The Northwestern football team prevailed 27-21 against Concordia on Saturday, Oct. 18. The NAIA No. 12 Raiders improved to a 5-1 record with four games remaining in the regular season.
On the first possession of the game, NW scored on a 12-yard touchdown gallop by junior running back Jessie Riley. Concordia answered quickly with a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown on the ensuing possession to bring the score to 7-7 in the first quarter.
Concordia hit pay dirt again early in the second quarter on a 65-yard touchdown throw. NW sophomore quarterback Craig Bruinsma then connected with senior receiver Ben Green on a 27-yard strike in the end zone. After a missed NW extra point, the Raiders trailed at halftime 14-13.
Senior defensive back Justin Wohlert intercepted his ninth pass of the year on Concordia’s opening drive in the second half. However, a missed field goal from sophomore kicker Julian Dittman failed to give NW a lead after an 80-yard drive of their own. The Raiders faced their biggest deficit of the night after Concordia scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass that brought the score to 21-13. Late in the third quarter, NW senior running back Brady Timmer pounded his way into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run that capped off an 11-play, 65-yard drive. A two-point conversion pass from Bruinsma to senior tight end Levi Ettleman knotted up the score at 21 late in the third quarter.
With 2:40 left in the contest, Timmer rumbled in again for a 3-yard run that gave NW a 27-21 edge after a missed extra point by Dittman.
“I was proud of the way we played, because we faced adversity,” said senior defensive lineman Spencer Groeneweg. “Being down on the road and picking up a win isn’t an easy thing to do.”
NW is set to face rival Dordt College Saturday, Oct. 25 at Korver Field. Kickoff will be at 1:30 p.m.
