Thief River Falls, MN - The Northland Football team heads to Brainerd this weekend to face Central Lakes College in an inter-division contest Saturday, Oct. 19. The game, which is the final regular season contest for both teams, also has playoff implications.
Northland is guaranteed to face Minnesota West in the first round of the MCAC playoffs, but the site has not been determined. For Northland (3-4 overall, 1-2 MCAC West), a win coupled with  Minnesota West loss at Fond du Lac will give the Pioneers the number two seed and a home game against the third-seeded Blue Jays next week.     
The NJCAA recently announced that MCAC members Central Lakes College and Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College were required to forfeit contests from earlier this season, due to the use of an ineligible players in those games. With forfeit wins and losses figured in, the Raiders (2-5 overall, 2-3 MCAC East) need a win paired with a Vermilion loss to qualify for postseason play.
Northland won the most recent meeting between the teams – a 32-21 win in Brainerd in the MCAC semifinal round in 2017. Central Lakes won the three previous games in the series – 30-6 in 2016 in Brainerd; 65-20 in 2015 in Thief River Falls; and 33-6 in Thief River Falls in 2013.
Northland by the Numbers

• Overall Offense - 51st, 243.4 YPG.
• Passing Offense - 49th118.0 YPG.
• Rushing Offense - 38th, 125.4 YPG.
• Scoring Offense - 38th, 22.0 PPG.
• Overall Defense - 18th, 280.9 YPG.
• Passing Defense - 20th, 159.3 YPG.
• Rushing Defense - 23rd, 121.6 YPG.  
• Scoring Defense - 23rd, 22.0 PPG.

Central Lakes by the Numbers

• Overall Offense - 41st, 289.0 YPG.
• Passing Offense - 41st, 157.0 YPG.
• Rushing Offense - 34th 132.0 YPG.
• Scoring Offense - 44th, 20.6 PPG
• Overall Defense - 6th, 232.0 YPG.
• Passing Defense - 21st, 164.0 YPG.
• Rushing Defense - 5th, 71.6 YPG.
• Scoring Defense - 4th, 20.6 PPG. 

Northland statistical leaders through week 7

• Passing - Jihad Abdual-Haqq 30-for-69, 445 yards, 2 TD, 9 Int.; Zacharie Georges 37-for-68, 351 yards, 3 TD, 6 Int. 
• Rushing - Trenod Desrosier 79-439, 7 TD; Raphael Bell 68-288, 5 TD. 
• Receiving - Angel Disla 10-178, 2 TD; Zayir Keen 8-140, 1 TD. 
• Tackles - Quantay Person 44; Keidre Taylor 39. 
• Sacks - Brandon Brown 8.5; Darius Miller 4.5. 
• Interceptions - Keidre Taylor 4; Julian Durham 1; Lamontez Moye 1. 
• Forced fumbles - Surprise Jarue 2; Brandon Brown 2. 
• Fumble recoveries - Kaleek Biggers 2; Eight others with 1.