving the players excited about what the spring will bring for the national tournament.
“There’s a lot of time between now and then, and the long road for preparation to be the best we can for nationals,” junior Cade Moser said.
NW football team will not know if they made the tournament or who they play until April 11, 2021. However, there are going to be some exhibition games before the first playoff game, which will help the team prepare.
“We are very focused and determined to overcome adversity,” sophomore Noah Kullmann said. “The team that is going to win the championship is going to be the team that can adjust and adapt to this change the best.” 
