FREMONT, Neb. – For 59 minutes and 55 seconds, the Midland University football team looked to be in position to start conference play with a statement, upset win over a highly-ranked foe. But with five second remaining, Braxton Williams’ 22-yard field goal allowed the No. 11 Northwestern College Red Raiders (2-0, 1-0 GPAC) to escape Midland’s (1-1, 0-1 GPAC) upset bid with a 26-25 victory.
“We knew they would come back, they have a heck of a team so give them credit,” said Midland head coach Jeff Jamrog. “At the end of the day they made more plays than we did.”
The Warrior defense held the explosive Red Raider offense in check for much of the first half, which allowed Midland’s offense to jump out to an early 15-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Warriors started the game with the ball and found the endzone on their first try as senior running back Adrian Kellogg capped a 6-play, 65-yard opening drive with an eight-yard touchdown run. Midland used some trickery as a direct snap to linebacker Theo Blum resulted in a rushing score on the two-point conversion for the junior, giving Midland an 8-0 lead.
Just two possessions later, the Warriors struck again as senior quarterback Noah Oswald connected with sophomore receiver Austin Harris in the back of the endzone for a two-yard score. Harris just managed to drag his back foot to complete the catch and put Midland ahead 15-0.
“I was hoping [the two-point play] was going to be the difference in the ballgame,” Jamrog said. “It’s a good thing when you can go up by 15 because then they have to score three times.”
Northwestern answered right back as running back Jacob Kalogoonis finished a fast, 96-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Red Raider quarterback Tyson Kooima completed passes for 21 and 39 yards to help setup Northwestern’s first touchdown.
Kooima and receiver Shane Solberg connected for a 10-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to pull the Red Raiders to within one. The score held and Midland took a 15-14 lead into halftime.
The Warriors started fast again in the second half as Kellogg finished off their first possession with a one-yard touchdown rush to end a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
Northwestern got back to the doorstep of another touchdown, but Midland’s defense managed a goal-line stand as Kooima tried to keep one and go up the middle for a one-yard touchdown. He fumbled and recovered it himself, but the play resulted in a loss of three and a turnover on downs.
Just a couple of plays later, Northwestern got a second chance as Oswald was intercepted deep in Red Raider territory by Tanner Machacek. But again, the Warrior defense bent but did not break as the Red Raiders settled for a field goal to make the score 22-17 in favor of Midland.
The Warriors answered and marched back down the field for a field goal of their own as Camdon Griffith’s kick from 21 yards out put Midland up 25-17 with seven minutes to play.
Kooima and the Northwestern offense wasted no time in getting back down the field as four consecutive complete passes, including a 23-yard touchdown to Shane Solberg, brought the score to 25-23 Midland. A failed two-point play kept Northwestern behind by two.
The Warriors were forced to punt with just over three minutes to play, and the final Northwestern drive was nothing if not eventful. Kooima’s first pass was good for a 40-yard gain to Michael Storey after sophomore defensive back Ray Rush appeared to have a pass breakup. But, as both players hit the ground, the ball landed in Stroey’s lap, giving Northwestern a gift.
On the next play, Koomia was sacked by sophomore linebacker Trevor Havlovic for a loss of 12, which set up another big pass play to Josh Fakkema that was good for 22 yards, plus 15 more yards thanks to a personal foul penalty.
The Warrior defense kept Northwestern out of the endzone, but Williams’ late boot was enough to send the Red Raiders back to Orange City with a narrow 26-25 win in the final seconds of an exciting GPAC opener.
We had our chances, but we gave up some big pass plays,” Jamrog said. We played hard, our effort was there, but again they just made one or two more plays than us.
Kooima rallied the Northwestern troops after a slow start and finished 23-for-38 passing for 377 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to Solberg, who caught 10 balls for 145 yards. Kalogoonis led the way on the ground for the Red Raiders, finishing with 65 yards on 18 attempts.
Oswald finished just 11-for-26 on the day and tossed three interceptions compared to his one touchdown pass. Only senior receiver Austan Daniels caught more than one pass as he reeled in five catches for 142 yards in the game. Kellogg and fellow senior running back Keenan Smith took the bulk of the carries, combining for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 41 touches.
Rush and senior linebacker Jett Hampton led the Warriors with seven tackles each, while Havlovic added two sacks to lead the charge from the Midland front line.
It’s difficult to come up short, and this loss will certainly sting for a couple of days as the Warriors think about what could have been. But it’s also a sign of some good things that could be on the horizon as the Warriors pushed a borderline top-10 team to the brink in just their second game of the year.
“Everyone’s sick to their stomachs,” Jamrog said of his team after a close, physical game. “We’ll get over this in 24 hours but boy oh boy, we’re going to look back at a lot of plays that could have changed the game.”
Midland gets another shot at a big upset as the Warriors travel to Sioux City, Iowa next weekend to battle the defending national champions and the No. 1-ranked Morningside Mustangs (2-0, 1-0 GPAC). The Mustangs defeated No. 24 Dordt University 56-14 in their GPAC opener on Saturday.
Kickoff for next Saturday’s game on September 21 is set for 1:30 p.m.